Keel up or down - when anchor is set

[Sean]

When anchored, is it best to leave the keel down, or pull it up? What got me thinking was the other thread with broaching sailing downwind, people were suggesting raising the keel part way up...Are there any other times that the keel would be better up or down?Thanks,-Sean

 

[Robspan]

Swing keel at anchor

I'm new to trailer sailing but owned a fin keel boat for a long time. I found that if you tie off the tiller at a right angle to the direction the boat is pointing, it lies to the anchor pretty well. It won't tack up the anchor line. I'm going to try raising the keel up most of the way and then tie off the tiller at a right angle.

 

[Lamar]

Downwind

Raise it up for downwind runs too.

 

[tgreen111]

Raise it

We always raised our centerboard at anchor, because: 1) It rattled in the trunk when down; and 2) It wouldn't get damaged if we dragged anchor and grounded in the middle of the night.

 

[Ed]

It depends

It my experience, it is variable according to a number of conditions. If you are in a harbor with keelboats close by, using your swingkeel could reflect their behavior and not allow quick wind shifts to cause a collision. Tides and current also could change your decision. IMHO, the best arrangement at anchor is with all blades up and a small wind sail flying at the stern. That way the boat would always sit lee of the anchor the way it is supposed to.

 

[Jeffrey]

Keel down

If I'm hanging on the hook at the club and there's a lot of Wake action, I'll keep the Keel down so that the boat doesn't sway around as much, but if it's calm I tend to keep it up or keep it quarter down, which is where I keep it most of the time, unless it's blowing really good........