Sailors: Pick your favourite rig.

[QuickSilver]

I'm between boats and have been for some time. However, the sea (or lake, as may be) always calls to me and I'm always on the look out for my next boat. Of couse, it's got to be sail powered. None of this driving a motorized gas tank for me. Unless it's one of those old wooden classics which are varnished and polished to mirror like shine and that don't go much over 30 knots on a calm day.


But back to real boats. Here are your choices of sail plans:

Sloop (http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/sloop.htm) a single jib or staysail and a bermudan or gaff mainsail lifted by a single mast. The mainsail is managed with a spar on the underside called a "boom." One of the best-performing rigs, it is the fastest for up-wind passages. It's popular with amateurs because of its simplicity and potential for high performance. On small boats, it is a very simple rig. On larger sloops, the large sails pull dangerously, and one must manage them with winches.

Cutter (http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/cutter.htm), Like a sloop with two jibs in front. Better than a sloop for light winds. It's easier to manage, too. But, it has (very) slightly less up-wind ability than a sloop because it has more windage.

Yawl (http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/yawl.htm), is like sloop with a mizzen mast located aft (closer to the stern of the vessel) of the rudder post. The mizzen is usually small, and is often intended just to help point the boat upwind and balance it when going downwind. It is commonplace for badly-designed yawls to sail faster with the mizzen removed.

Ketch (http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ketch.htm), is like a yawl, but the mizzenmast is often much larger, and is located forward of the rudderpost. The purpose of the mizzen is to make the sails smaller and more manageable than they would be on a sloop with the same sail area. The shorter masts also reduce the amount of ballast needed to keep the boat upright. Generally the rig is safer and less prone to broaching or capsize than a comparable sloop, and has more flexibility in sailplan when reducing sail under adverse conditions. The ketch is a classic small cargo boat.

Catboat (http://www.areyspondboatyard.com/apbycatboat.html), a single gaff-rigged sailboat. This is the easiest sail-plan to sail, and is used on the smallest and simplest boats. The catboat is a classic fishing boat. A popular movement among home-built boats uses this simple rig to make "folk-boats." One of the advantages of this type is that there's no boom to hit one's head or knock one into the water, as there are in the sloop-derived boats. However, the gaff is mechanically complex, and adds weight high in the rigging. The gaff's fork (jaws) is held on by a rope threaded through beads called trucks (US) or parrel beads (UK). The gaff must slide down the mast, and therefore prevents any stays from bracing the mast. This usually makes the rig even heavier, requiring even more ballast.

Schooner (http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/schooner.htm), a two-masted gaff-rig. It mounts jibs and staysails, and often little triangular top-sails. One of the easiest types to sail, but it goes poorly to up-wind without the topsails. The extra sails and ease of the gaff sails make it easier to operate, though not necessarily faster, than a sloop on all points of sail other than up-wind. Schooners are more popular than sloops. The better performance of the sloop upwind is outweighed for most sailors by the better performance of the schooner at all other, more comfortable, points of sail.

There are more but I've tried to isolat the ones most often found sailing around North American shores these days. At least the ones I see most often. Also realizing that not all rig configurations are alike and variations are a plenty.

Feel free to add your favourite if I've missed it.

Mine, in order of preference of looks and not necessarily performance:

1. Schooner Gaff rigged
2. Ketch
3. Cutter Gaff rigged

N.B. I've only ever owned a sloop. So many boats, so little time.

[Tapioca Dextrin]

Here's (http://www.rigzone.com/data/rig_detail.asp?rig_id=494) my current rig. I guess that's not what you're after.

[Johnny L.A.]

I was in the San Diego Navy Sailing Club when I was in jr. high, so I learned how to sail in sloops. But if I were going to have a large boat that I can travel (and live) on, I'd have to say that my favourite is a ketch. I just like the lines.

I sold my little sailboat a couple of weeks ago. It's a spritrig. A spritrig is a catrig with a sprit attached to the bottom of the mast and the apex of the sail. The sail is not triangular, but is four-sided with the highest part opposite the juncture of the boom and the mast. Spritrigs have more sail area than a traditional catrig, but keep the mast and boom size the same. Mine was made by a former neighbour out of wood. Flat bottom and wide berth. It sailed very nicely. But I missed having a jib.

[QuickSilver]

Here's (http://www.rigzone.com/data/rig_detail.asp?rig_id=494) my current rig. I guess that's not what you're after.

My father was one of the principal design engineers on this bad boy. (http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/hibernia/) :)

But no, it's not what I meant. These babies have too much surface drag.

[Metacom]

My favorite, and only, rig is a windsurfer. :D

[RealityChuck]

I grew up sailing Sunfishes, but tend to sail my father's sloop most of the time. I defintely prefer that.

Haven't tried the others.

[QuickSilver]

I was in the San Diego Navy Sailing Club when I was in jr. high, so I learned how to sail in sloops. But if I were going to have a large boat that I can travel (and live) on, I'd have to say that my favourite is a ketch. I just like the lines.

I sold my little sailboat a couple of weeks ago. It's a spritrig. A spritrig is a catrig with a sprit attached to the bottom of the mast and the apex of the sail. The sail is not triangular, but is four-sided with the highest part opposite the juncture of the boom and the mast. Spritrigs have more sail area than a traditional catrig, but keep the mast and boom size the same. Mine was made by a former neighbour out of wood. Flat bottom and wide berth. It sailed very nicely. But I missed having a jib.

I'm trying to picture this design. How could it not have been a jibbed rig if you had a bow sprit?

[Anaamika]

I'm between boats and have been for some time. However, the sea (or lake, as may be) always calls to me and I'm always on the look out for my next boat. Of couse, it's got to be sail powered. None of this driving a motorized gas tank for me. Unless it's one of those old wooden classics which are varnished and polished to mirror like shine and that don't go much over 30 knots on a calm day.


You sail?

...Er...

I find myself suddenly willing to overlook the fact that you're not British.

[Johnny L.A.]

When I was a kid I had lots of fun sailing the 14' Lidos (retractable centreboard) and Capris (fixed keel). I liked the 26' Knockabouts, too; but we weren't allowed to take them out solo. I really, really wanted a 16' Hobie Cat. Oh, how I wanted one of those!

Since I've sold the spritrig, I want to sail now. (Ain't that always the way? But the zodiac is more useful to me.) I'm not going to get another sailboat in the foreseeable future, but I do tend to contemplate...

If I were going to get a sailboat, which would I get? The long-coveted Hobie Cat? A 14' sloop like I used to sail, which would be much easier to get upright if I were to capsize it (which could happen if I were to get a boat in SoCal and sail it in the surf zone)? A 26' MacGregor that I could sleep on and maybe sail out to the islands for a bit of diving? A 21' day-sailer with a little cockpit?

Of course, what I really want is a Calypso clone. (Which reminds me -- Where did they get the ship in The Life Aquatic?)

[Johnny L.A.]

I'm trying to picture this design. How could it not have been a jibbed rig if you had a bow sprit?
It's not a bowsprit. You have the mast, to which the sail is attached. There's a hook on the aft end of the sail that attaches to the end of the boom. Instead of being triangular, the sail has a 'point' about 2/3 of the way up on the trailing edge. There's a grommet there. The sail sprit has a hook on one end and a short piece of rope on the other. You put the hook in the grommet at the apex of the sail and push it up. There's a cleat on the mast at the juncture of the mast and boom, on the forward side. After pushing the sail sprit up, you put the line around the cleat and cinch it so as to push the sprit as far out as possible, then tie it off to keep the sprit in place.

I'll see if I can find a photo.

[Johnny L.A.]

Sprit rig diagram (http://bateau2.com/content/view/81/28/).

[Phlosphr]

Our last Sailboat was a Nonsuch 30 (http://www.sailquest.com/market/models/non30.htm) . Notice the hull capasity compared to the length. Oh and check out the Single sail, allowing a little less windward ability than your sloops, but in a headwind forgetaboutit.

[QuickSilver]

You sail?

...Er...

I find myself suddenly willing to overlook the fact that you're not British.

Always use for a good wench on my boat. Or is that winch? I can never keep those straight....

:D

[Johnny L.A.]

Sprit rig diagram (http://bateau2.com/content/view/81/28/).
Oh -- I should point out that the diagram does not show a boom. My boat had (has) a boom, and the sprit joined the mast at a lower point.

[Johnny L.A.]

You sail?

...Er...

I find myself suddenly willing to overlook the fact that you're not British.
I sail and fly! And I have two British cars. :D

[QuickSilver]

Sprit rig diagram (http://bateau2.com/content/view/81/28/).

:smack:

Got it.

So the primary purpose of the sprit is to what? Tension the leach of the sail better?

[Johnny L.A.]

So the primary purpose of the sprit is to what? Tension the leach of the sail better?
I believe the primary purpose is to increase the sail area whilst keeping the mast to a reasonable height.

[OldBroad]

Ours is a solent rig It looks like, but is definitely not a cutter - you don't fly both headsails together. Sea Fox (http://www.thefoxworthys.com/SeaFox/seafox-photo-main.htm)

The inner foresail is 90% and is self tacking by means of a traveler on the coach roof just in front of the mast. This is great for us OldBroads and our old fart mates.

The outer foresail is a 130% reacher used for those long reaches when you may not tack for a day or two. Tacking requires furling and unfurling tho we've proved that it can be tacked through the stays with great difficulty and much loss of speed and control.

Ketches are truly elegant looking boats, as are gaff rigged schooners, but I like the simplicity of a sloop.

[QuickSilver]

Our last Sailboat was a Nonsuch 30 (http://www.sailquest.com/market/models/non30.htm) . Notice the hull capasity compared to the length. Oh and check out the Single sail, allowing a little less windward ability than your sloops, but in a headwind forgetaboutit.

I know this boat. :)

Nice. Very roomy. Good reputation for stability as well.

[QuickSilver]

I believe the primary purpose is to increase the sail area whilst keeping the mast to a reasonable height.

I guess the sprit would be lighter than additional mast height giving a more stable hull.

That's what I love about sail boats.... so many variables to play with.

[Kakofonous]

I'm a dinghy girl. Give me a laser any day (errr ... I guess that's a catboat for purposes of 'favorite rig'). Seeing that I'm in grad school and owning a boat isn't an option, I've had to bum rides off of anyone that will take me - mostly I'm on J22s (sloop rig).

[QuickSilver]

Ours is a solent rig It looks like, but is definitely not a cutter - you don't fly both headsails together. Sea Fox (http://www.thefoxworthys.com/SeaFox/seafox-photo-main.htm)

The inner foresail is 90% and is self tacking by means of a traveler on the coach roof just in front of the mast. This is great for us OldBroads and our old fart mates.

The outer foresail is a 130% reacher used for those long reaches when you may not tack for a day or two. Tacking requires furling and unfurling tho we've proved that it can be tacked through the stays with great difficulty and much loss of speed and control.

Ketches are truly elegant looking boats, as are gaff rigged schooners, but I like the simplicity of a sloop.

Nice boat. Love the long lines.

I guess you don't bother with a spinnaker then, eh? :D

[Johnny L.A.]

I'm a dinghy girl.
I suppose my boat could have been called a 'sailing dinghy'. It's only 12' long. When I was thinking of painting it and giving it a name I thought Leviathan would be appropriate. :p Or, I thought about painting it grey and calling it Dory In Grey. Or maybe, whatever colour, Funky Dory.

I saw a bumper sticker a while ago: 'I drives me boat. Me wife drives me dinghy.'

[QuickSilver]

I'm a dinghy girl. Give me a laser any day (errr ... I guess that's a catboat for purposes of 'favorite rig'). Seeing that I'm in grad school and owning a boat isn't an option, I've had to bum rides off of anyone that will take me - mostly I'm on J22s (sloop rig).

Quick boat! Race much?

[QuickSilver]

If I were going to get a sailboat, which would I get? The long-coveted Hobie Cat? A 14' sloop like I used to sail, which would be much easier to get upright if I were to capsize it (which could happen if I were to get a boat in SoCal and sail it in the surf zone)? A 26' MacGregor that I could sleep on and maybe sail out to the islands for a bit of diving? A 21' day-sailer with a little cockpit?

Of course, what I really want is a Calypso clone. (Which reminds me -- Where did they get the ship in The Life Aquatic?)

Hobbies are fun to sail and show off. Hardly a comfortable ride though. I'd almost rather windsurf.

The macgregor 26 is a good boat. Water balast, right? I've heard of blistering problems but that may be in the early models.

I know that Hunter makes a really nice and very roomy 19' day sailer. I've seen it once in action. Looked very functional and trailerable.

[NurseCarmen]

I am fondest of the center cockpit ketch. Having the cockpit in the center makes for some good layouts below. But that's only when I have a full compliment of crew. I'm a bareboater, so I don't have my own yet, but I've sailed alot of different boats. I sure think the Schooner rigs are pretty, but not quite set up for single handed sailing. So, my purchase will most likely be a sloop. But really, the Center cockpit ketch is pretty easy too. I usually just set the mizzen, give it very little travel, and leave it be, so it's essentially a pretty sloop. If need be, I can pay attention to the mizzen at my leasure after I come about. Anything gaff rigged is just too much work (But they sure do look perrrdy)

On preview, I see OldBroad nailed it, ya can't beat the simplicity of a sloop. Things have a tendancy to break if they get too complicated. (Plus, I really like her step stern)

[Anaamika]

Always use for a good wench on my boat. Or is that winch? I can never keep those straight....

:D

If you can't keep those straight you've got bigger problems and it's probably not safe to sail with you. :p


I sail and fly! And I have two British cars.

I think I'll sail with Johnny instead. At least I know he can tell the difference!

[Johnny L.A.]

The macgregor 26 is a good boat. Water balast, right? I've heard of blistering problems but that may be in the early models.
I think it's water ballast. I've seen a bunch of them up here. The woman who bought my sprit rig is waiting for her (or her SO's) new MacGregor to be delivered.
I know that Hunter makes a really nice and very roomy 19' day sailer. I've seen it once in action. Looked very functional and trailerable.
Trailerable is good. Birch Bay is a tidal flat, so you can't sail half the time -- and you need a dinghy to go to your boat when the tide is in or else wade through the water to it. But plans are still to move to L.A. No matter what boat I get, storage will be a problem. Or maybe not; just expensive. The larger the boat, the more expensive it is to keep -- and I'd rather put money into an airplane or helicopter. Between the MGB and the Triumph (if I decide to keep the Herald), the motorcycle, filmmaking and flying, would I really use a larger boat? A small sloop would probably suffice. But it would be nice to sleep over on the boat, have something I can dive from, and have a place to hang out with friends.

[QuickSilver]

If you can't keep those straight you've got bigger problems and it's probably not safe to sail with you. :p

I think I'll sail with Johnny instead. At least I know he can tell the difference!

Typical female. Always looking for a bigger boat. :p

[Kakofonous]

Quick boat! Race much?

Exclusively racing, these days. I grew up sailing sunfish and hobies on a small lake with no racing. That gets a little boring after several years but even that beats not sailing at all. Wanting to learn to race and needing to bum rides if I want to sail has been a wonderful match. I can crew compentantly but have a ton to learn. The J22 is a great boat - big enough to reward competant crewing and teamwork but small enough to sail by feel and utilize all of the small boat skills.

[OldBroad]

Originally posted by Quick Silver
Nice boat. Love the long lines.

I guess you don't bother with a spinnaker then, eh?


Its a Robert Perry design - one of his "sleds". Has only a 12' beam so it really looks longer than its 43'. It's fast and sails well.

And it came with a spinnaker but we've not had it up yet. Pervious owner used it traveling from San Fran to Houston, but I'm almost afraid of having to deal with it. We've got this big ol' whisker pole stowed on the front of the mast that is intimidating all by itself.

It is now 8 months and counting until retirement and move aboard time.

[psycat90]

Sloop.

We had a Mac 26 a couple of years ago. Decent starter boat, we really didn't have any trouble with it. Yes, it is water ballast.

I don't know when we plan on getting our next one, probably not until my youngest son is out of High School, but I'm sure it will most likely be a bermudan sloop and at least 40'.

[Dante]

I used to crew on my uncle's C&C 30, and I really liked it, but it's not a roomy boat by any means. Now he's got a First 40.7 (designed by Farr, I believe).

BTW, my nickname on the C&C was "Ballast". He's got a much more experience crew now...

[QuickSilver]

I used to crew on my uncle's C&C 30, and I really liked it, but it's not a roomy boat by any means. Now he's got a First 40.7 (designed by Farr, I believe).

Hey, I crewed out of Etobicoke Y.C. (http://www.eyc.ca/) for a couple of years in the early 90's. We raced the C&C 34's. Great experience and very competitive. The skippers were all high strung, type A personality, Capt. Bligh type bastards. Some races were just stress from the moment you stepped foot on the boat to the moment you stepped foot in the bar.

[QuickSilver]

...and utilize all of the small boat skills.

Yeah, like staying dry and in the boat. :)

[QuickSilver]

We've got this big ol' whisker pole stowed on the front of the mast that is intimidating all by itself.
Consider it a spare fending pole. :)

It is now 8 months and counting until retirement and move aboard time.

<envy smiley>

[Dante]

Hey, I crewed out of Etobicoke Y.C. (http://www.eyc.ca/) for a couple of years in the early 90's. We raced the C&C 34's. Great experience and very competitive. The skippers were all high strung, type A personality, Capt. Bligh type bastards. Some races were just stress from the moment you stepped foot on the boat to the moment you stepped foot in the bar.
I was crewing out of RCYC. I know what you mean about the skippers. My uncle is the exact opposite, although he is somewhat type A. He has a brass plaque that he's moved from boat to boat: "Quiet please. We're racing."

On one memorable occasion, we're just about to come around for the downwind leg, the spinnaker's ready to go, and we've got two guys grinding like hell on the winches. I don't know how it happened, but I looked around just as one of them pulled up on the winch handle (don't know why), lost his grip, and it went flying off into the drink.

My uncles response? He glances at the water, looks at the guy and says "You owe me one winch handle." I almost dropped the spinnaker pole I was laughing so damn hard. The other boats must have thought we'd gone bonkers, 8 people doing their level best to get a spinnaker up, all laughing fit to bust.

[QuickSilver]

:D

Yeah... good times....

:)

[Kakofonous]

Yeah, like staying dry and in the boat. :)

Given that I'm used to little boats, I'm always suprised when people come to sail in clothes that won't dry quickly. They seem to forget that it's a water sport. And hiking out doesn't require any of these ... what are they ... life lines?

[FairyChatMom]

Our first boat (as a married couple - hubby owned several before we met) was a 1937 wooden gaff-rigged cutter. Sailed like a pig, but a heck of a first boat. Then we owned a couple of sloops, a Hobie 16, a Newport 30, and finally this (http://groups.msn.com/CaptStevesWanderingStar/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=12), our current vessel. It's a Fisher 37 motor sailer ketch. Personally, I prefer sailing a sloop. In fact, I'm half-heartedly looking for another Newport 30...

[QuickSilver]

It's a Fisher 37 motor sailer ketch.

She's a big ol' girl. Looks ready for any weather.

[FairyChatMom]

Yeah, she's a blue-water boat. But for a few years, she'll be pretty much confined to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

[pullin]

I love reading this stuff. Bring me more. (Arrrgh).

The missus and I are selling our inboard, and looking to try our hand with our first sailboat (a sloop for us beginners... probably a 25-27' Catalina).

Wish us luck.

[QuickSilver]

I love reading this stuff. Bring me more. (Arrrgh).

The missus and I are selling our inboard, and looking to try our hand with our first sailboat (a sloop for us beginners... probably a 25-27' Catalina).

Wish us luck.

Catalina's are popular boats on the east coast. Perhaps throughout all of the U.S. They are one of the main competitors to Hunters but the older models tend not to be quite as birthy, IIRC. However, that depends on the model year 'cuz things change so fast.

There is a pretty large sailing community devoted to this boat so you should have no problems getting information about effective mods and general maintenance.

Good luck. :)