Our drop keel makes it possible to combine the speed of a planning boat with the manoeuvrability of a displacement boat. It is a keel which will be retracted when speed is required and “dropped” when stability, less drifting and manoeuvrability is required.
In 2003 we installed the first drop keel and from there it success started. With the first buyers being sceptical and after a lot of testing, the drop keel proved it effect rapidly. The drifting problems of the flat bottom boats was solved. That there were also more advantages with a drop keel, was just a plus, but all these advantages leaded to the winning of the innovation prize at the Nor-Fishing exhibition in 2008.
Here are all advantages of a boat with a drop keel:
■More stability
■Better manoeuvrability
■Shorter rotation
■Gets the bow in the wind
■Less drifting
■Combined planing and displacement boat Impact:
It gives more stability to the boat, what makes the boat a better working environment. The People on the boat have a more stable working place, what has a positive health impact to their bodies over a long term.
Financial gain:
Due to a more stable working place the workers are less exhausted during work, what makes them more productive. Due to that the boat is drifting less, it is easier to keep control over the boat and easier to get the fishing gear on deck.
By combining a planing boat and a displacement boat in one, it is possible to come faster to the fishing grounds and have more time to fish, but still fish with the advantages of a displacement boat.
Summary of financial gain:
■Higher productivity
■Faster to fish
■Less travelling time, more fishing time
