Double-enders

[redhead]

In our seemingly never-ending search for the right passage maker we are coming across a couple of interesting double-enders. Since our experience with these under way is NIL, I'm looking for feedback on their sailing qualities in general. Are they slugs? Can't imagine they would be being pointy at both ends, but I've been wrong before. Thanks!

[Mike OReilly]

Hi Redhead, I don't think the key issue is double-ender or not. Whether a boat is a "slug" or not depends on a lot of design considerations. The transom shape is only one, I would say, small component to this. Hull shape, sail area, sail plan, beam, keel ... all these things factor into how a boat sails.

My double-ender is no slug. Depending on the point of sail, she'll give any boat a run for their money. On others, she ain't so great. Other double-enders have different characteristics. So like most sailing questions, the real answer is: it depends.

[skipmac]

Really can't assign typical sailing characteristics based just on the fact that a boat is a double ender. Too many other factors to consider: keel design and shape, rig, sail area, wetted surfaced area, fullness in the ends, etc, etc, etc.

What about a specific boat brand and model?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Hi Redhead, I don't think the key issue is double-ender or not. Whether a boat is a "slug" or not depends on a lot of design considerations. The transom shape is only one, I would say, small component to this. Hull shape, sail area, sail plan, beam, keel ... all these things factor into how a boat sails.

My double-ender is no slug. Depending on the point of sail, she'll give any boat a run for their money. On others, she ain't so great. Other double-enders have different characteristics. So like most sailing questions, the real answer is: it depends.

Whoops. See you beat me to it but almost the same response. I guess great minds think alike.

[Cheechako]

My Tanton 44 was a double ender of sorts. The underwater shape was essentially a canoe... so it was very fast for a cruiser. One consideration for double enders is that SOMETIMES they have finer aft sections ( I suppose finer aft sections helps to get the hull wrapped back into the fine end). There fore they tend to "squat" a little ... especially under power.

[Celestialsailor]

I had an Ingrid 38 and was happy with it. As mentioned above, sailing characteristics are based more on what is going on under the waterline. The Ingrid was a true full keel, so it tracked very well but was a pain parking it. Here is a good site to compare different boats...
Sail Calculator Pro v3.53 - 2500+ boats