The Pivoting keel

Swing keel yachts are being employed successfully in the southern ocean and elsewhere. Being a relatively new trend in yacht design, it required some perfectioning since its introduction in order to attain unquestionable reliability. The large swing keel yachts normally operate in areas where the sailing conditions are the most severe as absolute confidence in the system employed is fundamental.
The Polar 65 keel is as efficient as the fixed fins found in modern cruising boats. We designed a steel case with an adequate hydrofoil shape with lead poured inside. The slot where it retrieves is shut when the keel is down by a beam that covers the root of the keel and extends to the after end of the slot. At the front of this beam is fixed the pivoting pin and at the rear end is attached the lifting plate. The arch that the after end describes when the keel is hoisted is matched with a ratchet that holds the ballast at any position. This is a safety device that brings tranquillity when operating in remote regions under extremely rough conditions. Stability is enhanced by internal ballast.

Photo: Revista Náutica nº 201