To Ketch or not to Ketch

[thvoyager]

Are ketch boats any more or any less trouble than sloops? Or do they require same amount of upkeep?
I have read pros and cons of ketches but not so much on the maintenance side.

 

[Goldie]

We’ll, there’s the obvious point in that when the time comes to replace the rigging, there is twice as much to do; twice the number of shrouds and probably twice the number of terminals. On my ketch, there were more terminals on the mizzen than the main due to jumper struts etc.

 

[RJJ]

More sails...but they are smaller and therefore lighter weight and simpler. And, which is a big benefit, easier to manhandle.

Presumably winches, running rigging and other hardware also smaller and simpler....although bigger quantity.

 

[geem]

Our ketch has 12mm rigging on mainmast but 6mm on mizzen. Main mast is same height as the sloop version so genoa is the same size but boom is shorter. It will cost more in upkeep but we get more versatility with sail settings and some redundancy

 

[dunedin]

More

 

[LadyInBed]

we get more versatility with sail settings and some redundancy

That's the thing that I like most with my ketch.
Main mast is the 'short version'. I've had the mains three reef crinkles set a foot higher and full length battens which suits me for solo sailing. Centre cockpit gives a sense of security. Pilot house saloon means that I don't have to sit out in the wet.
Yes, there's more running and standing rigging to be replaced, and an extra sail, but it doesn't have to be all done at the same time.
Oh, and the mizzen mast gives you a solid pole to hang things like Solar, WG and cockpit cover.

 

[ashtead]

I cannot see really how they will be more apart from rerigging and an extra sail to have laundered and repaired. Clearly day costs higher which along with electric winches no doubt accounts for lack of many new ones about. If you night sailing it gives the advantage of being able to drop the main and keep plodding along under headsail and mizzen etc so much less to trouble the night watch crew potentially.

 

[geem]

Ketches upkeep can only be down to having the extra standing and running rigging and sail to replace periodically. At th end of the day, thats the only difference. The mizzen sail is small and relatively cheap. However, sailing off the wind the mizzen on our boat gets lots of use. We sail faster off the wind than the same boat rigged as a sloop. In heavy weather off the wind we dispense with the mainsail. This saves wear and tear on an expensive sail and instead we wear the cheaper mizzen sail.
The mizzen rig, being lightweight rigging compared to the main mast is relatively cheap to rig. In the overall running costs the mizzen mast is not significant. In the overall build costs, I suspect the cost is significant.

 

[Refueler]

I have always liked Ketch .... the variation of sail plan to suit conditions ... not only Ketch .. but Yawl as well. (I also like the possibilities with Bowsprits .... many times considered adding one to my SR25).

Funny that some days ago - Ketch rig came up in a chat I was having and I mentioned a small item that prompted quite a discussion. As some know here ... I have been testing a VHF-AIS antenna splitter. Off-forum - I have had quite a lot of response ... and I mentioned that the antenna separation distance would be solved by a Ketch or Yawl rig ... enabling VHF antenna on main, AIS antenna on mizzen.
The mention then prompted other comments .... Radar .... Wind .... etc. They may seem small items to consider against the setup of having two masts etc. - but all these things add up.

 

[geem]

I have always liked Ketch .... the variation of sail plan to suit conditions ... not only Ketch .. but Yawl as well. (I also like the possibilities with Bowsprits .... many times considered adding one to my SR25).

Funny that some days ago - Ketch rig came up in a chat I was having and I mentioned a small item that prompted quite a discussion. As some know here ... I have been testing a VHF-AIS antenna splitter. Off-forum - I have had quite a lot of response ... and I mentioned that the antenna separation distance would be solved by a Ketch or Yawl rig ... enabling VHF antenna on main, AIS antenna on mizzen.
The mention then prompted other comments .... Radar .... Wind .... etc. They may seem small items to consider against the setup of having two masts etc. - but all these things add up.

We have VHF on main mast and AIS on top of mizzen. Both work flawlessly. The radar is mounted on the mizzen mast at the spreaders. Wind on the main mast. We also have a second completely independent vhf set up also on the mizzen mast. Separate radio, power supply and antenna.

 

[thvoyager]

Some solid info here from heavyweights in the sailing world! I have a lot to learn! Ketch doesn't sound too bad! Just some of the boats I am looking at all seem to be ketch set up, I am not sure of that is the romantic sailor in me who is drawn to more classic looking sailing yachts or not but Ketch boats usually seem to be centre cockpit, which is again something I am drawn to for both safety and space towards rear of boat. I am naive and learning tho. Thanks y'all.

 

[DownWest]

Not that I am likely to have a big ketch now, more a little yawl. But the flexibility of a ketch and the smaller winches and other gear would appeal to me. I did look after a 35 ton 65ft ketch and it made sense. No power winches and everything handled by the skipper and his girlfriend. Guests helped, but were not needed.
Keeping sails relatively small has many advantages.

 

[thvoyager]

Not that I am likely to have a big ketch now, more a little yawl. But the flexibility of a ketch and the smaller winches and other gear would appeal to me. I did look after a 35 ton 65ft ketch and it made sense. No power winches and everything handled by the skipper and his girlfriend. Guests helped, but were not needed.
Keeping sails relatively small has many advantages.

Wow 35t!!! Mad!

 

[thvoyager]

Oh, and the mizzen mast gives you a solid pole to hang things like Solar, WG and cockpit cover.

And a large hammock between mizzen and main surely!

 

[billskip]

Deleted

 

[Sea-Fever]

If there are downsides of a ketch it’s not in the maintenance.

 

[ashtead]

Sailed a steel 60 ton ketch -we always took the North main down at night and ran under headsail and mizzen . Used to sail with 2 on each watch and no real drama.

 

[GrandadPig]

Headsail and mizzen is a lovely sail plan when the wind gets up. Had a Colvic Watson 28’ ketch that would bumble along like that no matter what. Made vey very little Lee way.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

.
Oh, and the mizzen mast gives you a solid pole to hang things like Solar, WG and cockpit cover.

And the washing line. I have rarely seen a ketch rig without one. I guess it’s a blue water/liveaboard choice, whereas we almost never do it aboard. I like a ketch, or a Yawl. So much sail choice, particularly cutter rigged ones.

 

[GrandadPig]

My CW28 also had a new mizzen staysail. Never really used it but it looked good and struck fear into the hearts of the enemy?