Ketch Rig

[Kenomac]

One advantage of the ketch, is that you'll pay less for the boat because most today consider them obsolete.

On the downside, you'll have very few lookers when you eventually decide to sell.

There's only a couple of companies still building ketches. That said... Amel is one of them, and they build very nice boats.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by markpierce

With a yawl, one can "hang" a staysail which can be advantageous under some wind conditions.

I've seen many more mizzen staysails on ketches than yawls, but then I've seen many more ketches than yawls.

[Cheechako]

To me the only big disavantage is cluttering up the cockpit. The rest seems mostly good to me.... I think Yawls are really cool.....

[zeehag]

ketches....
sitting....

sailing with and without spinnaker.....

puuurrrty....jib n jigger....


crossing a bar..


kinda sexy boats, eh???


try to get that look with a sloop...lol

UH..WHAT cluttered cockpit......i got lotsa room in mine--mizzen is up against my coachouse, and mizzenboom is good for boom tent for shade in tropical summers. perfect. sofa on back transom--heavenly. niiiice thru breeze

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

To me the only big disavantage is cluttering up the cockpit. ..................................

This possible problem varies and is dependent upon size and design. None of the standing or even the running rigging of my ketch rig incumbers my cockpit. Though, I know what you mean. I have seen awkward designs with the mizzen mast in the cockpit.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Excellent points, skipmac... never considered the masthead height because haven't sailed in bridge covered water for many years.

Unfortunately I will still be dealing with bridges for 2-3 more years then it's open ocean for me.

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

As far as balance goes, I found it easier to balance a ketch rig than a cutter or sloop rig because you had more options on just about every point of sail except closehauled.

Cannot deny this. I think especially for a sloop, to keep the helm balanced you will have to do a lot more tweaking with reefs in the main vs which jib.

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

I certainly agree that you can point higher with a sloop or cutter but I always enjoyed the ride a ketch gave more than other rigs. Was rarely in a hurry to get anywhere.

Not that I was ever in a giant hurry to get somewhere but I can certainly think of many times when I was more that ready to be done bashing into the wind. Pointing higher or, to be honest, motorsailing seems to be the best way to accomplish that. Sure I've heard that gentlemen don't sail to windward but it's been a long time since I was accused of being a gentleman.

Like I recently said and has been said by many others many times, there is no best boat, no perfect boat, just the one that has the compromises that work for your personal style.

One last comment, for pure good looks I love a traditional schooner rig. Can't define what it is about a schooner that rings my particular bell but it sure does.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by skipmac

...

One last comment, for pure good looks I love a traditional schooner rig. Can't define what it is about a schooner that rings my particular bell but it sure does.

Don't speak to me of schooners

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Unfortunately I will still be dealing with bridges for 2-3 more years then it's open ocean for me. ...........

I would suspect that I've opened bridges two thousand times in the past 42 years and with rarely a problem. What is the specific disappointment with raising a bridge?

[zeehag]

ketches have shorter main masts than sloops.....

[Geoduck]

Ketch me if you can!
A lot more options. I get bored sailing a sloop.
I sail my ketch as a cutter a lot going to wind.
Can't be beat on a reach.
More places to fly pirate flags.
More ways to string up tarps.
More ways to hang laundry.
More ways to hang a hammock.
More to paint & varnish
More to rig
More money to spend
Worth it?
I think so!
I still like yawls too

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

I would suspect that I've opened bridges two thousand times in the past 42 years and with rarely a problem. What is the specific disappointment with raising a bridge?

You certainly beat me on total bridge openings. I probably have no more than a couple hundred.

Not that I don't love being on the water in any way and going under bridges up and down the coast is still entertaining (less so the wait when you get there 1 minute after the hour and have to wait ), but I am looking forward to the open sea and new horizons. Like my signature line, I'm pretty sure that the water is going to be bluer on the other side of the ocean. Even if it isn't it will be fun to go see for myself.

[SkiprJohn]

And a bowsprit makes a dandy place to sit and watch the dolphin play.

Most everything has been said.

I've owned and sailed both. Most ketches have full keels and therefore track downwind better. The mizzen takes care of itself once you've hoisted it and it is easy to sheet in and out with the sheet on the mast just in front of the helm station. Mizzen staysail is a joy to fly and helps greatly on a beam reach. Good ham antenna area between the tops of the masts.

Downsides. Double the rigging to care for and replace. Two masts to inspect and maintain. Can be complicated and does not have the simplicity of the sloop. Doesn't sail to weather as closely as a sloop.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Don't speak to me of schooners

Or these.

[bobconnie]

For us it's the smaller sails, it allows Connie and I to have a little larger boat, and still be able to sail it with just the two of us ! Even tho there is just us, we like the extra room so we can have all the stuff that makes us happy at our old age LOL, like gen sets and AC, big freazers, and LOT's of water and fuel tankage! We have 51 ft of ketch,No teak outside, and a pilot house! all the comfort of home (it is our home lol) But a ketch sails so well except for windward, and I just point off a bit and thats taken care of LOL Ketchs for us anytime!

[Tscott8201]

Wow guys, great information all around. I really appreciate the responses. I will definitely be leaning towards a ketch when my search begins. Based purely on aesthetics, the older ketch rigs really appeal to me. They seem to be more curved at the bow and appear to carry a bowsprit more often than not. Perhaps the older sloops carry these lines as well but in the size range I am searching the ketch's just seem to be more pleasing to the eye than the more modern looking production sloops.

Tom