Of Leeboards and Sailboats_img 0320
Not being a sailor, I had neither seen nor heard of a leeboard until I visited the Netherlands and noticed these (to me) mystifying pieces of equipment attached to the sides of sailboats. On asking around I discovered that they serve the same basic purpose as a keel or centreboard but without some of the disadvantages of either. In open water a keel gives a boat stability and is extremely efficient. But it renders the craft incapable of navigating shallow waterways. A retractable centreboard can be used to provide stability and it allows for a shallow draft but, on the downside, it requires a large, watertight storage compartment to hold it in place when retracted—and this intrudes into what would otherwise be valuable cargo or cockpit space. Leeboards, however, provide for a shallow draft without the disadvantages of either a centreboard or keel.
Normally a vessel will have one of these on each side and when sailing across or into the wind the board on the downwind side is lowered to provide stability as the boat heals under the force of the wind. And, while the board presents little resistance to forward motion, its large lateral surface area helps to prevent the boat from slipping sideways.
Originally developed in China, leeboards were introduced into Europe in the 16th century and the Dutch have used them on inshore cargo vessels since around 1570.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send me an email (irwinreynolds@me.com)
Of Leeboards and Sailboats_img 0320
Not being a sailor, I had neither seen nor heard of a leeboard until I visited the Netherlands and noticed these (to me) mystifying pieces of equipment attached to the sides of sailboats. On asking around I discovered that they serve the same basic purpose as a keel or centreboard but without some of the disadvantages of either. In open water a keel gives a boat stability and is extremely efficient. But it renders the craft incapable of navigating shallow waterways. A retractable centreboard can be used to provide stability and it allows for a shallow draft but, on the downside, it requires a large, watertight storage compartment to hold it in place when retracted—and this intrudes into what would otherwise be valuable cargo or cockpit space. Leeboards, however, provide for a shallow draft without the disadvantages of either a centreboard or keel.
Normally a vessel will have one of these on each side and when sailing across or into the wind the board on the downwind side is lowered to provide stability as the boat heals under the force of the wind. And, while the board presents little resistance to forward motion, its large lateral surface area helps to prevent the boat from slipping sideways.
Originally developed in China, leeboards were introduced into Europe in the 16th century and the Dutch have used them on inshore cargo vessels since around 1570.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send me an email (irwinreynolds@me.com)