This category contains profiles of persons who worked as keelmen.
The name can be misleading as the Keels were of shallow draught and although the construction was around a keel this was not pronounced and steering was commonly by larboards which could be raised in the shallowest waters. In this respect modern keel boats do not resemble their forebears.
The Tyne Keelboat was relatively small and frequently rowed, ("Weel may the keel row that my laddies in") whereas the Humber Keel was a barge usually of about 50 to 70 tons which sailed not only on the Humber but also on the various rivers (the Ouse, the Calder, the Trent and the Hull) and many canals which came into the Humber. They could be sailed close to the wind so that even in enclosed waters it was rare that the crew was forced to row or pole the vessel until the tide or the wind turned.
The Humber Sloop like the Keel was fore and aft rigged but was not intended for canal work, so could have a broader beam and a real keel. Sloops ranged up to 400 tons and might sail to London or Newcastle.