30 foot swing keel sailboat

9 Popular Boats With Lifting Keels (With Pictures & Prices)

If you are looking for a sailboat, you might want to consider one that features a lifting keel.

Lifting keels allow you to explore shallower waters, reduce drag, or other advantages when the keel is lifted.

Here are the boats you should check out first!

Table of Contents

What is a Lifting Keel?

As you probably know, the keel of a boat is the longitudinal structural device on the bottom of your hull.

On a sailboat, the keel serves as an underwater fluid machine that helps to minimize the lateral motion of the vessel that is under sail, as well as acting as a counterweight to the lateral force that comes from the wind on the sails which can cause it to roll to the side.

A lifting keel, sometimes known as a centerboard, is a keel that retracts into the hull of a sailboat or pivots and allows for certain advantages.

A lifting keel’s main function is to provide a lift to counter the lateral force that is created by the sails. This allows the sailboat to move other directions other than downwind.

Because these keels lift into the hull, you would be able to take your vessel into shallower waters.

In addition, a lifting keel is ideal for:

• Moving the center of resistance.
• Reducing drag.
• Removing the boat from the water and trailering it.

Centerboards are different than other types of keels, such as a ballast keel, because they do not contribute to the overall stability of the vessel because they are not as heavy and instead they only provide lateral resistance.

Great Boats with Lifting Keels Under $30,000

If you are looking for a boat that features a lifting keel and all that comes with it, you are in luck!

Below, I have compiled a list of great boats that feature a lifting keel.

1. Parker 235 Mini Cruiser

The Parker 235 Mini Cruiser is a small sailboat that should be great for sailors who would like to trailer their boat and explore multiple destinations.

This sailboat exhibits excellence both afloat and while onshore. This features high performance due to its long waterline, stable hull, and a deep low center of gravity.

This boat features a custom boat trailer and is easy to launch and as well as to trailer.

This boat is 23’ 5” in length. Despite its smaller size, there is no compromising with the internal accommodations. The boat featured 2 berths, a galley, and a head compartment.

This boat also has a lifting keel which reduces the draft by 3’ 6”.

This boat can be found used at a price of around $20,000.00.

RELATED: Common Problems With Parker Boats .

2. Hunter 22

The Hunter 22 sailboat is a perfect small daysailer that features the capacity to stay aboard overnight. This vessel is ideal for up to five passengers and features a large cabin.

This boat is 21’ 4” in length and is easy to launch, rig, and trailer when needed.

This boat features a lifting keel that reduces draft by 2’ 6” when lifted up.

This boat has a starting price of $29,990.00.

3. BayRaider 20

The BayRaider 20 manufactured by Swallow Yachts, is a small open sailboat that is ideal for families or sailors who are looking for something stable and safe.

This boat has features that make it ideal for beginner sailors including the ability to keep the ballast tanks full for added stability.

This vessel also features a two-masted ketch that gives an advantage over a single-mast rig because it allows for a quick reduction of sail.

This boat is almost 20 feet long and is light enough to be trailered or handled by one person.

This boat features a lifting keel that reduces the draft by 3.8 feet when lifted.

This boat has a starting price of $27,750.00.

4. Catalina 22 Sport

Catalina strives to encourage sailors who are interested in racing with the Catalina 22 Sport. This boat is small and measures at 23’ 10”.

This boat also has a cabin that features berths for up to 4 adults. This boat is a great choice for those looking for speed and easy maneuverability while still offering the ability to stay aboard overnight.

This boat has a lifting keel that reduces the draft of the boat by 3’ 2” while lifted.

This boat has a starting price of $23,550.00.

5. Marlow-Hunter 15

The Marlow-Hunter 15 is a safe and versatile daysailer for families or individuals who new to sailing. This boat was designed with sailing novices in mind and features high sides, a contoured self-bailing cockpit, and a wide beam that was built for comfort.

These safety features will allow peace of mind for parents and brand new sailors.

This vessel is also easy to trailer, rig and launch.

With a length of 14’ 6”, you can fit a crew of up to four onboard but this boat can also be handled solo.

This vessel features a lifting keel that reduces the draft by 3 feet when lifted.

This boat features a highly affordable starting price of $10,123.00.

Models Between $30,000.00 and $100,000.00:

6. feeling 326.

The Feeling 326 was manufactured between the years of 1987 and 1999. This boat is a cruising sailboat that is 32’ 6” in length and comes with 2 cabins, 6 berths, and 1 head.

This boat is great if you plan to go out for long journeys with multiple people.

Even though this boat is an older model, you should still be able to expect quality sailing from them.

This boat also features a lifting centerboard that reduces the draft by 2’ 7”.

Depending on the year and the seller of the vessel, these boats are selling for an average price of between $30,000 and $45,000.00.

7. Norseboat 21.5

The Norseboat 21.5 is the largest model in the Norseboat line with a length of 21’ 10”. You can get either a Cabin or an Open model for this boat.

You can customize this vessel based on your needs and other factors. You can construct a standard or semi-custom Norseboat.

This boat features a lifting centerboard that reduces draft by 2’ 4” when lifted.

Depending on the layout and chosen options, this boat has a starting price of $37,490.00.

Boats Over $100,000.00:

8. alubat ovni 365:.

From the manufacturer Alubat, the Ovni 365 combines their experience in centerboards and high performance to create a vessel that is both comfortable and high performing.

This boat is great whether you are traveling upwind or downwind. This boat is great for both long trips or for simply cruising up and down the coast.

This boat is 39.17 feet long and features a galley as well as a front and rear cabin.

This boat features a lifting centerboard that reduces the draft by about 5.18 feet when lifted.

Depending on the year and specifications of this vessel, the price could range from $100,000 to $300,000.

9. Southerly 42 RST

Southerly makes a mono-hull 42 RST that is an offshore deck saloon sailboat that was built for cruising. This boat has a length of 42’ 2” and could be equipped with either 2-3 cabins, 4-8 berths, and comes with 2 heads.

This boat is great for taking multiple people out on the water. While these are no longer in production, they were made between the years 2007 and 2017.

This boat has a lifting keel that reduces the draft by 6’ 1” when the keel is up.

Depending on the year and the condition, this boat could cost a minimum of $250,000 but if often over $300,000.00.

10. Gunfleet 43

The Gunfleet 43 is a top of the line vessel with many options for customization. This boat is large and luxurious with a length of 44’ 1”.

This boat features a standard layout with either 2 or 3 cabins, or you could get a custom-built version that also has 3 cabins.

This vessel offers high-end luxurious features that are ideal for long trips and even vessels that you would consider for living aboard.

This line features an optional lifting keel that would reduce draft by 4’ 4” when lifted.

This luxurious and custom-crafted vessel has a large price tag of over $800,000.00.

Keel Types and Performance:

The lifting keel is not the only keel that is available for your vessel. Each keel type is built for a different type of performance.

Some of these keel types include:

• Fin Keel with Spade Rudder
• Fin Keel with Skeg Rudder
• Lifting or Swing Keel
• Twin or Bilge Keel

Make sure before you buy your vessel, you consider the type of performance you are looking for on your vessel and research the ideal keel for you.

This can help you when selecting which boat to purchase and will help you get the maximum performance and use out of your vessel.

If you do not buy the boat with the proper keel type , then you will not get the necessary performance needed. Some keels are made to be more stable, some are made to be more versatile, and some such as the lifting keel is made to be able to be optional depending on what type of activity you plan to achieve in your vessel.

A lifting keel is a great option for those who are looking for shallow draught, speed, efficiency, and the ability to plane your vessel early.

The lifting keel is not ideal if you are planning to use it to offer additional stability. If you are looking for additional stability, you will want to look at different and heavier keel options.

If that sounds ideal for you, you will benefit from one of the many daysailers or overnight vessels that offer a lifting keel listed above.

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7 Reliable Swing Keel Sailboat Manufacturers (And Why)

If you're looking for a sailboat that can navigate shallow waters and provide greater versatility, you might want to consider a swing keel sailboat. These sailboats are designed with a retractable keel that can be raised or lowered as needed, allowing you to easily navigate shallow waters or access marinas. In this article, we'll introduce you to seven reliable swing keel sailboat manufacturers and explain why they're worth considering.

The 7 most reliable swing keel sailboat manufacturers include Jeanneau, Southerly, Allures, Alubat, Discovery, Garcia, and Sirius Yachts. Each of these sailboat manufacturers produces high-quality swing keel sailboats that are adjustable for different types of sailing, are often trailerable, and offer good windward performance.

Sailboat manufacturers often use high-quality materials such as marine-grade aluminum that can offer strength, and durability, and protect your boat from corrosion and UV damage. Let's look at which specific materials are being used by each manufacturer when crafting swing keel sailboats.

• One of the largest sailboats with a swing keel, the Southerly 57, is manufactured by Southerly.
• The Allures 39.9 is a popular model manufactured by Allures that features a swing keel and can be sailed in shallow waters.
• Alubat is unique among other boat manufacturers because they use aluminum as the primary material for their hulls.
• Discovery manufactures sailboats that feature advanced technology, such as computer-controlled sail handling systems, making them easy to handle and sail.
• Sirius Yachts uses a vacuum infusion process to ensure that the hulls of their sailboats are strong and lightweight, which improves performance and fuel efficiency.

On this page:

Sirius yachts.

Below is a table comparing the key features and advantages of each of these swing keel sailboat manufacturers and providing examples of different swing keel sailboat designs from each:

Jeanneau is a French sailboat manufacturer that has been in business since 1957. They are known for producing high-quality sailboats that are both comfortable and easy to handle.

One of their most popular models is the Sun Odyssey series, which ranges from 32 to 54 feet in length. These sailboats are designed for sailors who want to enjoy both performance and comfort.

Jeanneau sailboats are crew-friendly, with spacious interiors that provide plenty of room for everyone on board. They are also equipped with amenities such as showers, stoves, and toilets, making them ideal for longer trips.

The Sun Odyssey series also features twin wheels, which provide better visibility and control when sailing. One of the best sailboats for coastal cruising is the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349.

Southerly is a British sailboat manufacturer that specializes in swing keel sailboats. Southerly's swing keel design is unique in that it allows for variable draft, which means that the keel can be raised or lowered to adjust the depth of the boat in the water. This makes Southerly sailboats particularly versatile, as they can sail in both shallow and deep waters.

Southerly sailboats are also known for their high level of customization. Customers can choose from a range of options to personalize their sailboat, including different layouts, finishes, and equipment. This allows sailors to create a sailboat that meets their specific needs and preferences.

In terms of performance, Southerly sailboats are designed to be fast and responsive, with a focus on sailing upwind. They are also built to be durable and seaworthy, with a reputation for being able to handle heavy weather conditions.

Southerly offers a range of swing keel sailboat models, including the Southerly 32, Southerly 38, Southerly 42RST, and Southerly 480. Each model has its own unique features and advantages, but all are designed with Southerly's signature swing keel design and focus on performance, comfort, and durability.

One of the largest sailboats with a swing keel , the Southerly 57, is manufactured by Southerly.

Allures is a French boat builder that specializes in producing high-quality swing keel sailboats. Swing keels are retractable keels that allow the boat to sail in shallow waters, making them ideal for cruising and exploring. Allures sailboats are built to withstand the toughest conditions and are known for their durability and reliability.

Allures offers a range of sailboats that are designed for cruising and offshore sailing. The Allures 39.9 is a popular model that features a swing keel and can be sailed in shallow waters. It has a spacious interior with two cabins and a large saloon, making it ideal for extended cruising.

The Allures 45 is another popular model that features a swing keel. It has a spacious cockpit and a large interior with three cabins and two heads. The boat is designed for long-distance cruising and is known for its stability and performance.

Allures sailboats are built using the latest technology and materials, including vacuum infusion and carbon fiber. They are designed to be easy to handle and maintain, so they are ideal for sailors of all levels.

Alubat is a French boat manufacturer that specializes in producing high-quality, aluminum-hulled sailboats. One of their most popular designs is the swing keel sailboat, which features a retractable keel that can be raised or lowered depending on the depth of the water.

Alubat's swing keel sailboats are designed to withstand rough seas and challenging weather conditions, making them a popular choice for offshore sailing and long-distance cruising.

Alubat is unique from other boat manufacturers because they use aluminum as the primary material for their hulls. Aluminum is a lightweight and durable material that is resistant to corrosion. You can read this article to learn more about the pros and cons of an aluminum sailboat.

Discovery's swing keel sailboats are a range of sailing yachts that are designed to be versatile and easy to handle. The swing keel feature allows the boat to have a shallow draft for cruising in shallow waters or entering harbors with limited depth, while also providing a deep draft for improved sailing performance and stability in open waters.

The range includes the Discovery 48, 54, and 58 models, all of which are built with high-quality materials and advanced technology to provide a comfortable and safe sailing experience. These sailboats are designed to be easily handled by a small crew or even single-handed.

In addition to their swing keel feature, the Discovery sailboats also feature advanced technology, such as computer-controlled sail handling systems, making them easy to handle and sail.

Garcia's swing keel sailboats are a line of sailboats designed by the French boat builder Garcia Yachts. These boats are known for their innovative swing keel design, which allows them to be easily transported and launched in shallow waters.

Their swing keel sailboats are also known for their rugged construction and seaworthiness. They are designed to handle challenging conditions and are often used for long-distance cruising and offshore sailing.

The hulls are typically made from fiberglass, which is a strong and lightweight material that can withstand the stresses and strains of sailing in rough seas. The boats are also designed with reinforced bulkheads and other structural elements that provide additional strength and stability.

Some of their most popular models include the Garcia Exploration 45, the Garcia Exploration 52, and the Garcia Exploration 52 Blue Water.

Sirius Yachts is a British sailboat manufacturer that specializes in producing high-quality cruising yachts. One of their unique features is their swing keel sailboats, which offer the ability to raise and lower the keel for improved performance and access to shallow waters.

In terms of materials, Sirius Yachts uses a combination of fiberglass and composite materials to construct their boats. They use a vacuum infusion process to ensure that the hulls are strong and lightweight, which helps to improve performance and fuel efficiency.

Additionally, Sirius Yachts places a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility. They use eco-friendly materials and production methods wherever possible, and they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and minimizing waste throughout the manufacturing process.

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Oceanis 30.1

Oceanis 34.1, oceanis 37.1, oceanis 40.1, oceanis 46.1, oceanis 51.1.

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*Recommended retail price. Value-Added Tax is subject to change, according to the country of purchase. For pricing information, availability and product characteristics, thank you to contact your dealer.

• Description
• Main Points

Specifications

The Oceanis 30.1 is easy to sail but lively to helm and promises new experiences and thrills. This robust little smart cruiser is small enough to trail, opening up endless possibilities for sailing on lakes and rivers, as well as coastal sailing and high sea adventures

NAVAL ARCHITECT : Finot - Conq

INTERIOR and DECK DESIGNS : Nauta Design

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Simple to sail but lively at the helm, the Oceanis 30.1 promises discovery and excitement. Lakes, rivers, coastal cruising or open sea adventures: this smart and robust little cruiser has a roadworthy size that opens up an infinite variety of programmes.

Exterior design

With a stemhead and her hard-chine hull and well-proportioned sides and coachroof, the Oceanis 30.1 looks unashamedly like a small yacht. The Finot-Conq plan has met the double challenge of power and simple navigation.

With her slender bow, optimized weight, stiff canvas and square-top mainsail, she performs well in all points of sailing. For beginners or for short-handed sailing, the self-tailing jib and the single winch make her easy to handle. For performance, the Oceanis 30.1 has a large overlapping genoa, a furling code zero and an asymmetric spinnaker. Aft, a step affords access to the sea and can be supplemented by a small lifting platform.  

Interior design

With a few extra centimetres won in strategic places the Oceanis 30.1 differs from other boats, thanks to a headspace of 1.98 m in all the places inside where it is comfortable to stand.

The two good-sized double cabins each have berths running lengthwise and an open entryway making them feel particularly spacious. The two benches in the saloon provide an additional place for two extra berths.

The large shower room is divided into a marine toilet on one side and shower and washbasin on the other. At the foot of the gently sloping companionway, the L-shaped galley has top and bottom storage, a 75-litre refrigerator and a real oven under the gas hob.

FOR EVERYONE

With unbeatable living space for its size and a focus on simplicity of use, the smallest model of the cruising range is nevertheless stylish, and fast, with a highly competitive ready-to-sail price.  

With an overall size of under 9x3 metres and a weight of less than 4 tonnes, the Oceanis 30.1 can be trailed by road by a professional, without the issues of an extra-wide load. In its lifting keel and rotating mast version, the cruiser can sail along canals and rivers to its sailing grounds.

CHOICE OF HELM

On the Oceanis 30.1, sailors get to choose between a tiller on double rudders for anyone enjoying a few thrills or from the world of dinghy sailing, or double steering wheel for anyone who prefers space and comfort!  

The double steering wheel layout results in a wonderfully big cockpit. On either side of the large fold-away table are two large benches, which comfortably seat up to six guests.

Oceanis 30.1 Electric

Silent, comfortable and emission free, the new Oceanis 30.1e now has an all-electric propulsion system. With engine power equals to 14 HP, the Torqeedo engine has a range of up to 6 hours at 4 knots.

This procures new sensations and offers a unique boating experience.

A connected boat

The mobile application, Seanapps , and its onboard unit lets you view the status of the boat's various systems (battery charge, fuel or water tank levels, maintenance scheduling) via your smartphone, as well as planning your route or reviewing your sailing status using your mobile phone.

Length Overall

Beam overall

Lightship Displacement

Air Draught Max

Draught Min

Draught Max

Fuel Capacity

Water Capacity

Max. engine power

Cabin Number

CE Certification

B6 / C8 / D10

Polar diagrams

Documents produced by Finot-Conq Architects

Drifting keel

Deep draught keel - genoa

Deep draught keel - Foc autovireur

Short draught keel - foc autovireur

3 ballasts to sail whatever the water configuration of choice.

Shallow draft

Performance draft (hydraulic swing keel)

• Large benches seating six guests, with a fold away table.
• Tiller or twin steering wheels on twin rudders
• Rotating mast
• Square-top mainsail
• Raymarine Electronics Pack
• EC certification: B6 / C8 / D10 (10 passengers aboard)

2 CABINS & 1 HEAD

• L-shaped fitted galley: fridge, sink, two-ring hob, oven, storage and worktop
• Lounge bench seats that convert to extra berths
• Master cabin with double berth at the bow
• Aft cabin with twin berths
• Shower room, with shower compartment and marine toilet
• Gently sloping companionway (4 steps à 43°)

HARKEN HARDWARE

Press Reviews

Sailing today.

"Easy Start" read Sam Jefferson 'article

CRUISING WORLD

"Fun, Fun, Fun " read the article

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Nautic boat show 2022 : Spotlight on remarkable sustainable innovations at BENETEAU

BENETEAU has decided to follow the path of innovation to reduce the environmental impact of sailing. Practical yet ground-breaking innovations that were visible on the First 44e and the Oceanis 30.1e sailing yachts world premiered at the Nautic Boat Show in Paris.

BENETEAU and CHINA CUP commit to popularizing Sailing in China

New Oceanis 30.1

Small, yet oh so big !

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With teams for sea trials, financing, customization, events, an after-sales service, and a network of dealers worldwide, BENETEAU delivers the help and expertise every boat owner needs throughout his boating life maintaining an enduring customer relationship.

Other boats from the range

10.77 m / 35’4’’

3.57 m / 11’9’’

11.93 m / 39’2’’

3.92 m / 12’10’’

12.87 m / 42’3’’

4.18 m / 13’9’’

14.6 m / 47’11’’

4.5 m / 14’9’’

15.94 m / 52’4’’

4.8 m / 15’9’’

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O’Day 30

With good performance, low maintenance, and a big interior, the 30 is a good coastal cruiser..

The first O’Day 30 we saw back in 1977 was named Moby Dick . Compared to most of the boats in our boatyard, she did look a lot like a great white whale: beamy white hull with high topsides, white deck, white cabin trunk, and not much exterior wood trim. But what really struck us about the boat was the amount of interior volume. The boat had as much interior space as most 34-footers built at that time.

With her straight sheerline and short overhangs, the O’Day 30 was not as handsome to our eyes then as more traditional-looking boats, but the design has held up surprisingly well. Today it still looks quite modern, yet more conservative than many newer Eurostyled boats.

Over 350 O’Day 30s were built between 1977 and 1984. During 1984, the 30 was modified by changing the keel and rudder, and the stern was lengthened to accommodate a European-style boarding platform. This “new boat” was called the O’Day 31, and it stayed in production until 1986.

O’Day 31 hulls are numbered, quite correctly, as a continuation of the O’Day 30 series. About 150 “stretched” O’Day 31 models were built.

Sailing Performance

With a typical PHRF rating of 177, the O’Day 30 is very close in speed to other modern cruiser/racers of the same length. The boat was never marketed as a racing boat: performance cruising has always been an O’Day concept.

The boat was originally built in two underwater configurations: a keel/centerboarder, and a fin keel of moderate depth. The centerboard version of the boat is about 500 pounds heavier than the keel version. The extra weight is mostly in ballast to give the two boats similar stability. Where PHRF committees distinguish between the two underwater configurations, the centerboard boat is rated about three seconds per mile slower—about what you would expect for the difference in displacement.

Upwind performance is good. Shrouds and genoa track are inboard, and the hull and keel shape from C. Raymond Hunt Associates is clean and modern without being extreme. Downwind, the boat is slow without a spinnaker.

The mainsail is very high aspect ratio, almost 4:1. Off the wind, this is ineffective sail area, and a poled-out headsail will not provide enough area in light air to really keep the boat moving. At the very least, an asymmetrical cruising spinnaker is called for.

Because the mainsail is small, the boat needs large headsails, and they will need to be changed frequently for optimum performance. With a small main, reefing is a relatively ineffective way to reduce sail area.

Standard sails with new boats were a main and 110% jib. In addition, the boat really needs a 150% genoa and a 130% genoa for good performance in a wide range of wind velocities. With a wide waterline beam and 40% ballast/displacement ratio, the boat can carry a fair amount of sail.

Unless the original owner specified the optional larger headsail sheet winches, you’ll have to consider upgrading if you go to big genoas: the stock winches are too small for headsails larger than 110%.

Most owners report the boat to be well-balanced under sail, but some early boats suffered from a lot of weather helm due to an excessively-raked mast. The solution is to shorten the headstay and eliminate almost all mast rake. This may require shifting the mast step aft 1/2″ for the mast to clear the forward edge of the mast partners.

Although the rig size did not change over the course of production, spars from three different manufacturers were used in the boat. The original rigs are by Schaefer. Kenyon spars were used in the middle of the production run, Isomat rigs in later boats. All the rigs are stepped through to the keel, and are properly stayed.

The standard location for the mainsheet traveler is on the bridgedeck at the forward end of the cockpit. From a purely functional point of view, this is a good location. Several owners in our survey, however, complain that the traveler limits the installation of a cockpit dodger. As an option, the mainsheet traveler was available mounted on a girder atop the deckhouse.

This is a tough call. The bridgedeck location is very handy for shorthanded cruising, since the person steering can reach the mainsheet from the helm, particularly on tiller-steered boats. At the same time, a good dodger is almost a must for cruising, and the midboom sheeting arrangement simplifies dodger design.

Although wheel steering was an option, you’ll find it on a large percentage of boats. Owners report no problems with the wheel installation. Early boats have a conventional, centerline backstay. On later models, a split backstay was standard, permitting a stern boarding ladder to be mounted on centerline.

All things considered, the O’Day 30 is a boat that performs well under sail. She’s not really a racer, but she will stay up with almost any boat of her size and type, and is easy to handle, to boot.

O’Day was one of the first big builders to take the all diesel route, even though the Atomic 4 was still a popular engine when this boat went into production. Not all of the engine installations in the O’Day 30, however, have been equally successful.

Originally, the boat was equipped with a singlecylinder, salt water cooled, 12 hp Yanmar diesel. This was one of the first Japanese diesels on the market, and one O’Day 30 owner reports that Yanmar replaced his engine—three years after the boat was built—due to a series of problems that simply could not be solved.

During 1978, the engine was upsized to a Yanmar 2QM15, since the boat was really underpowered with the smaller engine. Owners report that Yanmar installations are noisy, which is partially due to the fact that there is no sound insulation in the engine compartment.

As first built, the engine beds were attached to the walls of the engine box. According to one owner, this was such a bad arrangement that the vibration from the engine loosened the beds. Later boats have a molded fiberglass engine bed/drip pan combination, which is far better than the original installation.

With 1980 models, the Yanmar engine was dropped in favor of a two-cylinder, 16 hp Universal diesel. Owners report no problems with this engine.

Engine access is very good, particularly on later models. In early models, a panel behind the companionway ladder must be unscrewed to get to the front of the engine. On later models, a sloping panel in front of the engine can be removed, and the galley counter over the top of the engine can be lifted out of the way for complete access.

Lack of sound insulation is the weak point of the engine installation. It probably would have cost about $100 to provide halfway-decent sound insulation in the engine compartment when the boat was on the assembly line. You can do it after the fact, but not as simply or cheaply. We’d highly recommend this project, since without insulation the engine compartment resonates like a drum.

With the exception of the original, single-cylinder Yanmar, all of the engines are big enough to push the boat to hull speed in most conditions.

The standard, exposed, two-bladed solid prop causes a fair amount of drag under sail, but you should probably keep it unless you race. We feel a folding prop is not the way to go on a cruising boat, and a feathering prop would be disproportionately expensive on this boat.

Early boats have an 18-gallon aluminum fuel tank. Later models—after 1980—are usually equipped with a 26-gallon aluminum tank. The larger tank gives better range under power, despite the fact that the more powerful engines used late in the production run also use more fuel.

Construction

The hull of the O’Day 30 is an uncored fiberglass laminate. Hull stiffness is increased through the use of a full-length molded body pan, glassed to the hull. Construction is basically solid, but is certainly not fancy. Owners in our survey report a fairly standard number of minor production-boat complaints: surface crazing in gelcoat, leaks around mast, leaks around deck hardware and ports, poor interior finish quality. Gelcoat blistering is neither more nor less common than on other boats.

The O’Day 30 was one of the first small cruising boats to use Navtec rod-type chainplates, which are anchored to the body pan. This is a good, strong arrangement.

In our experience, O’Day’s approach to building was to use good-quality fittings, combined with reasonably sturdy construction. The boats generally have pretty mediocre finishing detail, and costs were kept down by keeping the standard boat fairly simple.

For example, there is no sea hood over the main companionway. This may seem like a minor shortcoming, but it means that this hatch is going to leak if you take solid water over the deck. Instead of a labor-intensive full-length teak toerail, there are short, thin teak strips screwed to a raised, molded fiberglass toerail. The strips do not have to be curved or tapered, since they can be easily bent to shape.

Likewise, most of the interior furniture is part of the molded body pan, trimmed out with teak. The cabin sole is fiberglass, with teak ply inserts. You do not buy these boats for their high-quality joinerwork, nor do you buy them for sophisticated systems or creature comforts.

A single battery was standard, as was a two-burner alcohol stove without oven. Propane cooking was not an option. Double lifelines were optional. Even a spare winch handle was an extra-cost option: only one winch handle was supplied, although four winches were standard!

Because the O’Day 30 is a relatively heavy boat, its basic construction is fairly expensive. To keep the price comparable to other boats in its size range, costs had to be cut somewhere, and they were cut in finish, detailing, and systems. You simply can’t build a boat that weighs 500 to 1000 pounds more than the competition, provide the same systems and detailing, and keep the price the same.

All in all, this is a reasonable tradeoff. You could, if you wanted, add a propane stove, bigger batteries, engine compartment insulation, bigger winches, and many of the other things that you might expect to find on a well-equipped 30-footer. But you won’t get your money back when you sell the boat. The price of your used O’Day 30 will be controlled by the price of other O’Day 30’s on the market, even if they are less well equipped than your own.

The standard water tank varies in capacity from 25 to 30 gallons, depending on the model year. On late models, which have the smaller tank, you could also get an extra 25-gallon water tank, which is mounted under the port settee. With this tank full, the boat has a noticeable port list. Without the optional tank, water capacity is inadequate for cruises extending beyond a long weekend.

Deck layout is reasonably good. There is an anchor locker forward, although its so large that it’s tough to straddle while hauling in the anchor rode. You can walk forward on deck outboard of the shrouds on either tack.

The cockpit is fairly small, thanks to the big interior. There is a large locker to port that can be used to store sails, and a small locker to starboard at the aft end of the cockpit.

With 1980 models, ballast was reduced by 350 pounds in the keel version, 400 pounds in the centerboard boats, according to factory specifications. Still later, ballast in the keel version was increased by 150 pounds. Although these are significant changes, owners of later boats do not report that the boat is noticeably more tender, nor do the PHRF ratings reflect any change in performance.

With her wide beam and long waterline, the O’Day 30 has a big interior. In fact, we have little doubt that if the boat were still in production, O’Day would have figured out how to modify the interior to get three in separate cabins, which has become fairly common on contemporary 30-footers.

For the first three years of production, the boat had a very standard interior, with settees on either side of the main cabin. In 1980, the interior was retooled. The starboard settee was replaced with a U-shaped dinette with permanent table, and the head compartment was shifted to the starboard side of the boat.

The forward cabin in the old layout is bigger due to the placement of partitions and doors, which gave more cabin sole area. With the V-berth insert in place to give a double berth, you could still stand up in the forward cabin to dress. In the newer interior, there is no place to stand in the forward cabin if the door is shut.

Headroom is 6′ on centerline in the forward cabin. There is a molded fiberglass hatch in the forward end of the cabin trunk. In our experience, molded glass hatches are a compromise. They are easy to distort by overtightening hatch dogs to compensate for old gaskets. If dogged unevenly, they tend to leak. It is also next to impossible to fit a dodger on a hatch like that on the O’Day 30, so it must be kept shut in rain or bad weather. Since the boat lacks any real provision for foul-weather ventilation, it can be stifling below.

Although the head compartment in both interior layouts is small, it’s a fairly good arrangement. To use the optional shower, doors to both the main and forward cabins can be closed off, giving plenty of elbow room. Unfortunately, the shower drains to the bilge, a nasty arrangement.

In the original layout, a dropleaf centerline table divides the middle of the main cabin. Four people can sit comfortably at the table using the two settees.

Four diners are far more cramped in the dinette than with the two-settee arrangement, even though O’Day’s literature claims space for five. There’s no way that anyone seated on the port settee opposite the dinette can reach the table. On the plus side, fore and aft movement through the boat is not restricted by the dinette, as it is in the two-settee interior when the table is in use. You pays your money and takes your choice on this one.

Storage space behind the settees shrank in the new interior, a significant loss on a boat this size.

The dinette table drops down to form a good-sized double berth, but because the mattress is made up of five (count’em) separate cushions, this is not a very comfortable berth to sleep on. Its shape is so complex that making sheets fit well is just about an impossibility. In the old layout, the port settee can be extended to form a more normally-shaped double.

Even with opening ports, ventilation in the main cabin is pretty mediocre. There is room atop the cabin aft of the mast for a small aluminum-framed ventilation hatch, and this was an option on later boats. If you don’t have the hatch, you should add it. Cowl vents—other than one on the foredeck—weren’t even options, but could be added.

Headroom in the main cabin is 6′ 3″ on centerline aft, slightly less at the forward end of the cabin. The galley and nav station are the same in both interiors, but some detailing varies depending on the year. Aft to port there is a stove well, with storage outboard.

The icebox is in the aft port corner of the galley. It is not particularly well insulated, and drains into the bilge. There is a deep single sink next to the icebox.

Originally, there was a long step from the companionway to the top of the galley counter, to which a teak board was fastened to form a step. Stepping on galley counters offends our sensibilities, since we prefer to delete the sand from our sandwiches.

Later boats have a more conventional companionway ladder, eliminating the giant first step and the possibility of a foot in the middle of your lasagna, but making it difficult to use the galley counter, now hidden behind the ladder. There is a compact nav station opposite the galley. It has a small chart table, and some storage and space for electronics outboard. The chart table must be kept small to give access to the quarterberth.

You’ll find the electrical panel in one of two places: under the bridgedeck in the galley, or outboard of the chart table. The nav station location offers more protection from water coming down the companionway—which it will—but space for electronics is sacrificed.

Sales literature refers to the quarterberth, which is 41″ wide at its head, as a “cozy double.” Cozy isn’t really the word for a “double” berth that tapers to less than 2′ wide at the foot. Forget it. Many owners have added an opening port from the quarterberth into the cockpit, and this helps ventilation a lot.

The interior of any 30′ boat is a compromise. For the coastal cruising for which she was designed, the interior of the O’Day 30 is spacious and functional, and is probably the boat’s best selling point.

Conclusions

With her good performance and big interior, the O’Day 30 makes a reasonable coastal cruising boat. This is a low-maintenance boat, with little exterior wood. Along with low maintenance, you get pretty plain-Jane appearance.

The boat still looks modern. If she appeared in a boat show today, she wouldn’t look dated.

Unless you need shoal draft, we’d opt for the deepkeel boat, for its simplicity, if nothing else.

The extended stern of the O’Day 31 makes that boat much better looking in our opinion, since the big, fat stern of the 30 is probably her least attractive feature. The 31′ boat is far more expensive on the used boat market, however, so you have to decide how much you’re willing to pay for improved looks and a boarding platform.

Compared to a lot of newer 30-footers, the O’Day is quite heavy, but we consider that a plus for a boat that may sail in fairly exposed waters. For the type of use most boats this size will get, the boat looks like a good value on the used boat market. You could spend a lot more money for a lot less boat.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Good day to you. I am having a hull problem with my 1980 oday30. I bought it only a few years ago and when i was getting her ready for this season sailing i noticed a small hole where the bilge pump sits so i took it off and apparently ice had formed over the winter causing the inside layer to crack. This allowed moisture to enter and soak a good section of the hull above the fiberglass hull. I am getting conflicting reports how to fix this. Some say take all of the first layer out and re core it and fiberglass again. And some say you can fix the core with little attention to really fixing the problem. I have a hole about 1 foot by 5 inches and all cleaned up but i am pretty sure there is still moisture forward of the hole and near the mast. Ok so i am looking for your opinion please and thank you!!!

I just used Injectadeck. Worked great for a similar problem in my cabin.

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What Is a Swing Keel?

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

August 30, 2022

Swing keels are a robust and useful alternative to centerboards, and they’re common on variable draft sailboats.

Swing keels are retractable keels that are hinged in the front and swing into a slot called a trunk. Sailors lift and lower the keel with a crank, pulley, or hydraulic system. Sailboats with swing keels can reduce their draft for shallow water sailing or to make them fit on a trailer.

In this article, we’ll show you everything you need to know about swing keels and the sailboats that use them. We’ll go over the benefits and drawbacks of swing keel designs, compare them to centerboards, and cover the different variations you’re likely to find on common sailboats.

We sourced the information used in this article from sailboat design guides, sailboat plans, and from the sailing community.

Table of contents

‍ What are Swing Keels For?

Swing keels are commonly outfitted on trailerable sailboats that need low clearance. These vessels are usually longer than 20 feet and would normally have a fixed keel if they weren’t designed to be towed.

Swing keels are used in applications where centerboards are cumbersome or have insufficient ballast. Also, a swing keel allows additional ballast to be placed underneath the hull and around the keel trunk.

What is a Keel Trunk?

A keel trunk is a simple rectangular box located on the bottom of the hull. The box, which is open on the bottom and closed on the top, houses the swing keel and its hinge mechanism. The keel retracts into and out from the keel trunk.

The keel trunk can be located inside or outside of the hull. Some vessels have an external keel trunk that protrudes a few inches from the bottom of the hull and usually contains ballast for stability. Most swing keel sailboats have a recessed keel trunk, which is flush with the bottom of the hull.

How a Swing Keel Works

Swing keels, also known as lifting keels, are simple. They act a lot like a lever. The keel is contained in a trunk-mounted to the hull with a pin, which serves as a hinge. The keel is raised and lowered by a system of ropes and pulleys or by a hydraulic system.

Some swing keels are retracted into the trunk using a crank. This system is common on some Catalina sailboats and has proven to be very reliable. These systems usually use a ratcheting pulley which can be locked in one direction for lifting and lowering.

The weight of the keel keeps it in the lowered position, but some vessels have a simple locking device to keep the keel in the down position. When raised, the keel or the raising mechanism is locked securely into place.

Swing Keel vs. Centerboard

Swing keels and centerboards are not the same, but they share some characteristics.

 Centerboards are distinguishable from fin keels because, unlike fixed fin keels, centerboards can be retracted into the hull. Swing keels may appear like fin keels from the bottom, but they also retract into the hull.

So then, how are they different from centerboards? Unlike centerboards, which must be lifted vertically out of the centerboard trunk, swing keels hang on a hinge and fold into the hull. Hence, they ‘swing’ instead of raise.

Benefits of Swing Keels

Swing keels have several distinct advantages over centerboards. Chiefly, swing keels don’t require a massive trunk in the center of the cabin or cockpit.

Most swing keels retract into a trunk located below the hull. Others retract into a trunk under the deck, and some require a small amount of cabin space.

Swing keels never need to be removed or lifted into the boat. Additionally, it’s physically easier to raise a swing keel. This is because the keel distributes some of its weight to the hinge, and lifting it is easier thanks to the physics of levers.

Additionally, swing keel trunks are usually sealed. This is good for a number of reasons—especially in rough weather. Water rarely floods a boat through the centerboard trunk.

But lifting out a centerboard can make a mess, and a pitching and rolling boat could allow water in through an open centerboard trunk. Swing keels don’t suffer from this issue, as the only hole they have is for the rope and block system used to lift and lower the keel.

Drawbacks of Swing Keels

Swing keels have a few notable drawbacks. For one, they’re not as strong or robust as fixed keels. They don’t provide the stability of a full or semi-displacement keel, and they don’t have the windward performance of bilge or fin keels.

Additionally, these keels still require a trunk, which can still take up cabin space on some models. The systems used to raise and lower a swing keel are prone to failure and add complexity where it otherwise wouldn’t exist.

Are Swing Keels Strong?

Swing keels are not as strong as fixed keels. This is because they’re usually smaller and lose rigidity at the hinge. Usually, the addition of mechanical complexity reduces the strength of a system, and that rule applies to swing keels.

A fixed keel can be mounted to a boat with numerous rigid bolts, whereas a swing keel is mounted to a pin and adds a level of complexity. That said, swing keels have an advantage in one respect, which we’ll cover next.

Advantages of Swing Keels in Shallow Water

Most swing keels swing down to the front, meaning their hinge is mounted forward. This is advantageous in shallow water, as it allows the keel to swing up into the boat instead of snapping off should the boat run aground. It’s like an automatic failsafe.

However, some swing keels lock into place in the lowered position. Sailboat owners should always proceed with caution in shallow water and lift the keel if the water isn’t deep enough.

Can You Beach a Sailboat with a Swing Keel?

One of the advantages of having a swing keel is that you can easily beach the boat. All you have to do is build up a bit of momentum, retract the keel, and head for the beach.

Sailboats with swing keels are particularly popular for island hopping due to their transformable flat bottoms. They can also utilize more seaworthy hull shapes than other shallow-draft vessels, thanks to their long retractable keels.

However, some sailboats with swing keels cannot be beached. If the keel retracts fully into the hull, and your rudder does too, you’re in luck. But if you have a fixed rudder, a prop, or any protrusion of the keel under the hull, you have to proceed with caution.

What Sailboats Have Swing Keels?

Dozens of different sailboat brands and models have utilized swing keel systems at some point. One notable and extremely popular example is the famous Catalina 22. The Catalina 22 is a trailerable coastal cruiser with a masthead sloop rig and a typical swing keel.

This small cruiser has a spacious cabin thanks to its keel, which retracts into a hidden trunk. The raising and lowering of the keel is performed by a pulley system and hides out of the way when not in use. The Catalina 22 keel is made of heavy metal.

The Catalina 22 is an example of a sailboat with a semi-hidden swing keel. The trunk only partially covers the keel, as the boat is designed for trailering—beaching abilities were not considered key in its development.

As a result, the keel swings up and still protrudes out from the bottom of the hull. But the swinging design gives the vessel a variable draft and a much deeper keel for stability. The boat otherwise wouldn’t have good handling characteristics if it weren’t for the swing keel.

Not all Catalina 22 sailboats came with a swing keel, but many of them did. It’s the most common boat of its type and a great example of the benefits of swing keels on smaller cruising sailboats.

Do Large Sailboats Have Swing Keels?

Large sailboats aren’t known for having any sort of retractable keel system. However, many ultra-modern big cruising vessels utilize some version of a retractable keel for performance and shallow water operations.

New sailboats that utilize swing keels usually do so for increasing hydrodynamic performance at high speeds and for reducing the draft of an otherwise deep keel.

For example, a vessel with a long 8-foot keel can reduce its draft to 4 feet or so when navigating a harbor and then extend the keel to increase performance offshore.

However, most large sailboats use fixed keels for strength, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. This is also because most designers simply don’t bother with complex keel systems on larger cruising boats.

What are Swing Keels Made Of?

Swing keels are usually made of strong materials like steel. They’re extremely heavy, as they function as part of the sailboat’s ballast. Swing keels are typically made of a solid steel plate between one and one and one-half inches thick.

Some swing keels on high-performance yachts are made of composite materials like carbon fiber and filled with ballast, but this is exceedingly rare. Much of the sailboat’s ballast is usually internal on swing keel vessels.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Thoughts about swing keel boats.

• Thread starter Ray Bowles
• Start date Oct 13, 2012
• Forums for All Owners
• Trailer Sailors

There has been a good deal of posting about swing keel boats. Some good, some frought with peril. For the most part these smaller boats were designed to be used with a trailer. The swing keel allowed the boat to be launched at shallow ramps with greater ease than a fixed keel. If these boats had limited time in the water and a good deal of off-time resting on the trailer then the swing keel assembly lasted a very long time. This also allowed easy and frequent inspections of this assembly. Over time a good number of these became full time floating boats with many keels left in the lowered position, often for years. This lead to greater wear on all working parts of the keel and the inspection process in many cases stopped. Their trailers sold as un-needed. The result of these changes can lead to catastrophic damage if a cable fails under use. Very few perspective owners of boats in this size range ever have surveys done. New to the sport owners have never thought of this area as a problem. The solution to these problems are beyond my scope of knowledge. Possibly we on this site can make this area of concern know to newbe's as they ask for help finding their right first time boat. Thanks for enduring my ramblings. Ray  

Stu Jackson

Good points, Ray, I added a link in that thread: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=146558  

Good thoughts. Many swing keel systems were not really engineered. Most of the small boat manufactures in the 70s did not have a naval architect on staff, and the design of the bearing system, trunk, lifting system, etc was really quite weak. This is compounded by the fact that few expected these boats to still be in use 30 years later. The keel listing system on a sailboat HAS to be looked at as a wearing part, and be subjected to regular replacement. As you note the FUF model (forget until failure) can have dire consequences.  

my lesson learned on swing keel I have a sanjuan 23, and i had a few lesson learned on the swing keel system. before i bougth the boat, some idiot tied the boat to a non floating dock very short at high tide, the boat ended up supended from the dock at low tide. A crane was called and the previous owner attempted to straigten the bent keel with a sledge hammer, he got it somewath straitgh and forced it in the trunk. the boat was then left on the trailer for a few year unused. Then i come in, fall in love with the lines of the boat, lets face it, a san juan 23 has nice crisp modern line that you cant stop looking at. I bougth the boat and the previous owner conveniently forgot to tell me about the dock mishap when i asked him why the boat was unused for so long... I get her in the water and the darn keel wont come down, so i removed the table and took a long aluminium flat bar and proceded to lower my keel hitting the flat bar with a big hammer. Needless to say the keel stayed down for the first summer. getting it down with the flat bar wrecked the keel cable, so i got a diver to replace it. at fall i got it up as much as i could and let the weitgh of the boat get it all in when i got the boat back on its trailler. In the winter , i bougth a peice of steel and made an other center board, after like 3 day of grinding and cutting while the boat was suspended off the trailler i got myself a new center board. Being cheap i tougth some resin over the new board followed with bottom paint would do the trick. I also made a new cable since i had to pound it out again to get the bent center board out of the trunk. Here is on LESSON the new cable was crimped with an aluminium cable cramp. DONT USE ALUMINIUM IT WILL MELT IN A SUMMER. so the day i went to get the boat out of the water, the damn cable came off the center board.... i got a diver again, and thinking i was a smart guy i used on of my old lower shroud with a pin to avoid the melting aluminium for ever.... guess wath it did not work, the pin got stuck half way up the trunk, once again, boat wheigth got the centerboard in for the winter.... I now hated the darn center board.... I did some reasearch and it turned out the ferulle to crimp the cable had to be made of copper, so i got the boat off the trailer for the second time to get a good cable in it...I once again had to pound it out and wrecked the cable. i made a new cable with the copper fitting. When i took the board out all of the resin had fallen and the boar was starting to rust....DONT USE RESIN ON STEEL UNDER WATER IT WILL PEEL OFF... so now i scraped off the resin mess, clean out the board to bare steel with a wire brush, and i coated it with som interprotect, folowed by a coat off white bottom paint. the pait has worked and the bord could be easily inspected on sunny day from the dock. After all that work i finnaly have a board that work as intended, and the conviction that my next boat will not have a center board. I got lucky to found a whealt of information on my boat on this website about the keel on my boat http://www3.telus.net/sail/sj23/b_hull_tips/b01.html  

Good point. Purchasing a 30 year old swing keel boat ( not centerboard but ballasted keel) is a high stakes crap shoot unless the keel, pivot point and lowering and raising mechanism can be inspected. This cannot be done with the boat on a trailer.  

"...inspected. This cannot be done with the boat on a trailer." If you happen to be looking at one like mine you can inspect some parts, such as: the entire wench and cable except the last 18" at the keel, also confirm the keel will lift off the trailer and that it can pivot. You can shim the keel up enough to remove and inspect the pivot bolt and you can slide a handsaw along the keel trunk as you look for clearances and debris.(that requires that you roll up on some wheel blocks or be really skinny)  

As you mentioned, these weighted swing keels are 30 years old and eventually will give any new owner lots of trouble. My advice to the new owners would be to avoid boats with weighted swing keels altogether because for not much more money, they could get a trailer sailor with a weighted centerboard like the Balboa 27 (only 140 lbs with low maintenance) or better yet the MacGregor 26C with no weighted swing keels at all.  

Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman said: At the time I bought my boat, I was such a novice, I had only read about these type boats and really did not understand what they were. Honestly, I thought they swung side to side so they would always be pointed down vertically..... Click to expand

Merlin Clark

There was a design where a weighted keel swung a thwartship (side to side) with the idea to shift the weight to weather and keep the boat more upright (faster). I think Hunter raced one of these in the Key West race and the keel fell off. Boat fell over and sank.  

Joe Blizzard

Tom Hoffman said: For all you novice shoppers, You might want to look for shoal draft boats. They seem to be very solid and forgiving. Click to expand

Crazy Dave Condon

As a former dealer, may I suggest something. First, swing keels have their place as it does lower the center of gravity or boat lower on the trailer which is good when towing as it will not sway as much when being pulled particualy on a single axle trailer. Make sure 10% of the entire weight of the boat and trailer are on the hitch for safety reasons and make sure the keel is all the way down on the keel tray. Inspect the keel tray for seaworthiness as well. In many cases the swing keel also allows the boat to sit on the trailer very low which is good for launching. A good example is the Sailor's Trailer by Road King for the Catalina 22 and Catalina 22 Sport swing keels as the trailer was designed for those two boats. Inspect the keel cable at least every other year to include the bolts that retain the keel bolt in place for example the Catalina 22 and 25. make sure all gaskets are neophrene which in one case I found bubble gum. Yes you heard me, bubble gum. If the boat is a brokerage boat and the broker wants to sell it, make it part of the deal for the broker to lift the boat for inspection at his expense if he has the gear because it will not take that long. This day and age many will be accomodating. When I sold brokerage, I insisted for the new buyer to allow me to pick up the boat and do an inspcection at my own expense. What they did not know, I had already done that and repaired it. The charge back was to the current owner which he paid if he wanted me to sell the boat. I found a clean functioning brokerage boat sold much quicker. I refused junkers in my yard. If not, that boat was sold with the notation of the keel issue to the new owner and on the Bill of Sale. When purchasing, get a survey if you do not trust the broker or owner particularly if you are far far away in a distant galaxy as it will be alot easier. Also for a small fee, there are third party companies that will do the title transfer and money transfer as well which could also be a safeguard. As for selling boats, also check out the one who is purchasing to make sure they are not scam artists which is growing. This year, I sold my daysailor and one fellow emailed me to send him a bill of sale without any address. When I got it, I checked the location of the phone which was in the Bronx, NY area for an address in California. Sometimes it could be ligit with those moving keeping cell phones but I did send a bill of sale to the CA address which at the bottom required a notary. Funny thing, it came back as undeliverable which I figured it would be.  

Been there, done that.... We sailed a C-22 for many years when we lived in the midwest. Had a lot of fun on the old swing keeled C-22. She was a GREAT boat! I did all the maintenance and upgrades to the swing keel system. Never could completely eliminate the "CLUNK". Then we moved out to San Diego and sailing in a salt water environment, I didn't anything to do with a swing keel boat. We purchased a wing keel version C-22. The best of both worlds with the shoad draft wing keel. Only draws a few more inches than the swing keel version does with the keel up. No maintenance, no CLUNK, and best of all, the warm fuzzy feeling I get when we're out in the ocean and things get rough, it's nice to know my keel is through bolted with 6- 1/2" stainless steel threaded rods molded into the keel, than 4- 5/16" bolts threaded into a weldement suspended in fiberglass. I know, I know, the ocean floor isn't littered with swing keels, it's just my opinion. Don  

Bosman, That rope-based lifting system gives me pause. I hope that is inspect--able and replaceable on the water. On the the bigger French systems, (the first 260 keel weighs over 1000 lbs) they use either an electrically powered screw jack, or a hydraulic ram.  

Thoughts about swing keel boats Click to expand

Jackdaw said: Bosman, That rope-based lifting system gives me pause. I hope that is inspect--able and replaceable on the water. On the the bigger French systems, (the first 260 keel weighs over 1000 lbs) they use either an electrically powered screw jack, or a hydraulic ram. Click to expand

Bosman said: Why would it give you a pause?? There are literally thousands of boats with one or another variant of this type of system sold in Europe. These systems are very well design, they are simple and they work exceptionally well. The fact that North American market does not have much to offer in terms of retractable centreboard / keel does not help hence surprise. All of designs require replacement of the rope after at least 5-6 years to ensure safe operation. On some boats this can be done on the water, some other ones require crane. Keep in mind this system and its variants are only used for centreboards/light keels where weight does not exceed about 400-500 lbs. These boats have majority of the solid ballast installed in the hull. Click to expand

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Danielle Collins wins the Miami Open — her way

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — The moment Danielle Collins let Elena Rybakina and 14,000 fans at Hard Rock Stadium and everyone else in tennis know what was going down on Saturday happened when she was a point away from taking the first set and facing maybe the most dangerous serve in the game.

Rybakina did what she usually does, using that trebuchet of a right arm to launch one of her missiles down the middle of the court. And that’s when Collins, one of the great grip and rip tennis talents, reared back and ripped a swing that took both her feet off the ground, cranking a ball that didn’t come back and taking a lead that she would keep on her way to a victory that may very well be the capstone of her tennis life. 

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About an hour later, she was standing on a stage holding the big glass trophy for winning one of the sport’s big titles at the tournament she watched as a kid growing up on the other side of Florida. Collins was a 7-5, 6-4 winner over a Wimbledon champion who is one of the most feared players in the sport. And she managed it just in time, because here is probably the oddest detail about this magical two weeks a few hours drive away from the public courts where started out – come the end of the season, she’s out.    

Collins, who is 30, just eight years into her pro career and playing the best tennis of her life, swears she is calling it quits no matter what happens the rest of the year.  

Doesn’t matter that the 2022 Australian Open finalist, a two-time NCAA champion, and a player with a locker room reputation as one of the most dangerous in the game, might just be getting in her groove. Thanks for the memories, this one and whatever else happens over the next seven months. 

She’s done, worn out, tired of trying to compete at the highest level while managing endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis and the chronic pain that both conditions can bring. Plus the loneliness of the road and the game itself. And she wants to start a family, something that doctors tell her it would be good to get going on sooner rather than later, given her medical history.  

Few take issue with any of this. If nothing else, Collins speaks the truth, like few others in the sport. Always has.  

Still, her plans have bewildered lots of people around the sport. As she proved on Saturday and over the past two weeks, when healthy and locked in, she’s flat-out better than most women. They know it, and so does she. 

Also, there is a quality that Collins brings to a tennis court, a fire and an energy and an ability to take thousands of people packed into a stadium anywhere in the world on a journey with her. Andy Murray does it. So does Rafael Nadal. Serena Williams did. Bianca Andreescu, the gifted Canadian who won the U.S. Open in 2019 at 19 years old but has battled injuries ever since, can do it, too. 

To watch these players and a handful of others is to ride shotgun with them. And what a ride it can be, especially on a day like Saturday, when Collins was all fist-pumps, and bursting screams and come-ons, and the 14,000 people in the temporary arena inside Hard Rock Stadium were right there with her, especially in that lest moment, when a final, signature crosscourt backhand ripped across the court. 

Rybakina watched it sail by. Collins screamed, bent at her knees and stayed crouched for a good while, letting all the noise fall over her.    

“I felt like I was playing in front of thousands of my best friends,” Collins said.  

From the outside, Collins’ run to the finals in Miami looks ridiculous.

She’s ranked 53rd in the world, the lowest ranked player ever to win the Miami Open, which has been happening since 1985. Last month she was playing qualifiers just to get into tournaments like this one, which is the level just below the Grand Slams. She’d never made a final at this level of tournament before. She suffered a back injury in Austin, Texas, last month and had to pull out in the middle of her quarterfinal.

She also committed herself to taking some time off the pro tennis hamster wheel during this last ride around the globe. She took a 10-day trip to Tasmania after losing in the second round of the Australian Open, figuring she might not be back in that part of the world for a while.

She’s been traveling without a coach since then. She grabbed a college coach from her hometown of St. Petersburg who has occasionally worked with her since 2015 to get her through this tournament, a guy called Ben Maxwell, the men’s and women’s coach at Eckerd College. He was with her here last weekend, then spent most of the week coaching at Eckerd, then came back on Thursday for the semifinals. 

Jimmy Arias, the American star from the 1980s who runs tennis development at the IMG Academy and has been one of her closet tennis gurus since childhood, showed up in her box on Saturday to help out, too.

So, what exactly happened here to make all this come together the way it never has before?

Did he see anything different this week? 

“ She’s just been super resilient and really enjoying herself,” Maxwell said on Saturday evening. “Off court, we have a great time. Played some golf last couple of nights and just been kind of keeping it low key off the tennis court. I think that’s super important. Everybody gets so stuck in tennis, tennis, tennis and training and training. And I think sometimes it’s good to take a step back and do some non-tennis related activities and let the mind rest and she knows what to do. She’s a talented, talented player and one of the best in the world. I’m a big advocate for having that balance off the tennis court. I think it helps the mentality.”

About the golf. She’s been playing on her off-days. Nothing too serious. Some time on the range and then a few holes. She’s not very good at it all, she said. (Maxwell did not argue with this evaluation.) But that is why she likes to play. It’s good to be bad at something and to try to get better. It keeps her brain sharp and makes it think about something besides tennis. And then she gets back to tennis and feels completely awesome. 

She surfs a lot for the same reason. But the waves aren’t very good around Miami, or really anywhere near big tennis tournaments, so golf it is. Plus it lets her live her best Floridian life – little golf, little tennis, maybe a dip in a pool at the resort where she has been staying. 

“Living the dream,” she said the other day. 

And then there’s Quincy, her poodle mix who came with her for the tournament and has been keeping her on an even keel in a service dog kind of way. “Mr. Q.” she calls him.

She’s been sticking “Mr. Q.” in doggie day care during her matches and has some videos of him watching her play. Quincy is apparently very confused by it all, she said. He sees his mom. He sees a ball. He seems not to understand why he is not there and involved. 

He has never been far from her thoughts though. Maybe that’s why she was so efficient in Miami. She played seven matches and won 14 of 15 sets, then often excused herself from post-match chats by telling people she had to get to the day care service before it was too late.

Mr. Q., though, was not in her mind as she tried desperately to close out the biggest title of her career, with Rybakina stubbornly trying to snuff out the party that so many people had been setting in motion all day. 

Everywhere she walked Saturday, on the grounds and on every corner of the tennis court, Collins heard the voices. 

Let’s go DC.

You can do this.

We love you.

She’d never experienced anything like it before, except maybe at the final in Australia two years ago when everyone was giving their hometown hero, Ash Barty, that same treatment. This time, though, it was all for her.

“ That was just surreal,” she said. “I will never forget this day because of that.”

From the start of the day, she had told herself to keep the emotions in the locker room, to wait until after the match to let them out. As one match point and then another and another slipped away, she returned to the between-point routines she has been working on. Back to the breath, just like in her yoga practice. Hop, hop, hop from foot to foot to keep the legs alive and to let the nervous energy dissipate so it doesn’t get in the way of the stuff she knew she would need. 

Then came one last ripping backhand.

“There were so many thoughts going through my head,” she said. “At the end, I was just like, ‘thank God, thank you, got through that hurdle.’”

Of course, then, there was the other question. Still going to quit?

No reconsideration? 

Nope. 

The questions are coming from a good place, she said. They make her feel wanted. There’s just other stuff that she wants. Good stuff. Great stuff. And she’s not going to let anything get in the way of her trying to get that. 

Once more, Collins was speaking the truth.

(Frey/TPN/Getty Images)

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Matthew Futterman is an award-winning veteran sports journalist and the author of two books, “Running to the Edge: A Band of Misfits and the Guru Who Unlocked the Secrets of Speed” and “Players: How Sports Became a Business.”Before coming to The Athletic in 2023, he worked for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Star-Ledger of New Jersey and The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is currently writing a book about tennis, "The Cruelest Game: Agony, Ecstasy and Near Death Experiences on the Pro Tennis Tour," to be published by Doubleday in 2026. Follow Matthew on Twitter @ mattfutterman