Why do I have a Mizzen?

[scoobert]

I understand what a ketch is, but why?
With the main and 150% jib i can get 7kts,
If i raise the mizzen i get the same speed, but harder steering.
Why it it there? Am i using it wrong?

[MarkJ]

Its there to make your boat look older.
Some people like that.

[Bash]

Now you understand why the great majority of us have sloops.

The mizzen was originally a way to spit the rig so that none of the sails would be too large, back in the days when there weren't many good ways to handle large sails. Over the years, however, there have been better solutions, such as in-mast furling, better winches, et cetera.

[boatman61]

Try sailing with just jib and mizzen...

[markpierce]

A ketch is better-looking/saltier than a sloop.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by markpierce

A ketch is better-looking/saltier than a sloop.

Makes me question your taste, mate! That boat surely isn't what I think of better looking... than a hell of a lot of sloops.

Jim

[scoobert]

I agree, it does look sexy,
With my two giant black masts i stand out.

What happens when you sail with jib and mizzen?

[bobconnie]

If it's harder your doing something wrong ! LOL As Boatman said try Jib and Mizzen! things get so much easier on the boat and your body ! and if ya have furling on your jib, then everything is at hand in the cockpit. The mizzen also makes a great wind cock for anchoring! The main idea of a ketch, is smaller sails makeing everything easier to handle with a small crew! My wife and I sail our 51 ft ketch just fine with just the 2 of us ! We spend a lot of time under Jib and jigger as us old salts like to call it LOL Just try different combos with your sails, and you will ,after a while, come to love your ketch !!

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Makes me question your taste, mate!

Probably more your taste:

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by scoobert

I agree, it does look sexy,
With my two giant black masts i stand out.

What happens when you sail with jib and mizzen?

You get an easier ride... and good speeds as well... I'd try furling in some Genoa to find a nice balance.. 150 may be to much..

[Mike OReilly]

My previous boat was a ketch. Now have a cutter, and while I like it, I miss the versatility of the ketch rig.

On our ketch the mizzen came into its own on a reach. Lots of extra cloth with wind on the beam. On a run we dropped the mizzen, running with jib and main. On a beat the mizzen was a good balancing sail, and usually added some speed. As Bob/Connie says, when things got ugly we'd drop the main and sail on jib & jigger. Easy to manage, easy to balance.

At anchor the mizzen keeps you from tracking all over the place. It's also a backup rudder. Endless fun playing with it as an air-rudder.

If your boat is harder to steer with the mizzen I'm betting you're beating (close reach/haul) and producing too much weather helm. Try reefing the mizzen, or drop the main and play with the two sails.

[markpierce]

Sloops are generally less costly than ketches, and are more suitable for racing and day-sailing.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Sloops are generally less costly than ketches, and are more suitable for racing and day-sailing.

As yes the ketch, where the advice is to actually remove the primarily sail in order to get it to sail !!

Look up Evans and Beth's experience with a ketch and then a sloop , or maybe jimmy Cornell or larry Pardey

A ketch is just an outdated sail plan , just like Square rigs , schooners etc. it has its ' fan boys ' but the reality is the sloop, cutter or Slutter has it outclassed in everything from ocean cruising to round the cans high speed racing.

Lovely rig , but so is the gaff rig and the lateen rig

Dave

[witzgall]

Try the mizzen at the same point of sail, but 1/2 whatever wind speed you were sailing in, and report back....

Chris

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Its there to make your boat look older.
Some people like that.