Which keel type has a plate that is perpendicular to the centerline of the hull?

• A. Plate keel
• B. Bar keel
• C. Fin keel
• D. Wing keel

Answer: (A)

Keel types differ by how the ballast plate is oriented relative to the hull’s centerline. A plate keel uses a broad flat plate that runs across the bottom of the hull, so its plane is perpendicular to the centerline. This transverse plate provides stability by resisting tipping from wind and waves. By contrast, a bar keel is a long bar that runs fore and aft along the length of the hull; a fin keel is a slender vertical foil extending downward in a fore‑aft orientation along the boat, and a wing keel has wings extending to the sides but the main plate still lies along the fore‑aft direction. Because the description specifies a plate that is perpendicular to the centerline, the plate keel is the correct type.