Here you see Fishing Vessel Judith Ann made fast to the Town Dock in Naskeag Harbor the day after Thanksgiving. She appears to be bringing her lobster traps ashore at the end of her season. But, she’s also giving us an anatomy lesson as to parts of lobster boats that generally are not seen.
She’s resting on her long keel, which minimizes damage to the hull from groundings. If you look closely at the aft end of the keel, you’ll see her “skeg,” which is an extension of the keel that also protects the vessel’s propeller and increases cruising stability. It has top and bottom “rudder steps” to which the rudder is attached. Here’s a Leighton Archive image that has a clearer view of FV Blue Sky’s skeg and rudder:
Most etymological references indicate that the word “skeg” derives from Scandinavian words for “beard.” Perhaps in days of yore the skeg area of a vessel was considered to be (or look like) an “outgrowth” of the keel. (Primary image taken in Brooklin, Maine, on November 24, 2023.)