1
: a shallow covered keeled riverboat that is usually rowed, poled, or towed and that is used for freight
2
: a keeled sailboat
Examples of keelboat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, apart from his time competing on high-speed M32 catamarans, Canfield’s experience and success have come through racing traditional keelboats.
—
Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Most of the time, a small keelboat barely exceeds 10 knots of speed (11.5mph).
—Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Typically 60 feet long and 8 feet wide, capable of bearing 40 tons, the keelboat was specially designed for the western rivers.
—Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024
In a dominating victory in the three-person Soling keelboat at the 1972 Olympics, Melges unseated the sport’s greatest sailor, Paul Elvstrom, who had won four Olympic Gold medals.
—Chris Museler, New York Times, 22 May 2023
Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The main sail of the fiberglass J/24 keelboat coursing through bay waters just off Treasure Island flitted in the wind with a nervousness that told 2016 Olympics mariner Caleb Paine what was coming next.
—Julie Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Apr. 2023
One-day keelboat rentals for experienced sailors from $85.
—Erin E. Williams, Washington Post, 9 June 2022
The club’s monthly open houses welcome guests for free half-hour sails aboard keelboats or dinghies with a club member.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2019
And the weekend course offering is top-notch, with private and group beginner lessons, intermediate classes, keelboat workshops and more.
—New York Times, 21 Aug. 2019
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Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Most of the time, a small keelboat barely exceeds 10 knots of speed (11.5mph).
—Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Typically 60 feet long and 8 feet wide, capable of bearing 40 tons, the keelboat was specially designed for the western rivers.
—Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024
In a dominating victory in the three-person Soling keelboat at the 1972 Olympics, Melges unseated the sport’s greatest sailor, Paul Elvstrom, who had won four Olympic Gold medals.
—Chris Museler, New York Times, 22 May 2023
Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The main sail of the fiberglass J/24 keelboat coursing through bay waters just off Treasure Island flitted in the wind with a nervousness that told 2016 Olympics mariner Caleb Paine what was coming next.
—Julie Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Apr. 2023
One-day keelboat rentals for experienced sailors from $85.
—Erin E. Williams, Washington Post, 9 June 2022
The club’s monthly open houses welcome guests for free half-hour sails aboard keelboats or dinghies with a club member.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2019
And the weekend course offering is top-notch, with private and group beginner lessons, intermediate classes, keelboat workshops and more.
—New York Times, 21 Aug. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Keelboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keelboat. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
keelboat
noun
keel·boat
ˈkē(ə)l-ˌbōt 
: a shallow covered riverboat with a keel that is usually rowed, poled, or towed and is used to carry freight
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