Quote:
Originally Posted by sab30
Im told a heavier displacement boat provides better comfort at anchor as well.
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This is by no means a certain relationship and could be a red herring. Weight is one factor but hull shape is equally important. There are some heavy designs of the "old" style that do indeed behave more calmly, but you should also look at e.g. the transoms. Many newer boats have very wide transoms and a "fine" bough, resulting in a tremendous lift and carrying capacity aft. Compared with a narrow boat, e.g. a canoe stern, they roll less in a following sea and are less "wet" - they are not so quickly pooped. The design is meant to sail them more flat and with less roll. Put bluntly: sailing with less heel is also a comfort factor.
My own boat is great at anchor where it is allowed to swing into the wind, but not at all good tied up in a marina. Even small waves taken sideways will rock her in the marina. There, a heavy round-keeler would be more at home.
The weight factor can work both ways, and few designers add weight just for the sake of comfort. There will be combinations of wave height/length and boat where weight helps a particular boat, and others when the weight exacerbates the roll.
While sailing, remember that weight also affects how quickly a boat can accelerate. An agile boat can pick up speed and "ride" a wave rather than getting buried and trapped in it. I should add "sometimes" - this is also a truth that applies in some conditions, not all.
Important caution: we are after all speaking about
sail boats. The chief provider of stability is meant to be the sail, stiffening the boat and counteracting wave movements. When the boat is too heavy, the sails lack power to do their job; on the other hand, if the boat is super light it would overreact and be too restless.