(Sorry - first posted this as reply to wrong posting).   Keel lift is a 
horizontal, not vertical force.   Keels are hydrodynamic foils - when they are 
moved through water they cause both lift and drag forces to develop.  Lift is 
the positive lateralforce that allows a boat to move to windward - drag is the 
negative, resisting force.  A good sailboat keel design has a high lift-to-drag 
ratio.  Wing keels were developed by the Australians to win the 1983 America's 
Cup (first U.S. loss) by getting around the keel depth rules.  When the boat 
heels, the wings increase the draft of the keel creating additional lift.   
This being said, I'm sure the angle at which the wing cuts into the water does 
have an effect but that is not what is meant by keel lift.   The America's Cup 
left NY in 1983 never to return but this May there will be some preliminary cup 
races in NY Harbor with boats that truly do lift out of the water.    Jerry
 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lorne Serpa via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com>
To: cnc-list <cnc-list@cnc-list.com>
Cc: Lorne Serpa <lorne.se...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sat, Apr 30, 2016 2:47 pm
Subject: Stus-List Wing Keel Lift?



So, working on buying my 1st sailboat greater than 15'.  It's a 1988 30MkII.
It has a wing keel.  I read somewhere that a wing keel generates some lift.
So....
Does a wing keel create lift?
Should I have more heavy stuff at the back of the boat for increased angle of 
attack on the keel?
Or..
don't be silly.. its a 8,000lb boat going 5 knots.  It does nothing.
 
Lorne

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