How to Use a Boat Skeg

A skeg is a fin on the stern of a boat that is raised and lowered with a rope or cable. It is a simple mechanism that provides lateral resistance to the stern. It is not a rudder and does not steer the boat. A skeg maintains tracking and prevents wind and current from pushing the boat off course. The variables that determine how to use a skeg are load, current and wind direction. The placement of a load in a boat determines the drift of a boat. A skeg prevents drift.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the probable drift of your boat. A boat with the bow loaded heavier than the stern provides the bow with greater drift resistance and the bow tracks more efficiently. If the stern is loaded heavier, the bow has a tendency to swing off course. A skeg adds lateral resistance to the stern. Probable drift is one factor in determining whether to use the skeg or not, but it must be used in relation to current and wind direction.

    • 2

      Determine current and wind direction. With a lack of lateral resistance, the end of the boat with the lightest load swings downstream or downwind, whichever factor has greater force. As a result, to track upstream or wind without a skeg, a boat requires a bow-heavy load. To track downstream or wind without a skeg requires a stern-heavy load.

    • 3

      Load the boat bow heavy. If the boat is stern heavy and conditions require lateral resistance on the bow, a skeg is obsolete. If the bow is heavier than the stern, lowering the skeg for lateral stern resistance is an option and lifting the skeg adds lateral bow resistance if conditions require.