Twin Keels

OUT WIHUEIRIJE with Howard Rice

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We all sail for different reasons, some of us race, some poke along the shallows, some daysail, so it makes sense that there is no one-size-fits-all centerboard or keel design. As is the case with many things in life there may be times when two are better than one. There is the double scoop of a favorite ice cream, twins, cuff links, matching socks, or a catamaran for those who like acres of space but here I am talking keels. Let’s take a look at the oft-misunderstood twin keel arrangement with a brief pros and cons analysis. In the world of common thinking about boats, rare is the twin keel unless you find yourself in the British Isles or a few other places on the planet where the type suits the environment. At the age of 21, I had an admittedly odd adventure-fueled boat jones” fantasy with an ungainly British design, the Westerly Windrush. The twin keels caught my attention, a concept I sort of understood. Like most of us, I quickly fell back into normal” thinking about boats and a lifetime of single keels, centerboards, leeboards, and daggerboards ensued. Then one day a few years ago I met a truly remarkable twin keel, 16foot motorsailor named Heather. As her new open-minded owner, I decided to dig deep into the twin keel type, setting misinformation and stigmas aside. Now for certain I know two can be better than one.

‘The majority of new boat buyers are in favor of full keels, fin keels, centerboards and the like, however there are a growing number of sailors who prefer boats that can stand up at low tide.