Dhows any info or experience appreciated

[sluissa]

I was recently rereading a book (Flirting with Mermaids by John Kretschmer or something like that), In that book was a picture of a dhow he saw off the coast of I believe Sri Lanka. It just caught my eye as one of the most beautiful boats I had ever seen with forward swept masts, I believe 3 masts. It just looked like an arrow flying or something.

Now I know looks aren't everything, and that sort of rigging looks like it'd be alot more work to deal with than something sloop rigged, but I'd just like to know people's opinions on them and if there is any big reason why I should never even consider something similar but probably alot smaller for my own boat possibly far in the future.

[GordMay]

See THE HISTORY AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE DHOW
Nabataea: Maritime

[KaptainKen]

Sluissa;

There was a multi-part TV documentary made in 1984 called "The last Sailors - The Final Days of Working Sail". One of the segments included the famous Sri Lanka dhows. These vessels combine the construction style, technique and strength of European blue-water sailing ship hull with lateen sailing rig.

If you're interested in the video, I found a link: The Last Sailors: The Final Days of Working Sail (1984)

[sluissa]

thanks GordMay and KaptainKen, that article corrected a few misunderstandings I had and I will look into trying to find that video, I may even try to get it if the price is reasonable enough.

[CaptainK]

Hmmmm?

I wonder how fast a dhow sails. Compared to a "modern-day" monohull sailboat?

I also, have a respect for dhows. And the old time sailors who sailed them. :cubalibre

Who knows? Maybe my "free" 47 sailboat hull. Maybe I just might convert her into a dhow. At least that way. I can get her out to sea and it is a lot cheaper than the present plan of building her??