There are many different types of Sailboats and designs to sailboats. In this article we will go over the various types and some information on them. A sailboat is a boat that uses wind as its primary way to move around. Although these boats vary in size and craftsmanship, they are still sailboats.

Sloop

This is the most frequently used sailboat and has very distinguishing features. It has one Mast with two sails attached to it; these are generally a mainsail and foresail.

Rig Sloop

The next is the Rig Sloop or Rig for short. The Rig has two sails, however, they do not run to the top of the mast. This allows more tension in the Backstay, while arching in the middle of the forward mast.

Cutters

The cutter may look similar to the sloop, however, it only has one single mast and mainsail to allow for 2 headsails to be used.

Catboats

Catboats have one mast that is mounted towards the forward. These come without a Jib. The modern Catboats have only one sail, while the older ones have multiple sails.

Ketches

While Ketches are a very close relation to the sloop, they have a second mast that is shorter and located forward of the rudderpost. This second is known as the mizzenmast, the sail on this mast is called the mizzen sail.

Yawl

The yawl is very closely related to the Ketch. It has a mizzenmast, however is astern the rudderpost.

Schooner

A Schooner can and will have more than two masts. The second will be as tall as the first mast, which helps to mark its difference from the yawl and ketch.

Hulls

The hull is the body or also known as the frame of a ship. This is the part of the boat in which the bottom half is in the water

Keel

The keel is one of two different things, one being the frame on which the boat is built, while the other is used to help with the boat’s maneuverability.

Centerboard

The Centerboard is a lightweight keel that is not mounted permanently, and can be moved out of the way in shallow water.

Dee

Although it’s not obvious from the name, a ‘yacht charter’ is simply a technical way of describing renting a sailboat or motor yacht for your own use.

It’s a popular activity for vacations at coastal or island destinations as it offers a unique way of seeing an area as well as a fun, fulfilling mode of transport.

Though yacht charters come with different conditions depending on the area, the company, the vessel required and any number of other factors, there are two broad categories of charter. Although, ultimately both involve the renting of a yacht, they’re very different affairs.

Bareboat charters are generally the most basic form of charter. Effectively you rent the boat and nothing else – no skipper, no crew; from here on, it’s up to you. This type of yacht charter requires preparation and dedication as you’ll be entirely responsible for your voyage and for returning the boat at the agreed upon time. You’re free to hire your own crew of course although some basic seamanship is essential. This type of charter is popular with amateur sailors on vacation or with corporate events for staff – the teamwork and shared responsibility that comes with operating a larger vessel make for an enjoyable and unforgettable team-building exercise.

Crewed Charters on the other hand are a different matter altogether. As the name suggests, this charter supplies both yacht and crew. Depending on the size of your budget and the size of the boat in question, this can range from anything as small as a two-man crew of skipper and chef to something as large as a team of 30 or more people. Larger vessels can include a workforce of engineers, stewardesses and several deckhands, as well as specialist instructors such as scuba dive masters. Although this type of charter tends to cost more, it is an extremely luxurious method of travel and often a good introduction to the conditions of the open sea.

Unlike most boat purchase advice, written by manufacturers and designed to persuade the reader to purchase one brand or another, the suggestions in this article are written from the perspective of a sailboat buyer and are drawn from the collective wisdom of the author’s dozen or so sailboat purchases as well as conversations with many, many other sailboat buyers. This article will focus on applying the buying process to purchasing an appropriate vessel for heavy air sailing.

The Buying Process

Previous writings introduced a multi-step process to purchase a sailing vessel. Our emphasis was on assuring that purchases are based on a detailed description of how and where the vessel would be used and then identifying the best set of vessel characteristics for the specific type of sailing to be completed. We also introduced vessel characteristics to be considered in the purchase. In this article, we examine the relative advantages and disadvantages of cruising catamarans versus monohulls.

Cruising Catamaran Advantages

Charter in the Abacos, Virgin Islands or Grenadines and you are likely to see a rapidly increasing number of cruising catamarans. The same trend is occurring in many other popular sailing destinations too. Why are cruising catamarans so rapidly gaining in popularity?

Cats offer many advantages in the most popular chartering grounds. For starters, the shallow draft of the typical cruising cat opens the door to an expanded number of anchorages. Since cats gain stability from their wide beams rather than their keel depth, they can offer shallow drafts without sacrificing stability. For most popular cruising grounds, shallow draft is a big advantage. Next, cats sail flat. A heel angle of zero-five degrees is the norm on a large cruising cat, versus ten to twenty degrees for a comparable monohull. For many sailors, particularly new sailors, the ability to sail flat is a major comfort driver.

In most of these popular chartering areas, the sailing is short, with typical passages of no more than 5-10 nautical miles. Moreover, the trip between anchorages is often off the wind with short reaches back and forth between the most popular moorings. Again, cats excel in these conditions, with high speeds off the wind. Finally, the layout of the catamaran lends itself to chartering. A 45 foot cat will have four staterooms, each with a queen size berth and a private head. Few, if any, similarly sized monohulls can offer the same level of comfort and privacy. For charterers, and other large groups, the ability to have a private stateromm with a private head can be a make or break factor for a good trip.

Finally, the wide beam of the cat gives it a large aft deck. A typical 45 foot cat will have a deck/cockpit 24 feet wide by 15 feet deep — perfect for boats that spend the majority of time at anchor with swimming, grilling and socializing the primary use. Therefore, the popularity of cruising catamarans in the chartering industry is driven by the sailing conditions in the popular chartering grounds; specifically short sails across the wind to shallow anchorages.

Monohull Advantages

While cats are gaining in popularity in the chartering world, monohulls continue to offer many advantageous sailing characteristics. First, monohulls typically offer a much better ride upwind. The single hull goes through the water better and drives through waves more efficiently than the 2 hulled vessels, providing a more comfortable ride with less pounding through the waves. In addition, while cats sail fast off the wind, the combination of wider sailing angles and wave pounding slow cats so significantly upwind that monohulls typically make better VMG into the wind. For those who will be doing a regularly portion of their sailing upwind, monohulls are favored.

Monohulls are the choice whenever close-quarters maneuvering is required. A fin keel monohull can pivot on its keel allowing for a tight turning radius and excellent maneuverability. Cats, without the keel, must turn through the water and have a much wider turning radius. Therefore, when tight maneuvering is needed, monohulls are the way to go. A similar consideration is dock space. As difficult as it may be to find dock space for a monohull, finding suitable docking locations for a cat, with twice the beam for a given length, can be next to impossible in places like the Chesapeake Bay and Florida.

In addition, even when suitable dock space can be secured, it is likely to be very expensive.
Another advantage to monohulls is storage space. While cats provide ample living space, there can be very little space for sailing gear, provisions, safety equipment and tools. While a typical charter guest may not be concerned with this issue, extended cruisers are acutely aware of this need. Again, for extended sailing trips the monohull often has much more storage space for essential repair and safety gear than a cat of similar length.

Summary

Cruising catamarans have become the rage of the Caribbean charter industry because they meet the demands of most charterers very well. For short hops across relatively protected water, lots of time at anchor, off wind sailing and shallow anchorages, catamarans excel. The shallow draft, wide beam and berth layout in the typical cruising cat is also perfect for large chartering groups, as is the stability and comfort provided by the wide beam is perfect.

If upwind sailing will be a component of your normal route, a monohull may be the better option since they sail closer to the wind and move through waves more efficiently. Monohulls are also the choice when dock space is difficult to secure or maneuverability is tight. Finally, for extended cruising, the extra storage space provided in the typical monohull has many advantages.