Cat Ketch or Cat Schooner?
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 10:06 pm
I'm new to the forum so if this has been addressed please point me in the right direction. I have purchased an Offshore 33 Cat Ketch, not a freedom but a freestanding cat ketch rig nonetheless. The main mast was broken in a storm so i am on the search for a replacement mast. My question, besides where can I find a mast at a reasonable price is this:
Since I am in the position to choose between a Cat Ketch and a Cat Schooner, is there a performance benefit of the cat ketch over the schooner?
I prefer schooners aesthetically, so if i were to source a new mast that was longer than the originals, and could choose where to position the longer mast I would prefer to make my boat a Cat Schooner. The original masts of the Offshore 33 are the same length, but the mizzen mast is stepped on the keel, where the main mast is stepped in the bottom of the chain locker, almost 4 feet higher making the main mast 4 feet taller than the mizzen. Sailboatdata.com shows a line drawing where both masts are the same height, but in reality the main is taller. So if I were to source a longer mast and position that where the current mizzen would go, giving my boat either the same height masts, or a taller mizzen making it a schooner would I negatively effect the sailing characteristics? The overwhelming majority of two masted catboats are cat ketch rigs, but the Freedom 39 pilothouse is a cat schooner. I would like to make my boat a cat schooner, but don't want to create a poorly sailing vessel.
Opinions?
Since I am in the position to choose between a Cat Ketch and a Cat Schooner, is there a performance benefit of the cat ketch over the schooner?
I prefer schooners aesthetically, so if i were to source a new mast that was longer than the originals, and could choose where to position the longer mast I would prefer to make my boat a Cat Schooner. The original masts of the Offshore 33 are the same length, but the mizzen mast is stepped on the keel, where the main mast is stepped in the bottom of the chain locker, almost 4 feet higher making the main mast 4 feet taller than the mizzen. Sailboatdata.com shows a line drawing where both masts are the same height, but in reality the main is taller. So if I were to source a longer mast and position that where the current mizzen would go, giving my boat either the same height masts, or a taller mizzen making it a schooner would I negatively effect the sailing characteristics? The overwhelming majority of two masted catboats are cat ketch rigs, but the Freedom 39 pilothouse is a cat schooner. I would like to make my boat a cat schooner, but don't want to create a poorly sailing vessel.
Opinions?