whats the safest kind of hull?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by vtcapo

Alize,
Actually the question is quite simple if you answer it from a design standpoint. Although every type of boat has made journeys around the world safely, a full keeled monohull will offer you the greatest ultimate stability in a seaway. There IS a reason North Sea and English channel rescue boats are full keeled double enders.

You should have asked the question; what would you rather be in if caught in a hurricane, a full keeled monohull or a multi hull?

From a design standpoint the answers is obvious.....

RT

Sorry but not so obvious to me. More modern designs with modified fin keels seem to offer some advantages over a full keel design.

[vtcapo]

21st century rescue boats are all power boats. Quite a different animal. We are talking about sailboats aren't we? Why not answer my question? If caught in a hurricane would you want to be in a full keeled monohull or a multi-hull?

RT

[vtcapo]

Sailboat design has come a long way since the the Colin Archer Double Ender. But if we are talking about ultimate stability a deep keeled mono hull has it all over a multi-hull. That was the point I was trying to make.

Mono vs mono is another story...

RT

[K_V_B]

Originally Posted by vtcapo

21st century rescue boats are all power boats. Quite a different animal. We are talking about sailboats aren't we? Why not answer my question? If caught in a hurricane would you want to be in a full keeled monohull or a multi-hull?

RT

It's like asking: What type of car would you rather be run over by a train in....

[vtcapo]

I just bought my 1st double ender a Slocum 37 and loving it. I assume you have sailed a variety of sailboats including multi-hulls? Like I mentioned, if caught in a hurricane (no where to run no where to hide) would you rather be in your heavy displacement full keeled monohull or a multihull of similiar size or larger?

RT

[vtcapo]

No what I am asking is what vessel would likely bring you back to port?

RT
PS if I remember correctly wasn't it a West Sail 32 that weathered the Perfect Storm even after her crew was ordered off?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by vtcapo

I just bought my 1st double ender a Slocum 37 and loving it. I assume you have sailed a variety of sailboats including multi-hulls? Like I mentioned, if caught in a hurricane (no where to run no where to hide) would you rather be in your heavy displacement full keeled monohull or a multihull of similiar size or larger?

RT

And if checking the weather download from Sailmail you see a storm building a day away and you have 250 miles to make a decent, protected harbor, would you rather be in a Slocum 37 or a Sundeer 64?

Making up scenarios to prove a point gets a little absurd after awhile.

[Tingum]

Metal, either aluminium or steel. Nice and thick!!

[ALIZE]

i keep learning.. thank you

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by vtcapo

I just bought my 1st double ender a Slocum 37 and loving it. I assume you have sailed a variety of sailboats including multi-hulls? Like I mentioned, if caught in a hurricane (no where to run no where to hide) would you rather be in your heavy displacement full keeled monohull or a multihull of similiar size or larger?

RT

The correct answer is a boat that is well designed and well built, of any variety.

My personal preference would be a modified fin keel or a longish keel with a cutaway forefoot. In general that style would be less likely to trip and broach when running but again, if I had to choose a poorly designed/built modified fin vs a well designed/built full length keel I would take the later.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by vtcapo

No what I am asking is what vessel would likely bring you back to port?

RT
PS if I remember correctly wasn't it a West Sail 32 that weathered the Perfect Storm even after her crew was ordered off?

Yes it was, but in the 1979 Fastnet race I believe there were a couple of fin keeled race boats abandoned that also survived the storm unattended.

[bruce smith]

Originally Posted by K_V_B

It's like asking: What type of car would you rather be run over by a train in....

I have been hit twice by hurricanes at sea in my venus ketch, 12 ton double ender. 1991 and 2006
Yes , a fast boat can probably avoid them , and they usually do.

[Pyrate]

I prefer a monohull, but to each their own. I mainly have one point to make about material, and that is to choose whatever you feel most comfortable working on. If you are a master welder an metal fabricator, then by all means choose steel or aluminum. If you work with fiberglass, then choose that. All materials have their pros and cons. Some environments make certain materials better, but as long as you can do the work necessary, then it's the best material.

[ahnutts!]

Originally Posted by bill352

That would depend on what job you had .

I figured with the economy being what it is and tax revenue down that they'd be offering pleasure cruises by now. May be I'll have to try the Russian Navy instead.

[ahnutts!]

Originally Posted by vtcapo

No what I am asking is what vessel would likely bring you back to port?

RT
PS if I remember correctly wasn't it a West Sail 32 that weathered the Perfect Storm even after her crew was ordered off?

So a Westsail 32 survived a hurricane one time? That obviously makes it the greatest boat ever built then.

A friend of mine survived a car crash while driving a Ford Pinto, does that make the Pinto the safest car?