If you are looking for relaxation, exhilaration, or both, you can find that when you harness the power of the wind to carry you across the water. Over the course of history, different types of sailboats have emerged as favorites for cruising, racing, and other specialized applications.
Sailboats differ in many ways. Some the things that separate sailboats are the kinds of mast configurations and sails they use. Asides from these two, sailboats also differ in their hull and keel designs. Below is a careful look at the variety of sailboats plying the waves today.
Sailboats may be boats with sails (as most people regard them), but they’re not one homogeneous category.
Different Types of Sailboats
Before we go on, please note that the sailboat is smaller than the sailing ship. For the sailboats, the contact of the wind to the sails is the potential power for the moving.
Every sea and region need their own special boat type. For example, several boats may be appropriate for the eastern waters whereas they are the worst types for the western waters. Some of them are made for the long journeys in the ocean while some of them aren’t made for such.
As a result of these: the voyaging distances, water features such as depth, the temperature and composition; weather circumstances and finally the convenience in sailing; boat makers have decided to make different types of sailboats in order to get the best accommodation.
Among these many types, there are some more suitable boats for the newcomers. Sailing boats size range, is from lightweight dinghies like the Optimist dinghy and then to the yacht with more than 200 feet long. The length overall indicates the length and it is different from length on the waterline. These two criteria can be entirely various in the older style boats.
Classifications of Sailboats
Sailboats are in the absolutely different types. There are some main groups that most boats will belong to such as the dinghies. This is the best choice for the new sailors as it can prepare adventure for them without costing much.
Keel boats or yachts are sailing boats that were made specifically for long journeys in the ocean and even around the world and catamarans.
The fundamentals of the sail boats classification are the size, keel type, purpose, hull configuration, mast and sails configuration and rig. Below are some common types of sailboats:
Dhoni
This is a handcrafted sailboat which can have the motor or the lateen sails. This kind is popular in Maldives. The Dhoni is also commonly used for the transportation and voyaging as well as dwelling on the sea comfortably.
The coconut palm wood was the first material for making this boat that Maldivian fisherman used in the past. In modern times, fiberglass is the main material. Dhoni also are developed more today by adding the steering wheel, satellite navigation systems, hydraulic line haulers, sonars, fish finders along with the room for accommodation as well.
Sport Boats
From the name alone you can have an idea of what sports boats are made for. The purpose of designing these sailboats was basically racing. Hence, the manufacturers built larger areas for the sails. This is because of the sails’ length. They also used light materials along with the modern equipment in order to increase the speed.
The number of the crews were taken account so as to allow for the counterbalance force. Therefore, three to six crews have been determined as the certain number of the crews.
Another feature of this boat is the keel letting the sailors trail and self-righting. The size of the sport boats is between the 5.50m and 8.00m. The keel in these sailboats can be fin keel in simpler sailboats and wing keel in more professional sailboat.
Sloop
In modern times, sloop refers to the sailboats with one mast, a mainsail and a headsail. This is the most common kind of the sailboats. You can see it almost everywhere. Jib, genoa or spinnaker can be the names of the headsails. They are always according to the size and shape of the them.
The upholding rope that extends from the mast to the bow of the yacht lifts the headsail to the top of the mast on the forestay. Some of the common features of the sloop are fixed bow spirit, top mast and standing rigging.
Centerboard keel is set up on the sloop and its stability on the width of the beam instead of the depth of keel is important. This kind of sailboats are made specifically for sailing in to the wind.
Fractional Rig Sloop
This is a kind of sloop. In these sailboats the forestay has no access to the highest point of the mast since it is attached to the lower fulcrum. The crew can crook the highest point of the mast so as to flatten the sails on a windy weather while the complete power is not essential. And this is regarded by most as the advantage of these sailboats.
The short-handed crew can handle easier and simpler the smaller headsails. That is why it is suggesting that in the designing time of the sailboat, the smaller headsails base on the crew abilities and features are manufactured. in the 60s and 70s, the popularity of the fractional rig sloops increased.
Cutter
The cutter is regarded as a favorite vessel for cruising. Just like the sloop, the cutter is a single-masted sailboat. There is however a major difference between the two. It is that the mast is set farther aft, allowing room for two headsails from two forestays.
The cutters are valued because the range of possible sail positions can be easily managed. This makes the craft maneuverable when under challenging winds.
Cat Rig
The cat rig is also a single-masted sailboats. It has a single sail which is set very well forward. This allows for considerably more cabin room than other types of sailboats of comparable size. The cat rig sailboats are simple to sail, economical, and attractive. However, the sail configuration makes for a significant loss in upwind performance.
Ketch
This is a traditional choice for sailors who ready to take on a larger cruising craft. The ketch is rigged similarly to a sloop, but with a second mast. This is called a mizzenmast, set aft. Each separate sail on a ketch is a bit smaller than what would be found on a sloop of similar size.
This gives room for more flexibility in sail usage, and makes the vessel more comfortable. It also makes the vessel easier to control. This is especially true in larger sailboats. Most of the time, this greater flexibility do come at an elevated cost to account for the extra sail, mast, and rigging, and though a ketch is considered a slower craft than a sloop, it gives you a smooth cruising ride as a recreational sailor.
Yawl
Similar to a ketch, a yawl has two masts, a main and a mizzen. However in the yawl, the mizzen mast is smaller. It is put behind the rudder post. The debate between ketches and yawls rages on. There are benefits for each of them and sailboat lovers in both camps keep expounding the virtues of their favorite.
Most come to the conclusion that the mizzen on a yawl is not what it is on a ketch. This is especially true when you consider the ease of handling. However, yawl purists will tell you that the aft sail provides a certain balance that makes for beautiful handling.
It is however a universal agreement that a yawl, with its graceful and elegant craft design, undeniably appeals to the romantic sailor looking for that connection with the perfect vessel. If you are that type of sailor, then the yawl is for you.
Schooner
This is a sailing vessel with fore-and-aft sails on multiple masts. The foremast is designed to be a bit shorter than the main mast. Being an ancient sailboat, the schooner has held an undeniable place in the history of sailing. Its style of craft has largely been replaced by sloops and yawls because they are better upwind and easier to manage.
Even still, schooners are hearty, powerful, and stately, and just so you know how good they are, they were once the fastest ships in the seas. There are quite a number of types of schooners.
Three Mast Schooner
As the name implies, this schooner has three masts as well as the foresails. The rigging of uniform dimensions and scantlings for all masts except the main heavier and longer boom of the stern mast are the necessities for the schooners with three masts and over.
Three Mast Topsail Schooner
Another type of the schooner is called the three mast topsail schooner. As the name also shows, there are three masts on the deck in this kind which the arrangement of the sails can be gaff, square or both. In addition, foresails are set up on this kind of sailboats.
Topsail Schooner
When you compare the topsail schooner with the three mast topsail schooner, you see that the topsail schooner has two masts rather than three. Having gaff- and square-rigged and the foresails are almost the same as the three mast topsail schooner. In addition to this, the topsail schooner has gaff sails above the foremast distinguishing it from the brigantine and barquentine.
Fore and Aft Schooner
The fore and aft schooner is the modern type of the sailboats that are popular for trading in the pacific where sailing ships are still employed in small numbers. The main benefit of this sailboats is that they have practical adaption with the human power.
Motorsailer
Perhaps the major feature of these sailboats that differentiate them from others is the inboard engine that propels the boat upwind or downwind. It allows the sailors cruise long journeys. They are mostly well furnished in order to preparing the comfortable moments on the boats. Length of area of these boats are 35 feet and over
Daysailer
As the name implies, the sole purpose for creating a new type of sailboats is for voyaging for a day. That was the inspiration behind the sailboat called the daysailer. These boats are generally small in 14-20 feet and can carry 4 passengers. The cuddy cabin also has been made on these boats for accumulating gear. These daysailers are the best suggestion for the newcomers in sailing.
Catamaran
The fame of the Catamarans has been increasing so far among sailors. They have two hulls that are parallel to each other as they are attached together by beam or some kind of bridge. Just like every other type of sailboats, these ones have their advantages and disadvantages too. Their speed and stability are more than the mono-hulls.
Additionally, they have shallow draughts in compare with regular boats. On the other hand, the maneuverability of the Catamarans is less. There are various types of catamarans and below are some of these types:
Beach Catamaran
The beach catamarans are commonly 14-20 feet and primarily used for day sailing. These boats are super fast. They require proficient skippers for sail as well. They have shallow drafts when the dagger boards are up for beaching.
Cruising Catamaran
The cruising catamarans are 25-50+ feet in length and have stability as well as the shallow drafts. In compare with the beach catamaran, these are more similar to mono-hull cruising sailboat with accommodation for the ocean cruising.
Trimaran
Similar to the Catamarans, they are also regarded by some as subsets of the multihulls. But Trimarans have three hulls instead of two-that’s where they got their name from. The big hull in the middle and the two hulls on the sides is for giving the stability to the boat. The trimarans are often used for the diversion or the racing.
Full-Length Keel Boats
The full length keel sailboats are the traditional sailboats. This type of sailboats have keel which provides enough ballast and lift for the sailboats by using length instead of the depth. In addition, rudder mounts to the aft end in the Full-length keel sailboats.
Fin Keel Sailboats
This type of the keel is generally used in Skiffs and some kinds of sport boat. This kind has deeper and shorter length in compare with the hull and it is entirely separated from the rudder.
Wing or Bulb Keel Sailboats
For the wing keel sailboat, boat makers added two wings or a bulb to the lowest part of the keel so as to improve righting moment and prevent the adding of too much weight as well as to set the ballast as low as possible. This helps increase the amount of leverage without increasing keel depth too much. The wings reach out sideways from the tip of the keel. These types are usually set up on professional sailboats such as sport boats.
Bilge Keel
These sailboats are known for their unique keels. The bilge keel leads the sailboats to stand on the sand or mud at the low stream of the water. These sailboats are generally used in the regions with large tidal ranges. With frequent use, you will realize that the bilge keel sailboat is not as efficient as the fin or wing keel sailboats in decreasing the leeway.
Barque
The barque sailboats are popular for its two square-rigged masts and one fore and aft rigged mast (mizzenmast). These type of the sailboats possess at least three masts. Fore and aft sails are hanged on the mizzenmast. This major feature is the differentiation factor between the Barque and the ship. Nowadays, several ships are changing to the Barque because of its easier operation.
Catboat
The two major features of the catboat are the single mast fitted forward of the helm and lack of the jib are. In the historic catboat, multiple sails from the gaff rig were noticeable, although in the more modern architecture just one sail as the mainsail is designed. In modern times, the rig in these sailboats can be gaff, lug or Bermuda.
Conclusion
You may find it a little difficult to know all these various types of sailboats and their unique characteristics in your early years of sailing. It may also take you some time and practice to know the pros and cons of every one of them. But with the use of the guide above and a little familiarization with sailboats, your knowledge of sailboats will increase greatly.