Sailboat terms explained

• Cat rig

  A single mast stepped near the bow carrying one large sail and no headsail.

• Fin keel

  A relatively short, deep ballast keel bolted or moulded to the hull, separate from the rudder.

• Fractional sloop

  A single-masted rig where the forestay attaches below the masthead.

• Full keel

  A keel that runs most of the length of the hull, usually with the rudder hung on its trailing edge.

• Keel-attached rudder

  A rudder hinged on the trailing edge of a full keel.

• Long fin keel

  A moderately long keel with a cut-away forefoot and a separate skeg-hung rudder.

• Saildrive

  An inboard engine that drives the propeller through a leg passing straight down through the hull, instead of a shaft.

• Skeg-hung rudder

  A rudder mounted on a fixed fin (skeg) that supports its leading edge.

• Spade rudder

  A rudder supported only by its stock, with no skeg or keel ahead of it.

• Swing keel

  A ballasted keel that pivots up into the hull, so a boat can be trailered and sailed in shallow water.