Leeboard

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A leeboard is a form of pivoting keel used largely by sailboats, very often in lieu of a fixed keel. Typically mounted in pairs on each side of a hull, leeboards function much like a centreboard, allowing shallow-draft craft to ply waters inaccessible to fixed-keel boats. Only the leeward side leeboard is used at any time, as it submerges when the boat heels under the force of the wind. A disadvantage, where there is an inadequate fixed keel, is that leeboards typically ship (bear) little ballast, and being on the far (lee) side delays the onset of unballasted craft's heeling, that is, inhibits the effect of putting up a good, constant resistance against the wind. The classical, archetypal definition of ballast is a low, central weight to optimise centre of mass, to reduce turning moment and therefore resistance to the boat keeling over; however, the centre of gravity tends to be higher in self-righting vessels. Modern developments allow leeboards to act as a speed-enhancing lifting foil (hydrofoil).