two masts

[[2574]]

Okay, I'm a stinkie so I know nothing. But I'd like to know what the advantages are of two masts over one mast? I was on a friends ketch at the weekend and the aft mast (if that's the correct phraseology) ruins the sociability layout of the back of the boat. So there must be a fantastic reason to have a second mast to outweigh the disadvantage? More total boat power with smaller sails?

rob

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[Twister_Ken]

1. Spare mast in case big one falls down
2. Somewhere handy to stick radar, and wind generator
3. Something to lean against when peeing over the back
4. More string to play with if you sail with a big crew
5. Somehere to tie-off back-end of cockpit canopy

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[Lee_Shaw]

Versatility & balance.

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[janeK]

So come on spill the beans what was it like coming over from the 'dark side' and being on a real boat.
Let us know your thoughts good and bad, advantages, disadvantages etc

Hope you enjoyed yourself anyway.

janeK

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[tome]

In a nutshell, it spreads the sail area over more sails so they are not so big and much easier to handle. This was useful to short-handed crews, eg couples on long voyages in the days when everything was high-friction.

Nowadays, self-tailing winches (some powered) and silky blocks make this much less of an issue and the disadvantages of the ketch rig with the wind anywhere but on the beam seems to be their demise. There are still plenty of people who like this rig, but very few new ketches being built.

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[Cornishman]

You forgot "somewhere to hang a mizzen staysail"

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[Twister_Ken]

OK

Somewhere to hang the mizzen staysail
Somewhere to hang more flags if you're one of the "I belong to everything, and I've been everywhere, and I want everyone to know it" brigade.


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[TrueBlue]

Re: OK

Somewhere to hang your pants, 'cos all the extra complexity has frightened 'one'.

Nice to see something different - quick before Brussels legislates against anything that's not the norm.

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[[2574]]

Jane,

Well the truth of it is that I'm thinking of defecting. We've a fast boat (over 30kts flat out) but we tend to cruise at about 20kts. But I've found myself of late doing 6 knots and having a bit of peace and quiet and a glass of something cool whilst at sea. This is all a bit strange for a fast stinky - the idea of writing in the log at sea at twenty knots is hysterical let alone having a glass of wine on the gunwales!

So I'm thinking that if I like going slow then maybe I should do it properly! Four years ago I sailed with my mate between the Hawaiin islands (Oahu to Kuaiu) (sorry for spelling) on his ketch and that was a mighty big introduction to sailing with waves the size of mountains and the boat spending more time under water than on top of it. I threw up several times! So, I'm looking for a quieter sailing experience than that!

So, advantages - quiet, long range, better suited to bigger seas, slow.

Disadvantages - slow (!), need to have a beard and wear open toe sandals, errr...I can't think of many!

Rob

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[Peppermint]

Re: Useful

for hammock owners

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[Becky]

<need to have a beard and wear open toed sandals>
So this is where I have been going wrong all these years- no beard. And as for open toed sandals- don't they find every hole sticking up on the deck, or any other surface for that matter: and that really hurts!
No matter, Partner is well endowed in the whiskers dept.

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[kilkerr1]

<a glass of something cool whilst at sea>

You are of course, Sir, referring to a nice iced tea, lemonade, or some such...



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[[2574]]

Indeed Madam, a particular favourite is ginger chablis beer.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

So this is where I have been going wrong all these years- no beard.

Just wait until you get old and are onto your 3rd facelift /forums/images/icons/smile.gif




ducks and runs ..

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[ongolo]

one reason is that masts are generally lower and so is the centre of effort of the sails also lower. One reason for this is increased stability allowing for heavier mast slowing the roll frequency, yet a two masted something can carry more sail in bad weather. Dont think the perfomance of a pilot schooner could be matched in any modrn boat. (I am not talking speed)

As far as rigg strength goes, nothing can be stronger than a schooner rig with every mast strongly supported in any direction. On a ketch every mast is very much on his own.

For exact details, study of Naval architecture recommended.

regards ongolo

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