Why are Leisure 17's towed backwards?

[Seajet]

A lot of twin keelers worry their owners that they may ' peck ' bows down - I have pic's of Leisure 27's and Hurley 20's doing this in quite a dramatic way on our soft mud moorings, so people put wooden shores with a veed top under the forefoot in the yard over the winter.

It's a sensible precaution, but I don't think the boats would really nosedive wihout a gang of Morris Dancers on the foredeck - nb when boats pitch down at their mooring they - hopefully - have a big bit of heavy sagging chain pulling the bow down, in extremis leading to the concrete lump buried in the mud.

Also all decent boats are designed with the weight of the crew in the cockpit in mind, so when left alone will be a touch bows down anyway.

 

[ghostlymoron]

There was a Hurley 20 moored near to our L17 which always nosedived when it dried out whereas ours was quite secure. Pity because the H20 was otherwise a good boat. But you couldn't stay on it dried out.

 

[Seajet]

My chum with a Hurley 20 calls it ' The Hurley Peck ', a well known thing apparently.

I expect it would be simple enough to put heavy items like water tanks at the back ( and sleep in the saloon if not romantically obliged ) if staying aboard and drying out; I agree she seems a good boat.

 

[Jaguar 25]

All very interesting. Anyway, decided to buy a Leisure 17SL after selling our Jag 25.
At 70, I need something easily handleable solo and 'up north'! Who's coming back with 'grim up north'?