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 when sailing downwind, people were suggesting raising the keel part way up to avoid instability...Are there any other times that the keel would be better up or down?Thanks.

 

[Don on JCat Key West]

Generally up

We've had several instances where the boat moves around the anchor rode due to the tide and wraps the rode around the fin keel and lifting cable. This is mostly with overnight anchorages with light or no breeze and the boat wanders at slack tide.When there is a good breeze keeping tension on the rode the boat won't wander.So we usually keep the keel up unless it's need for stability in choppy conditions.

 

[George]

Keel up or down

Here's another view. Because the H260 sails a lot at anchor I usually keep the keel down. Of course. we don't have currents and tides in the Great Lakes to worry about.

 

[Dennis Thomas]

Keep it lowered and use a Kellet

If your only reason for raising the keel is the fear of wrapping the anchor rode, try a chum/kellet/sentinel/anchor angel. This is a weight lowered along the anchor rode using another line. They are designed to improve the holding power of the anchor but a side benefit is the prevention of tangles in the keel or rudder. There are commercially made ones (ex. Anchor Buddy). I use a 15 pound mushroom, a retrieval line and a caribiner in the eye bolt to clip over the anchor rode allowing it to slide. After setting the anchor I slacken the rode and attach the kellet. With the anchor slack I lower the kellet to the bottom then raise it a few feet but keep it well below the depth of the keel. Usually there is some breeze or current that pulls on the anchor but when things do go calm and the boat drifts about, the kellet keeps the rode straight down from the bow so that it can’t get wrapped around the keel or rudderS/V Anodyne