boat owner

Ben Meakins is invited aboard Will

Steynor’s 7.6m (25ft) gaff cutter Skep,

fitted with Will’s own practical, ingenious,

space-saving design innovation –

the Steynor Lifting Keel

Skep and the

Steynor Keel

Boats

L

ifting keels have many advantages – but the

design has generally not moved on for many

years. Lift keels are usually one of two

designs: a plate which hinges up like a dinghy

centreboard, or a daggerboard which drops

down through a slot. These have worked for years, but

have their drawbacks: they take up valuable space in the

cabin and tend not to lock down, which means that they

can withdraw should the boat invert.

That’s the problem that encouraged Will Steynor, a

retired airline pilot, to come up with his own design. Will’s

background, flying BA aircraft before his retirement – and

Skep’s trial launch, with her keel locked down

➜

Skep has proved to

be weatherly and fast