All our yachts offer a choice of six different keel configurations. Take the opportunity to equip your boat with the sailing characteristics of your choice and match it your preferred sailing area.
There are up to four different fixed keel variants available. We offer the performance-orientated deep keel with lead bulb, the low-cost standard solution made out of cast steel or you can choose one of our shallow keel options.
Our twin-keel design has been optimised according to the latest hydrodynamic research, and comparison tests have shown that there is little or no loss in performance compared to the standard fin keel. The twin-keels are ideal if you wish to dry out between tides.
Alternatively, our unique swing-keel provided considerable flexibility. Instead of a half skeg and centre-line rudder, this version has double rudders. The lift-keel design does restrict you to certain interior options, but it offers high security and excellent performance, it’s controlled by electro-hydraulic mechanism that moves the full-ballast keel.
Fin keels
Even our fin keels give you the possibility to choose between 4 different designs. Choose between the performance-oriented deep keel with lead bulb, the cost-effective cast iron keel or the shallow keels with minimum drafts of 1.15 m, for example, on the Sirius 310 DS.
Twin-keels
Our twin-keel design has been optimized according to the latest hydrodynamic research, and comparison tests have shown that there is little or no loss in performance compared to the standard fin keel. The twin-keels are ideal if you wish to dry out.
In November 2015 “Sailing” magazine tested the Sirius 40 DS in the fixed keel version (1.75m) and the twin keel version (1.45m). The verdict? “Despite the extra weight and only 1.45m draft, we could not find any difference in the sailing performance and the height in the wind compared to the well-sailing fixed keel version”.
Swing keels
We developed a very interesting solution to the design of a swing keel. We have worked closely with manufacturers who have more than 20 years experience with swing keels in one-off boats of up to 80 feet. More than 40 of these one-offs are sailing in the North Sea and to distant shores, they have proven to be very successful as racing boats too. We have distilled all the experience of these customers and constructors and have developed our clever design.
Our system operates with an electro-hydraulic powered swing keel that carries the whole weight of the ballast in the swinging part. When raised, it protrudes about 15cm out of the hull and distributes the weight of the boat along its length together with a small grounding plate around the lifting keel box. We use a double rudder system. On grounding, the depth of the rudders is only 5 cm less than the hull, they are very strongly built so that the boat is supported not only by the flat hull and keel but also by the double rudders.
When sailing, our system ensures the best performance with a very deep centre of gravity, especially when compared to many other systems which carry most of the weight in the grounding plate and therefore need nearly double the weight of ballast without ever reaching the same stability.
