Enjoy the next generation of sportsboats. Canting keel is not just about speed, but about convenience.

"Yacht racing has entered an exciting new phase with canting keel as a standard feature on boats like Backman21 and Backman31. Everyone has an opportunity to sample this brave new world for themselves – Hans Backman, designer."

The major advantage with a canting keel is that it's possible to reduce the overall displacement with the kept righting moment. Low displacement is an important factor when you are getting up on the plane.

Canting keel and light displacement – together they offer a quality of acceleration and speed that engages all the senses.

The beauty with the canting keel is that it’s giving the same righting moment as one crew member in a trapeze or two on the rail. You can go out on a breezy day with two mates and just go sailing because the canting keel will do all the work for you.

The canting keel also equalises different crew weight when racing in one-design, e.g. a lighter crew can still power up the boat fully in wind forces up to 4-5. In really strong winds the heavier crew will of course have an advantage as will the lighter crew in lighter winds. The extra feature of a canting keel engages all members of the crew both up wind and down wind.

• Crew weight equaliser

• Reduce displacement for a given righting moment

• Low displacement = boats planes earlier

See illustration to the right, comparison between a boat with a fixed keel and a canting keel.

In real life, see top photo when boat is sailing upwind with the keel fully canted. Wind speed approx 25 knots plus gusts and boat speed approx 8-9 knots. Notice how little the boat actually heels.

Both Backman21 and Backman31 have a mechanical solution for their canting keels. Easy to handle, fast and safe with block and tackle on Backman21 and a Magic Wheel on Backman31. The mechanical solutions are also cost effective to produce compared to hydraulics.

The keel on Backman31 is designed with adjustable wings to create lift and increase the righting moment when sailing upwind, this feature replaces a daggerboard.

Magic Wheel, a excellent mechanical solution, no expensive and complicated hydraulics needed.