Learn
Make sense of sailing.
You do not need to know the terminology. Start with your question and discover how each choice changes life aboard.
Cockpits, keels and rudders
Centre cockpit and a true aft cabin
Cockpit position does not guarantee an internal passage to the aft cabin.
Keel types: underwater trade-offs
Keel, ballast and lateral resistance are not the same thing.
Rudders: support, position and maintenance
Rudder configuration tells part of the story, not the boat’s entire robustness.
Dimensions
First steps
Interior and living space
Propulsion
Cruising speed, consumption and range
A range estimate needs measured consumption and usable fuel.
Diesel power and horsepower per tonne
Horsepower is not a speed prediction.
Shaft drive, saildrive and propellers
Drive and propeller are part of the propulsion system.
Ratios and interpretation
Ballast/displacement ratio
Ballast percentage is a starting point, not a safety conclusion.
Capsize Screening Formula: not a safety test
A simple screening formula does not describe a complete boat’s stability.
Comfort Ratio: a limited approximation
Ted Brewer’s index is an empirical comparison, not a comfort measurement.
Displacement/Length Ratio: weight for length
D/L relates displacement to waterline length.
Hull speed: a theoretical speed reference
It is neither an absolute maximum speed nor a cruising-speed promise.
Sail Area/Displacement: sail for weight
SA/D compares sail area with a displacement-related scale.
Rig and sails
Reefing and furlers
Reducing sail area is a normal part of sailing.
Sloop, cutter, ketch and yawl
Rig type describes the arrangement of masts and sails.
Getting to know the sails
The appropriate sail depends on wind angle and strength, and the crew.