With masts to repaint, 23 rigging screws, almost 250 metres of wire, zillions of halyards, 46 swageless or swaged fittings, as many clevis pins, 12 tang assemblies, etc, etc, the cost is way more than double that of a single masted boat.
It's 17 years since it was last done and it'll take that long before my wallet recovers from this one!
I agree with nearly all you said except that for down wind I just sail on twin head sails.We did go the ketch route since the rig and sails are smaller and for us well into our 50's that's a major advantage.
Not for me, the mizzen is aft of the cockpit, which makes a good back restBecause ketches have that mast and sail at the back which tends to be over the cockpit, [that's the bit where the driver sits]. Therefor there is more mast, sail and rigging to collect moisture and drip.
The third option is a cutter rig: it meets the requirement of breaking down the three individual white sails into more managable areas, while retaining the simplicity and economy of only one mast. The addition of a second pair of sheets and running-backstays don't exactly complicate one's sailing, and windward ability remains pretty good (we're not talking racing).
And make it a long keeler set up as a cutter rigged ketch and you've got the full package... [/smuggitmode]The third option is a cutter rig: it meets the requirement of breaking down the three individual white sails into more managable areas, while retaining the simplicity and economy of only one mast. The addition of a second pair of sheets and running-backstays don't exactly complicate one's sailing, and windward ability remains pretty good (we're not talking racing).
One particular advantage lies in the way in which one reefs down a cutter-rigged yacht as the wind pipes up. When a standard sloop changes down to a smaller headsail (or partially furls their big genoa with a consequent loss of sail-shape) the centre of effort of both reefed main and heads'l combined moves forward.
Whereas as on a cutter-rigged yacht, when one puts in the first reef in the main, one drops or furls the stays'l to retain overall balance. When the second reef goes in, one furls or hands the heads'l (yankee) altogether and re-hoists the stays'l. If conditions really deteriorate, one can sail pretty effectively with the just the stays'l, or hoist the storm-jib in its place on the inner forestay - ie all the time the centre of effort on the remaining sail area is kept close to the centre of the rig, keeping the whole boat more easily balanced.
Of course, add a long keel to the equation and just feel the smile spread across your face.
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But even if not racing (or perhaps especially), isn't there a problem when tacking of getting the foresail on the forestay around the inner stay (not sure of terminology)? (Being much worse than merely around the mast.)
N.B. I have no direct experience of cutters.
Mike.
I'm really surprised that you feel it necessary to replace what sounds like everything after just 17 years. Your rigger must love you!
Not for me, the mizzen is aft of the cockpit, which makes a good back rest![]()
In theory yes, but if its rigged as a proper cutter, ie with the inner forestay sufficiently far back, then in practice the foresail will go through pretty easily
Varua didn't have a large shed on deck.She is indeed.
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Varua didn't have a large shed on deck.
It's a schooner. You have a main sail, and a foresail. Both the main sail on their respective masts. Some circles of schooner sailors refer to the foresail as the fore main.