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Ahoy Cam

1K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  capn_dave 
#1 ·
;) :) Since you have one on your boat, I was wondering just what in the world a mizzen is for?
I have been messing around in boat for over 45 years and been delivering them for more than 10 years. I will admit I have only sailed boats with mizzens about 6 times.
The only thing I can figure out is, they make great anchor riding sails, they give you sumthin to mess with when your bored, You can hang more junk off them Backup to the backup radars,gps antenna and the list goes on. As for more speed there doesn't seem to be much improvement, as for boat balance, I can balance the boat with or without it.
Like I said I don't have much experience with them, so I am probably missing something. Can ya help a fellow old salt out?

Fair Winds
Cap'n Dave
 
#2 ·
mizzen

we use the mizzen for many things.
first it allows a sail plan with a lot of canvas and shorter masts.
i believe this is better for offshore work.

secondly, we regularly sail with Jib and jigger in 50 + knots and a very nicely balanced helm.

thirdly we can run a spinnaker and a mizzen spinnaker.
this trip south we hit a new surfing speed of 16.7 knots (yes i have a photo of the knotmeter)

as you said it is also a great place for a radar antenna. but for me the heavy weather aspects are great.

fair winds,
eric
 
#3 ·
Cap'n Dave...First...I was not looking for a ketch when I found Camaraderie...it just kinda happened when I fell in love with the boat so it is not some sort of "mission" for me to sell others on the benefits of a ketch. I'm more passionate about staysails than mizzens <grin> but here are the benefits as I see them of my mizzen.

1. Lowers the needed height of the main mast so I can get under 65' ICW bridges whereas the sloop version of my boat has to go outside no matter what the weather.
2. splits the size of the mainsail so my wife can winch it up and trim manually if the electrics go out
3. if the main shreds...I can still make good way.
4. since mizzen is deck stepped and main is not, I can run my electrical needs up the missen and disconnect easily at deck level when masts need to be pulled. Same advantage can be had with a deck stepped main mast but I kinda like a keel stepped mast.
Kimberlite has the other stuff covered and I've never used a mizzen spinnaker or staysail but if I was heading to the trade winds I imagine I'd get one and it would be a real benefit.
The other thing I like about them is that they are easy to handle and require very little attention so the complexity of sailing doesn't go up.

For a boat of our size, the first two points are very important but I'm not sure how much difference they would make on a mid-40' boat. I would buy a sloop rig again without hesitation on a smaller boat but now I would prefer a ketch rig slightly.
 
#4 ·
Thanks Guys

The mast height being lower is something I knew but just didn't think about. They sure give a boat that classic look. I never had a ketch out in 50+ winds so I can't say about balance when the winds get that high I start thinking about reefing:p . I guess what I was getting at is, the few times I sailed ketches I couldn't really tell much difference in performance with the mizzen up or down.

Thanks for the info I thought I was missing something but not really.

Fair Winds guys It's 74 degrees here in Georgetown. Chicken harbor

Cap'n Dave
 
#6 ·
I am to old for Volleyball I like to watch, if you get my drift, My friends Don and Mary (Dark and Stormy) and Ron and Linda (Water Music) are the volleyball players.

I am hanging out here for a few months then going back to Florida to take boats back up north.

When the rest of my friends get here, we will probably head over to Staniel Cay. The admiral wants to see the pig. I would really like to have a barbecue on Pig Beach.;)

Fair WInds

Cap'n Dave
 
#7 ·
Dave...LOL about the pig! I was off snorkeling while my wife stayed by the dinghy when mama pig showed up and found a root beer can in the dinghy...She climbed in the dinghy...opened the can explosively and up-ended it to drink the remains. Still in the dinghy, she then began to attack the fuel hose to the motor since it now had root beer on it. All the while my wife is kicking and pushing and trying to get the monster out! Finally she dragged the dinghy off the beach into ever deeper water and the pig jumped out. Lemme say that I heard about that one for weeks! <grin> Suggest YOUR admiral hide the foodstuffs before approaching!!
Have fun!
 
#8 ·
I was Lucky Cam

I was warned before hand about food and the pig. Allot of good that info did. The pig or pigs as it seems are really curious. The sucker will come and check out every boat that comes ashore.

We will be spending most of the day on board and over at Eddies Edgewater. It is raining and the temp is going to be about 75 winds NE 7-10 mph.
Sunday is the big day at Chat and Chill ROAST PIG Ha!!!!!:)

Revenge is mine!!!!! LOL.

Fair Winds

Cap'n Dave
 
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