You'll even
be able to find out how comfortable your boat is at sea, compared with other
similar boats, because Carl has built in a motion comfort factor, like the one
designer Ted Brewer invented for fun years ago.
And, more importantly, you can compare capsize factors (boats with factors
under 2.0 are considered safer and less likely to capsize at sea).
The
theoretical speed of each boat is listed, of course, but as it's a formula
based on waterline length it can't possibly tell the whole story of how fast a
boat will go in differing conditions of wind and sea. Nevertheless, when you
compare one boat with another, it gives you a good idea of which is likely to
get back home before the pub closes, and which will be stuck out in the bay
after dark with a crew complaining that they're dying of thirst.
If you'd
like to visit Carl's Sail Calculator, go to http://www.image-ination.com/sailcalc.html
Scroll down
to Part 1 and click on one boat in each column, then click on "make a
chart" just underneath.
There's lots
more information on that site and I leave you to figure it out. Play nicely. Have
fun.
Today's Thought
Science is wonderfully equipped to answer
the question "How?" but it gets terribly confused when you ask the
question "Why?"
— Erwin
Chargaff, professor of Biological Chemistry, Columbia University.
Tailpiece
Police in
Detroit arrested two kids yesterday. One was drinking battery acid, and
the other was swallowing fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off.
(Drop by every
Monday, Wednesday, Friday for a new Mainly about Boats column.)
5 comments:
John,
I've visited Carl's site many times and really enjoy comparing the boat I have with many other designs in her category. I sail a Hughes Northstar 600(26'), a Sparkman and Stephens design. Have you heard of this boat? What is your opinion of her seaworthiness and performance abilities for coastal cruising. I live in Newfoundland, a tremendous place to explore in a sailboat. I love you site.
Twillick, I've no personal experience of the Northstar 26, but she certainly has a pedigree design. S&S have long had a reputation for fast, seaworthy boats, and this one, with its fin-and-skeg underbody, appears to to have been designed to the old International Offshore Rule. She's beamy for her length, which might make her squirrely on a heavy-weather run, but she will make a fast coastal cruiser with the admirable ability to get to windward in a hurry.
Cheers,
John V.
John,
I agree with your points on the hull's performance manners. I'm usually behind my sailing friends as they are in larger boats, but never so far to miss supper. The boat's high freeboard and tumblehome took a bit of getting used to, but now I never notice it.
I've researched the IOR a good bit to get a better understanding of the boat's hull design and I think I was getting more confused by the minute.
I sail a Northstar 26 in the Gulf out of Tampa Bay. Very forgiving boat in heavy weather. Got stuck one night too far out failing to appreciate the forecast and spent the night and most of the next day in seas up to 4m. Scary as hell due to my inexperience, but the boat carried us through beautifully.
I've had her up to 6 kts under sail. Love the boat.
Phil
I sail a Northstar 26 in the Gulf around Tampa. Great boat. hull speed is a little over 6 kts. Very forgiving when the heavy stuff hits. She'll lay down to 45 if you don't get the sails in ahead of a Tampa Bay squall but pops right back up. Had her in 4m seas too. Very forgiving.
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