Joseph Krause wrote:
[snip[
Without the weight of the keel to balance it, the
craft was listing dangerously to port, as all on deck
scrambled for hand and foot holds.
The purpose of the keel is not to balance the boat -- that's what
ballast is for.
The keel keeps the boat going in a straight line. This is especially
important in a sail boat, (think of when the wind is coming directly
from the side, and the sail is at a 45 degree angle; the angle of the
sail makes the wind get directed backwards, and the boat move forwards,
and the keel keeps the boat from shifting sidewards), but also true in a
motor boat (the motor's in the back; staying in a straight line would be
much harder without a keel).
Imagine putting a block of wood on a smooth floor, and pushing it
forwards with one finger, touching the back of the block. Now, imagine
the same thing, but with a single wheel in the center of the block on
the bottom; the wheel lets the block move forwards and backwards, but
keeps it from sliding sideways. That's what a keel does.
I'm not sure how you can correct this without making serious changes to
your story.