Hull vs. Keel — What's the Difference?

Protective casing of any object.

A beam along the base of a ship, keeping it stable.

The dry outer covering of a fruit, seed, or nut; a husk.

The primary support structure in ships.

The persistent calyx of a fruit, such as a strawberry, that is usually green and easily detached.

The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well.

The main body of a ship or boat.

The lengthwise timber or steel structure along the base of a ship, supporting the framework of the whole, in some vessels extended downwards as a ridge to increase stability.

(Nautical)The frame or body of a ship, exclusive of masts, engines, or superstructure.

A ridge along the breastbone of many birds to which the flight muscles are attached; the carina.

The main body of various other large vehicles, such as a tank, airship, or flying boat.

A prow-shaped pair of petals present in flowers of the pea family.

The outer casing of a rocket, guided missile, or spaceship.

A flat-bottomed boat of a kind formerly used on the Tyne and Wear Rivers for loading ships carrying coal.

To remove the hulls of (fruit or seeds).

(of a boat or ship) turn over on its side; capsize

The outer covering of a fruit or seed.

The principal structural member of a boat or ship, running along the center of the hull from bow to stern, to which the ribs are attached.

Any covering.

A projecting ridge or fin on the bottom of the hull of a boat or ship that improves directional control and is often weighted for added stability.

The body or frame of a vessel, such as a ship or plane.

The principal structural member of an aircraft, resembling a ship's keel in shape and function.

The smallest set that possesses a particular property (such as convexity) and contains every point of A; slightly more formally, the intersection of all sets which possess the specified property and of which A is a subset.

A structure, such as the breastbone of a bird, that resembles a ship's keel in function or shape.

To remove the outer covering of a fruit or seed.

A pair of united petals in certain flowers, as those of many members of the pea family.

To drift; to be carried by the impetus of wind or water on the ship's hull alone, with sails furled.

A sail-powered barge, especially one historically used on the rivers of northern England.

(transitive) To hit (a ship) in the hull with cannon fire etc.

The load capacity of this barge.

The outer covering of anything, particularly of a nut or of grain; the outer skin of a kernel; the husk.

A British unit of weight formerly used for coal, equal to about 21.2 long tons.

The frame or body of a vessel, exclusive of her masts, yards, sails, and rigging.

To capsize or cause to capsize.

To strip off or separate the hull or hulls of; to free from integument; as, to hull corn.

To make cool.

To pierce the hull of, as a ship, with a cannon ball.

(nautical) A large beam along the underside of a ship’s hull from bow to stern.

To toss or drive on the water, like the hull of a ship without sails.

(nautical) A rigid, flat piece of material anchored to the lowest part of the hull of a ship to give it greater control and stability.

Dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut

(aeronautics) In a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a ship's keel; in an aeroplane, a fin or fixed surface employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its course.

Persistent enlarged calyx at base of e.g. a strawberry or raspberry

(by extension) The rigid bottom part of something else, especially an iceberg.

United States naval officer who commanded the `Constitution' during the War of 1812 and won a series of brilliant victories against the British (1773-1843)

(nautical) A type of flat-bottomed boat.

United States diplomat who did the groundwork for creating the United Nations (1871-1955)

(zoology) The periphery of a whorl extended to form a more or less flattened plate; a prominent spiral ridge.

A large fishing port in northeastern England

(botany) The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and enclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina.

The frame or body of ship

(brewing) A broad, flat vessel used for cooling liquids; a brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.

Remove the hulls from;

(Scotland) Red chalk; ruddle.

Enveloping part or shell.

To collapse, to fall

A frame or body of a ship.

To traverse with a keel; to navigate.

The outer covering of a spacecraft.

To turn up the keel; to show the bottom.

To cool; make cool; to cool by stirring or skimming in order to keep from boiling over.

To moderate the ardour or intensity of; assuage; to appease, pacify, or lessen.

To become cool; cool down.

To mark with ruddle.

Pronunciation spelling of kill

To cool; to skim or stir.

To traverse with a keel; to navigate.

To turn up the keel; to show the bottom.

A brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.

A longitudinal timber, or series of timbers scarfed together, extending from stem to stern along the bottom of a vessel. It is the principal timber of the vessel, and, by means of the ribs attached on each side, supports the vessel's frame. In an iron vessel, a combination of plates supplies the place of the keel of a wooden ship. See Illust. of Keelson.

Fig.: The whole ship.

A barge or lighter, used on the Tyne for carrying coal from Newcastle; also, a barge load of coal, twenty-one tons, four cwt.

The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and inclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina. See Carina.

A projecting ridge along the middle of a flat or curved surface.

In a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a ship's keel; in an aëroplane, a fin or fixed surface employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its course.

The median ridge on the breastbone of birds that fly

One of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability

Walk as if unable to control one's movements;

The central structural base of a boat or ship.

A structural element providing stability.

The lowest longitudinal part of a ship.

Most ships, especially sailing ships, need a keel for stability and to maintain course, making it crucial.

The keel contributes by lowering the center of gravity and providing structural strength, essential for stability.

Hulls are commonly made from materials like steel, aluminum, wood, and fiberglass.

While metal is common, keels can also incorporate other materials depending on the design and purpose of the ship.

Yes, there are various keel types like full, fin, and bilge keel, chosen based on vessel type and navigational needs.

Common issues include fouling, corrosion, and physical damage from impacts.

The main purpose of a hull is to provide buoyancy and house the vessel’s components.

The shape of the hull affects the ship’s stability, speed, and maneuverability in water.

The hull provides the overall enclosing structure, whereas the keel provides foundational support and stability.

The hull requires maintenance to prevent fouling and ensure integrity, while the keel needs structural inspections.

A damaged keel can compromise a ship's stability and its ability to sail straight.

Yes, the material and design of the keel can vary significantly depending on the ship's size and purpose.

Indirectly, by preventing excessive sideways motion and maintaining a straight course, which can aid in maintaining speed.

The hull plays a critical role in protecting the vessel’s interiors and maintaining buoyancy.

Keel inspections should be part of regular maintenance, especially after long voyages or impacts.