I was thinking about this reading the thread, would not a rig with more flexability to power-up / down easily benefit short-handed cruisers more than a mosthead rig, dependent on a large headsail, and few controls to manage sail shape and power; with less crew the flexability becomes more important not less.
I can see the benefits of a 7/8, even a 9/10 max, rig, but what are the benefits of a 15/16 anyways, is that not essentially a masthead rig?
I was thinking about this reading the thread, would not a rig with more flexability to power-up / down easily benefit short-handed cruisers more than a mosthead rig, dependent on a large headsail, and few controls to manage sail shape and power; with less crew the flexability becomes more important not less.
I can see the benefits of a 7/8, even a 9/10 max, rig, but what are the benefits of a 15/16 anyways, is that not essentially a masthead rig?
I think we're in agreement there, Max... perhaps Jeff can enlighten us tomorrow....
__________________ Boating in BC waters since the '60s, sailing since 1981. Currently on our 5th boat, a 1984 Fast/Nicholson 345.
At that point you are looking at differences in mast material and taper...Any rig that has the lever arm at the top will bend the mast...it is just much harder to do with a 9/10 rig....but why should that stop you from trying?!
In my opinion rigging type has most to do with use and sailing condition.
For coastal cruising, club racing a would probably prefer a fractional rig with bigger possibilities of mast/sail trimming and less foresail. On the other hand going 'trade wind cruising' as I did, the advantage of the bigger fore sail may not be eliminated. Quite often I reduced the main and kept the genoa fully out for a better balance and more stable boat. One disadvantage is that mast heads often have the spreaders rather back swept and care has to be taken to avoid chafing of the main. If equipped with in mast furling of the main another problem might occur with a fractional rig and the furling system. Don't forget to loosen the backstay when rolling in!
It is a lot of pro's and con's, no single answer.
The baby-stay provides mast bend, straight spreaders for maximum main sail swing, and a hand place from which to run a storm sail headsail.(the topping lift for the spinnaker pole becomes the halyard). All rather neat and simple.
Currently have a 26' day sailer. I am pondering a future purchase of a bigger sailboat for coastal cruising. I am looking at boats in the low to mid 30' range. Mostly I would be sailing solo so that is a factor.
I see some boats in this range have fractional rigs while others have mast head rigs.
Looking for some background data on what the real difference is.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim,
I'm just reading the thread that your initial post generated and I see that it's gotten on a bit of a tangent from your basic question. I was exactly where you were 6 years ago, with a 26 foot trailerable sloop and looking for a moderate size coastal cruiser. After looking at boats that I had chartered in the Caribbean I stumbled across a Nonsuch 30 - a catboat with an unstayed mast and wishbone rig that greatly simplifies things for the single-hander. Since then, I've logged more than 15,000 miles on "Cat Rageous" - most of it single-handing - and haven't looked back.
If you want to learn more about the class (they come in sizes from 22 to 36 feet), I'd suggest checking out the International Nonsuch Assocation site at: http://www.nonsuch.org/
Have fun!
__________________
Allan D.
S/V Cat Rageous
Nonsuch 30U
Newport News, VA
Last edited by adewall : 01-15-2008 at 01:45 PM.
Reason: Update
Based on your statement that you will be doing a lot of single handed sailing, I would offer the advice to consider a boat with self tacking jib. My old 30' Cape Dory ketch had a club footed jib and it made sail handling a breeze. No more jib sheets to crank in, just point and go. I think the question for other people is whether they feel this sail arrangement results in a noticeable loss of performance. The jib can not overlap the mast since the jib traveler if before the mast, so it results in larger mains and smaller jibs. For my money it's worth it. I just went to the New England boat show in Boston and there's a 32' Hanse ($130K+/-) that has self tacking jib. I told my "crew" that this single feature would make me buy that boat if all else were more or less equal. There are other manufacturers who have self tacking or club footed jibs, new or used, so think about it. If you sail in an area where you are forced to tack in or out of narrow passegways you would certainly appreciate the benefits. Good luck with your boat search.
I think it would be more accurate to say that a Nonesuch is a cat-rigged sailboat, since they're really not catboats. Traditionally, catboats are usually gaff-rigged as well, which a Nonesuch is not.
Catboats are a specific breed of sailboats, which are small, beamy, shallow draft, generally without a weighted keel or much in the way of ballast—depending mostly on form stability to stay upright.
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
Currently have a 26' day sailer. I am pondering a future purchase of a bigger sailboat for coastal cruising. I am looking at boats in the low to mid 30' range. Mostly I would be sailing solo so that is a factor.
I see some boats in this range have fractional rigs while others have mast head rigs.
Looking for some background data on what the real difference is.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim,
The fractional rig is easier to handle as others have posted because of the big main and smaller jib. Often the mast tapers above the "hounds" (where the stays connect to the mast). This taper makes bending the mast with an adjustable back stay more effective. Bending of the mast back flattens the sail, moves the draft aft slightly, de-powers the sail, and usually tightens the headstay, flattening the jib in the same way. This is desirable in gusty or windy conditions. When we are racing in breezy conditions we are constantly adjusting mast bend and main traveler to keep the boat going fast and pointing high while avoiding being overpowered and over heeling.
Racing boats do this instead of reefing or reducing sail to maximize speed while keeping the boat under control. Cruisers can take advantage of the fractional rig in the same way for inshore sailing tacking up a channel, and maintaining good boat speed in changing wind velocity.
I just went to the New England boat show in Boston and there's a 32' Hanse ($130K+/-) that has self tacking jib.
-Nazz
A self-taking jub is not particular to the Hanse, almost any boat can be setup that way, it is just a matter of hardware and effect on performance due to the small headsail. Anyone know what a retrofit would cost?
A bit off topic, but how is Hanse offering a new 32 ft boat for $130k given the current exchange of $1.48 plus the shipping costs to the east coast and import duty? It seems low. After adjusting for euro exchange, the price in dollars is slightly more than $87k. Minus to that shipping and duty of $15k (Estimate), and dealer profit of $15k (Estimate at 12%), and I would not think Hanse could build and equip the boat for that and make a profit?
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