Anyone ever had any thoughts or discussions about "proper" usage of nautical terms?
Many years ago I first heard the term "Cutter Ketch", or "Cutter rigged Ketch".
I think it was started by brokers who didn't have enough knowledge to use the proper term, "Double headsail Ketch".
Interestingly, you seldom, (if ever,) hear the term, "Cutter Yawl", or "Cutter Schooner",, perhaps only Ketches can use that terminology??
Another one we hear is "Slutter" like a
Sloop that has a staysail, in reality, the
mast for a true
Cutter is placed further aft in relation to the LWL than a
Sloop. No matter what kind of stay you add, or where you place it, a Sloop will never be a true
Cutter.
Another term we hear all the time is "Inner Forestay",, OK, where or what is the "Outer Forestay",, unless you have a
boat that can carry at least 2 headsails inboard of the stem, their is no "Inner Forestay",, it's just a "Forestay".
It's easy to visualize,, take a
boat like a Westsail 32, 'cause we all know what they look like.
They have a
Jib, that
jib sets on a "Jibstay", which connects to a "Jib Boom", what we call a "Bowsprit" was really a structural appendage for mounting a "Jib Boom", (attached by a Gammon Iron, or a "Gammoning,) which has attached to it a "Jibstay".
The staysail is attached to a "Forestay", and it is a "Forestaysail".
You'll notice that a boat like the Westsail example does not have a "Headstay", a headstay goes from the "Masthead" to the "Stemhead".
Another usage of terminology that has been cancelled is the
classic definitions of headsails;
"Staysails are set at, or inboard of the stemhead,
sails set
outboard of the stemhead are jibs", but I suppose that in modern times we can forgive that twisting of usage,, but the usage of "Cutter rigged Ketch", or "Inner Forestay" are in my mind, abominations, suitable only for the unknowing
novice.
Unrelated to
sails is the term "Length overall".
It tends to be used as including a bowsprit/jib boom, and/or a stern appendage for supporting a backstay,, whilst the definition given in the CFRs is "Length overall is defined as the measurement between the forward most part of the stem, to the aftermost part of the sternpost".
It seems that bowsprits are only considered as part of the
LOA when salesmen, hucksters, and marina owners want to make their product seem bigger,, or charge more for a slip.
OK, rant over, thus ends.