Double-ended Ketch

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

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Becky Massey

Double-ended Ketch

Post by Becky Massey »

What is a "double-ended" hull? Thought someone on this site might be able to explain this. I have been trying to find info for an illustration I am working on, but to no avail. Any info would be appreciated.



beckywm@flash.net
Rich

Re: Double-ended Ketch

Post by Rich »

Becky Massey wrote: What is a "double-ended" hull? Thought someone on this site might be able to explain this. I have been trying to find info for an illustration I am working on, but to no avail. Any info would be appreciated.
To see a double ended hull (canoe stern), take a look at the Crealock web site for examples: www.seacraft.com These are not ketches but will give you a good view of the hull shape.



rpassmore42@hotmail.com
john vigor

Re: Double-ended Ketch

Post by john vigor »

Becky, a double-ender has a back end that looks pretty much like the front end. In other words, it has two sharp ends. The Viking longboats are double-ended, as are many yacht designs descended from them.

The original thinking was that a sharp stern would be more seaworthy, because it would part waves coming up fast from astern. But an ordinary counter or transom stern has more buoyancy, and rises more quickly to an oncoming wave. It also gives more stowage space inside the boat, and doesn't cramp the cockpit so much. For these reasons, and because there is no scientific evidence that a pointed stern is more seaworthy, counters and transoms are much more common.

John Vigor
CD25D "Jabula"




jvig@whidbey.net
Mike Everett

Re: Double-ended Ketch

Post by Mike Everett »

If you'd like to view some examples of beautiful double-ended ketches, do a web search for "Colin Archer." He was the Scottish-Norwegian designer whose seaworthy life-boats have had a tremendous influence on yacht design.
For example, one of Crealock's first projects was adapting an Archer-Akin design for a wooden double ender for fiberglass construction. (This became the Westsail 32.)



everett@megalink.net
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