Disp/Length ratio and MAB vs AWB

[roblpm]

Idle winter musings. I have read hundreds of threads about AWBs and MABs over the years. One of the defining features is the D/L ratio as people describe bobbing about with high volume / low D/L ratio in an AWB vs low volume high D/L ration in an MAB.

So......

Has anyone here actually sailed in a Hallberg Rassy 372 for example? D/L ratio 194. Does the hull shape compensate for the high volume/low weight?

On sailboat data there are precisely 7 32-36 boat designs that started manufacturing after 2000. The ones I have heard of are Mystery 35, Nauticat 351, Southerly 32 and 320.

Boats with a D/L ratio much over 225 are a dying breed.

Does this mean comfort in heavy weather is a thing of the past?

Btw after my previous Fulmar thread on Pbo my latest thinking is something slightly newer! ? For Scotland and North Sea crossings. Ocean 33, Moody S336, Hanse 331 and for something newer maybe Dufour 34p.

 

[Concerto]

Personally I would not worry too much about numbers. There is no clear intrepretation on such a simple set of numbers. You need to also include the ballast ratio, the beam and how far it runs aft.

Most people try to avoid sailing in rough weather (Force 5 and above, not Force 8 as it should mean). So it then becomes is the boat comfortable to be on whilst moored or anchored. Wave slap under the transom can be very noisy, especially in an aft cabin on wide low transom like those with a drop down platform transom.

Modern boats are more about creating volume in the overall length, hence virtually no overhangs. Stabilty relies more on form stabilty (beam) than keel weight, this causes a very buoyant hull that can feel bouncy in a chop. A few years ago I was at the Southampton Boat Show with my daughter and we looked at a Dufour 32. There was about a SW5 wind blowing into the marina and the movement caused my daughter to walk off the boat as it was making her feel queasy.

So my advice would be to consider boat length as length helps for a more stable ride over a shorter boat,