Where do I put the mast.

[daveyd]

I have a Northsea 34 built around 1980. These boats were build in BC and are a copy of the Colvic Victor 34; the only significant difference is that they are rigged as sloops and the Colvic Victor 34's were rugged as ketches with a 3 foot bowsprit.

My boat has never had a mast and I want to rig it as a ketch but without the bowsprit.

I am trying to decide where to place the main mast. On the Northsea sloop rig the mast is 42 feet and 14 feet aft of the bow. On the Colvic Victor 34, the mast is 36.5 feet and 12 feet aft the bow.

I am thinking something in between. There is a mast support at 13 feet aft the bow.

I look forward to any and all input including those of you who are going to tell me that nobody does ketches any more and that I am an idiot!

[Faster]

You will be somewhat constrained by the location of an existing mast support unless you're willing and able to make some fairly serious mods to the boat's structure and possibly layout.

The question of 'why a ketch?' is not without merit - but not saying you're an idiot . In many cases, esp with dated designs a ketch may be 'right'... I'm not sure the Northsea 34 qualifies. There's also the space lost in the cockpit with such a rig to consider.

We have a former NS34 owner here, jrd22 who should have some first hand insight to what you're proposing....

[daveyd]

The current mast support is not under where it should be for a sloop (14 ft from bow) or under the ketch location (12 feet) but is at 13 ft.
Just so everyone is clear, I have two reasons for going ketch. The first is that several owners of the NorthSea 34 have complained that it does not track very well; that it requires constant steering. The Colvic owners I have contact say that is not the case with the ketch rig.
Second, I am 69 and I will sail her with my wife. I feel I need any help I might get from the smaller pieces of sail and the advantage of dropping rather than reefing the main.

David

[celenoglu]

Ketch rigging demands a further forward main mast. A bowsprit might be needed. The center of effect of total sails should be located in a good position related to the CE of the keel. This is sometimes only possible with a bow spirit. You should check the location of the keels in two models and decide for the positon of the masts accordingly and check if a bow spirit will be needed.