schooner vs sailboat

What’s The Difference Between a Sailboat and a Schooner? Here’s What You Need To Know

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a sailboat and a schooner? If youre curious about the key features that make these two vessels different, youve come to the right place.

In this article, well cover the key differences between a sailboat and a schooner, including the types of vessels used for sailing, the masts and hulls that set them apart, and the pros and cons of each vessel.

After reading this article, youll be able to make an informed decision on which vessel is better suited for your needs.

So, lets get started!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

A sailboat is a type of boat that is powered by wind energy using sails mounted to masts.

Schooners are a type of sailboat that typically have two or more masts, with the aft mast taller than the forward mast.

Schooners typically have more sail area compared to a typical sailboat, which enables them to travel faster and farther with the same wind.

Additionally, schooners often have a longer hull than a typical sailboat, which also helps with speed and stability.

Types of Vessels Used for Sailing

When it comes to sailing, there are two types of vessels most commonly used: sailboats and schooners. Each type of vessel has its own unique characteristics that make it well-suited for certain activities. Sailboats are typically smaller and more maneuverable than schooners, making them ideal for racing or recreational sailing. On the other hand, schooners are larger and more suited for carrying cargo, making them ideal for fishing, freighting, and other commercial activities. Both types of vessels can be used for cruising and exploring, but their differences in design and operation make them better suited for different purposes.

Sailboats utilize a single hull and one or two masts to generate power.

The masts hold sails which, when filled with wind, propel the boat forward.

Sailboats come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small dinghies to large racing yachts.

They are designed for speed and performance, and typically require a smaller crew than a schooner.

Schooners have a double hull and usually two or more masts.

They are larger and heavier than sailboats, making them better-suited for carrying cargo or heavy loads.

Schooners are more difficult to maneuver than sailboats, requiring a larger crew to manage the sails and rudders.

They are often used for fishing, freighting, and other commercial activities.

In conclusion, sailboats and schooners are two types of vessels used for sailing.

Sailboats are typically smaller and more maneuverable, while schooners are larger and better suited for carrying cargo.

Sailboats are designed for speed and performance, while schooners are more difficult to maneuver and require a larger crew.

Knowing the differences between these two types of vessels will help you choose the one that best suits your needs.

The Key Difference

When it comes to sailing, it is important to understand the key difference between a sailboat and a schooner.

While both types of vessels are used for sailing, they have some distinct differences.

A sailboat typically has one or two masts and a single hull.

This hull design is more streamlined and allows for a greater speed and maneuverability.

Schooners, on the other hand, usually have two or more masts and a double hull.

The double hull makes it easier to carry cargo, but it also makes the vessel more difficult to maneuver.

Another key difference between sailboats and schooners is the purpose for which they are designed.

Sailboats are typically designed for speed and performance, while schooners are more suited for carrying cargo.

This is due in part to the double hull design of the schooner, which makes it easier to carry more weight.

Finally, sailboats are easier to maneuver and require a smaller crew, while schooners require more crew and are more difficult to maneuver.

This is due to the increased complexity of the schooner’s design and the additional masts.

Additionally, the double hull of the schooner makes it harder to move quickly and efficiently.

In conclusion, sailboats and schooners are both types of vessels used for sailing, but they have some key differences.

A sailboat typically has one or two masts and a single hull, while a schooner usually has two or more masts and a double hull.

Additionally, sailboats are typically designed for speed and performance, while schooners are more suited for carrying cargo.

Understanding these differences is essential for anyone interested in sailing.

Sailboats are an incredibly popular type of vessel used for sailing, and they come in many different shapes and sizes.

Generally speaking, sailboats are designed to be lightweight, maneuverable, and fast, with either one or two masts and a single hull.

Their hulls are usually designed with a deep keel to help them better track in the wind, and they typically feature a wide range of sails to help them reach their desired speed.

For those looking for a recreational sailboat, they come in a variety of sizes, such as small dinghies or larger vessels with multiple cabins.

Sailboats also come in a variety of styles, such as sloops, ketchs, yawls, and cutters, all of which feature different sail plans.

Modern sailboats are typically made from fiberglass, aluminum, or wood, and they are designed for performance and speed.

They usually have a wide range of features, such as self-tacking jibs, roller furling headsails, and spinnaker poles, which help them achieve their desired speed and performance.

Additionally, they are usually equipped with a variety of electronics, such as GPS systems, autopilots, and wind instruments, to make sailing easier and safer.

Schooners are larger, more imposing vessels than sailboats, and are usually designed for carrying cargo rather than achieving speed and performance.

They typically have two or more masts, and a double hull that allows for a greater carrying capacity than a sailboat.

Schooners are much more difficult to maneuver than sailboats, and require a larger crew due to their size and complexity.

They are also slower than sailboats, but their larger capacity and ability to carry more cargo makes them ideal for long-distance travel.

They have a long history, with the first schooners being built in the late 1600s, and have been used for fishing, trading, and as military vessels.

Today, schooners are still used for transporting cargo, as well as for pleasure cruising and racing.

Maneuverability and Crew Requirements

When it comes to maneuverability and crew requirements, sailboats and schooners differ significantly.

Sailboats are typically designed to be more agile and require fewer people to handle them.

This makes them easier to maneuver in tight spaces and more ideal for recreational sailing and racing.

Schooners, on the other hand, are larger and require more crew members to handle them effectively.

Schooners are more suited to carrying cargo and navigating larger bodies of water, such as the open ocean.

As a result, they are not as agile or as easy to maneuver as sailboats.

In terms of crew requirements, sailboats typically require just two people to operate them, while schooners can require up to five or more people to handle them.

This is due to the size and complexity of the schooners.

Additionally, schooners are much more difficult to maneuver, so they require more crew members to facilitate the process.

In short, the main difference between sailboats and schooners is in terms of maneuverability and crew requirements.

Additionally, sailboats are easier to maneuver and require a smaller crew, while schooners require more crew and are more difficult to maneuver.

Examples of Sailboats and Schooners

When it comes to sailboats and schooners, there are many types and varieties.

Sailboats come in a wide range of sizes, from small dinghies to large racing yachts, and they can be used for a variety of purposes, from recreational sailing to racing.

Common types of sailboats include sloops, catamarans, and monohulls.

Sloops are the most common type of sailboat, with one mast and a single hull.

Catamarans have two hulls and are typically designed for speed and performance, while monohulls are single-hulled vessels that are the most efficient when it comes to sailing.

Schooners are also a popular type of sailing vessel, and they come in a variety of sizes and designs.

Common types of schooners include gaff-rigged schooners, which have two or more masts and a double hull, and topsail schooners, which have two masts and a single hull.

Schooners are typically designed to carry cargo, and they are often used for commercial purposes, such as fishing or trading.

Additionally, schooners require more crew and are more difficult to maneuver than sailboats.

Pros and Cons of Sailboats vs. Schooners

When it comes to sailing, sailboats and schooners are two vessels that have some distinct differences.

While both are great vessels for sailing, each type has its own set of pros and cons.

For sailboats, the biggest advantage is their speed and performance.

They are designed to be lightweight and aerodynamic, allowing them to move quickly and efficiently through the water.

Additionally, sailboats are also much easier to maneuver than schooners.

They require less crew and are more responsive, making them better suited for recreational sailing.

On the other hand, schooners are better suited for carrying cargo.

They are usually larger and have two or more masts, with a double hull to provide additional stability.

This makes them a great option for transporting goods over long distances or in rough waters.

Schooners also typically require a larger crew than sailboats and can be more difficult to maneuver.

When it comes to deciding between a sailboat and a schooner, it really comes down to what you plan to use the vessel for.

If youre looking for speed and performance, a sailboat is the way to go.

If youre looking for a vessel to transport goods, a schooner is the better option.

Ultimately, its important to consider the pros and cons of each before making your decision.

Final Thoughts

Sailboats and schooners are both types of vessels used for sailing, but they have some key differences.

Sailboats are typically designed for speed and performance, while schooners are more suitable for carrying cargo.

Sailboats are easier to maneuver and require a smaller crew, while schooners require more crew and are more difficult to maneuver.

Knowing the differences between these two types of vessels can help you decide which type of boat is best for your needs.

Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of each type of boat before making your decision.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

Distinguishing Types of Sailboats

In this article, we'll distinguish sailboats by traits such as their hull type, rig, and general configuration. Some sailboats share multiple characteristics with other boats but fall into a completely different category. For example, a sailboat with a Bermuda rig, a large engine, and a pilothouse could technically be called a sloop, but it's more likely a motorsailer.

When discerning sailboat type, the first most obvious place to look is the hull. If it has only one hull, you can immediately eliminate the trimaran and the catamaran. If it has two or more hulls, it's certainly not a typical monohull vessel.

The next trait to consider is the rig. You can tell a lot about a sailboat based on its rig, including what it's designed to be used for. For example, a long and slender sailboat with a tall triangular rig is likely designed for speed or racing, whereas a wide vessel with a complex gaff rig is probably built for offshore cruising.

Other factors that determine boat type include hull shape, overall length, cabin size, sail plan, and displacement. Hull material also plays a role, but every major type of sailboat has been built in both wood and fiberglass at some point.

Sailboat vs. Motorsailer

Most sailboats have motors, but most motorized sailboats are not motorsailers. A motorsailer is a specific kind of sailboat designed to run efficiently under sail and power, and sometimes both.

Most sailboats have an auxiliary engine, though these power plants are designed primarily for maneuvering. These vessels cannot achieve reasonable speed or fuel-efficiency. Motorsailers can operate like a powerboat.

Motorsailers provide great flexibility on short runs. They're great family boats, and they're popular in coastal communities with heavy boat traffic. However, these features come at a cost. Motorsailers aren't the fastest or most efficient powerboats, and they're also not the most agile sailboats. That said, they make an excellent general-purpose sailing craft.

Monohull vs. Multi-hull: Which is Better?

Multihull sailboats are increasingly popular, thanks to advances and lightweight materials, and sailboat design. But are they better than traditional sailboats? Monohulls are easier to maintain and less expensive, and they offer better interior layouts. Multihulls are more stable and comfortable, and they're significantly easier to control. Multihull sailboats also have a speed advantage.

Monohull Sailboats

A monohull sailboat is a traditionally-shaped vessel with a single hull. The vast majority of consumer sailboats are monohulls, as they're inexpensive to produce and easy to handle. Monohull sailboats are proven and easy to maintain, though they lack the initial stability and motion comfort of multi-hull vessels.

Monohull sailboats have a much greater rig variety than multi-hull sailboats. The vast majority of multihull sailboats have a single mast, whereas multi-masted vessels such as yawls and schooners are always monohulls. Some multi-hull sailboats have side-by-side masts, but these are the exception.

Catamaran Sailboats

The second most common sailboat configuration is the catamaran. A catamaran is a multihull sailboat that has two symmetrical hulls placed side-by-side and connected with a deck. This basic design has been used for hundreds of years, and it experienced a big resurgence in the fiberglass boat era.

Catamarans are fast, efficient, and comfortable. They don't heel very much, as this design has excellent initial stability. The primary drawback of the catamaran is below decks. The cabin of a catamaran is split between both hulls, which often leaves less space for the galley, head, and living areas.

Trimaran Sailboats

Trimarans are multi-hull sailboats similar to catamarans. Trimarans have three hulls arranged side-by-side. The profile of a trimaran is often indistinguishable from a catamaran.

Trimarans are increasingly popular, as they're faster than catamarans and monohulls and considerably easier to control. Trimarans suffer from the same spatial limitations as catamarans. The addition of an extra hull adds additional space, which is one reason why these multi-hull vessels are some of the best-selling sailboats on the market today.

Sailboat Rig Types

Rigging is another way to distinguish sailboat types. The rig of a sailboat refers to it's mast and sail configuration. Here are the most common types of sailboat rigs and what they're used for.

Sloops are the most common type of sailboat on the water today. A sloop is a simple single-mast rig that usually incorporates a tall triangular mainsail and headsail. The sloop rig is easy to control, fun to sail, and versatile. Sloops are common on racing sailboats as they can sail quite close to the wind. These maneuverable sailboats also have excellent windward performance.

The sloop rig is popular because it works well in almost any situation. That said, other more complex rigs offer finer control and superior performance for some hull types. Additionally, sloops spread their entire sail area over just to canvases, which is less flexible than multi-masted rigs. The sloop is ideal for general-purpose sailing, and it's proven itself inland and offshore.

Sloop Features:

Most popular sailboat rig
Single mast
One mainsail and headsail
Typically Bermuda-rigged
Easy to handle
Great windward performance
Less precise control
Easier to capsize
Requires a tall mast

Suitable Uses:

Offshore cruising
Coastal cruising

Cat (Catboat)

The cat (or catboat) is a single-masted sailboat with a large, single mainsail. Catboats have a thick forward mast, no headsail, and an exceptionally long boom. These vessels are typically gaff-rigged, as this four-edged rig offers greater sail area with a shorter mast. Catboats were popular workboats in New England around the turn of the century, and they have a large following today.

Catboats are typically short and wide, which provides excellent stability in rough coastal conditions. They're hardy and seaworthy vessels, but they're slow and not ideal for offshore use. Catboats are simple and easy to control, as they only have a single gaff sail. Catboats are easy to spot thanks to their forward-mounted mast and enormous mainsail.

Catboat Features:

Far forward-mounted single mast
Large four-sided gaff sail
Short and wide with a large cockpit
Usually between 20 and 30 feet in length
Excellent workboats
Tough and useful design
Great for fishing
Large cockpit and cabin
Not ideal for offshore sailing
Single sail offers less precise control
Slow compared to other rigs
Inland cruising

At first glance, a cutter is difficult to distinguish from a sloop. Both vessels have a single mast located in roughly the same position, but the sail plan is dramatically different. The cutter uses two headsails and often incorporates a large spar that extends from the bow (called a bowsprit).

The additional headsail is called a staysail. A sloop only carries one headsail, which is typically a jib. Cutter headsails have a lower center of gravity which provides superior performance in rough weather. It's more difficult to capsize a cutter, and they offer more precise control than a sloop. Cutters have more complex rigging, which is a disadvantage for some people.

Cutter Features:

Two headsails
Long bowsprit
Similar to sloop
Gaff or Bermuda-rigged
Fast and efficient
Offers precise control
Superior rough-weather performance
More complex than the sloop rig
Harder to handle than simpler rigs

Perhaps the most majestic type of sailboat rig, the schooner is a multi-masted vessel with plenty of history and rugged seaworthiness. The schooner is typically gaff-rigged with short masts and multiple sails. Schooners are fast and powerful vessels with a complex rig. These sailboats have excellent offshore handling characteristics.

Schooners have a minimum of two masts, but some have three or more. The aftermost large sail is the mainsail, and the nearly identical forward sail is called the foresail. Schooners can have one or more headsail, which includes a cutter-style staysail. Some schooners have an additional smaller sale aft of the mainsail called the mizzen.

Schooner Features:

At least two masts
Usually gaff-rigged
One or more headsails
Excellent offshore handling
Precise control
Numerous sail options (headsails, topsails, mizzen)
Fast and powerful
Complex and labor-intensive rig
Difficult to adjust rig single-handed
Offshore fishing

Picture a ketch as a sloop or a cutter with an extra mast behind the mainsail. These vessels are seaworthy, powerful, excellent for offshore cruising. A ketch is similar to a yawl, except its larger mizzen doesn't hang off the stern. The ketch is either gaff or Bermuda-rigged.

Ketch-rigged sailboats have smaller sails, and thus, shorter masts. This makes them more durable and controllable in rough weather. The mizzen can help the boat steer itself, which is advantageous on offshore voyages. A ketch is likely slower than a sloop or a cutter, which means you aren't likely to find one winning a race.

Ketch Features:

Headsail (or headsails), mainsail, and mizzen
Mizzen doesn't extend past the rudder post
Good offshore handling
Controllable and mild
Shorter and stronger masts
Easy self-steering
Slower than sloops and cutters
Less common on the used market

A dinghy is a general term for a small sailboat of fewer than 28 feet overall. Dinghys are often dual-power boats, which means they usually have oars or a small outboard in addition to a sail. These small boats are open-top and only suitable for cruising in protected waters. Many larger sailboats have a deployable dinghy on board to get to shore when at anchor.

Dinghy Features:

One or two people maximum capacity
Easy to sail
Works with oars, sails, or an outboard
Great auxiliary boat
Small and exposed
Not suitable for offshore use
Going from anchor to shore
Protected recreational sailing (lakes, rivers, and harbors)

Best Sailboat Type for Stability

Stability is a factor that varies widely between sailboat types. There are different types of stability, and some sailors prefer one over another. For initial stability, the trimaran wins with little contest. This is because these vessels have a very high beam-to-length ratio, which makes them much less prone to rolling. Next up is the catamaran, which enjoys the same benefit from a wide beam but lacks the additional support of a center hull section.

It's clear that in most conditions, multihull vessels have the greatest stability. But what about in rough weather? And what about capsizing? Multihull sailboats are impossible to right after a knockdown. This is where full-keel monohull sailboats excel.

Traditional vessels with deep displacement keels are the safest and most stable in rough weather. The shape, depth, and weight of their keels keep them from knocking over and rolling excessively. In many cases, these sailboats will suffer a dismasting long before a knockdown. The primary disadvantage of deep-keeled sailboats is their tendency to heel excessively. This characteristic isn't hazardous, though it can make novice sailors nervous and reduce cabin comfort while underway.

Best Sailboat Type for Offshore Cruising

The best sailboat type for offshore cruising is the schooner. These graceful aid robust vessels have proven themselves over centuries as durable and capable vessels. They typically use deep displacement keels, which makes them stable in rough weather and easy to keep on course.

That said, the full answer isn't quite so simple. Modern multihull designs are an attractive option, and they have also proven to be strong and safe designs. Multihull sailboats are an increasingly popular option for offshore sailors, and they offer comfort that was previously unknown in the sailing community.

Many sailors cross oceans in basic Bermuda-rigged monohulls and take full advantage of a fin-keel design speed. At the end of the day, the best offshore cruising sailboat is whatever you are comfortable handling and living aboard. There are physical limits to all sailboat designs, though almost any vessel can make it across an ocean if piloted by a competent skipper and crew.

Best Sailboat Type for Racing The modern lightweight Bermuda-rigged sailboat is the king of the regatta. When designed with the right kind of hull, these vessels are some of the fastest sailboats ever developed. Many boats constructed between the 1970s and today incorporate these design features due to their favorable coastal and inland handling characteristics. Even small sailboats, such as the Cal 20 and the Catalina 22, benefit from this design. These boats are renowned for their speed and handling characteristics.

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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What’s in a Rig – The Schooner

By: Pat Reynolds Sailboat Rigs , Sailboats

What’s in a Rig # 7– The Schooner

The schooner is another split rig plan, like the ketch and yawl, but really fell out of favor after having a very dominant place in sailing history for quite a long time. Early in the 18 th century on into the 19 th they became widely popular for their speed, versatility, and upwind prowess, which by today’s standards is not good, but at the time was surely better than the larger unwieldy ships of the day.

By definition, a schooner is a sailboat with at least two masts, with the forward mast (foremast) being a bit shorter than the main mast. Although a schooner can have more than two masts, most were just two. During the time of their popularity this smaller and better upwind set up allowed for a more efficient and manageable sailboat. It was the preferred choice of pirates, privateers, slaveship captains and others.

Although schooners filled a need at the time, they were eventually all but replaced with sloops and yawls that were even better upwind and easier to manage. The schooner’s two large sails weren’t all that efficient and there was a lot of sail to deal with. Perhaps yawls and ketches are still around mainly for that reason – the second sail is pretty manageable – a schooner, on the other hand, was (is) a lot of work and a lot to maintain.

In the other What’s in a Rig articles we made a case (or a partial case) for the practicalities of each particular rig, but the schooner doesn’t have any shining advantages over what came after it. Perhaps their contribution to modern sailing is to illustrate how it was once done. They are an extremely important element in the evolution of sailing and,for that matter, world history.

From the times of swarthy pirates to the racing legend America that ushered in a modern age, schooners ruled the oceans, so give them their just due. Maybe next time you see one, give a nod and say, “ thanks schooner, if not for you I probably wouldn’t be sailing this bitching J-boat right now. ”

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Sailboat rig types: sloop, cutter, ketch, yawl, schooner, cat.

Naval architects designate sailboat rig types by number and location of masts. The six designations are sloop, cutter, cat, ketch, yawl, and schooner. Although in defining and describing these six rigs I may use terminology associated with the sail plan, the rig type has nothing to do with the number of sails, their arrangement or location. Such terms that have no bearing on the rig type include headsail names such as jib, genoa, yankee; furling systems such as in-mast or in-boom; and sail parts such as foot, clew, tack, leach, and roach. Rig questions are one of the primary areas of interest among newcomers to sailing and studying the benefits of each type is a good way to learn about sailing. I will deal with the rigs from most popular to least.

Sloop The simplest and most popular rig today is the sloop. A sloop is defined as a yacht whose mast is somewhere between stations 3 and 4 in the 10 station model of a yacht. This definition places the mast with two thirds of the vessel aft and one third forward. The sloop is dominant on small and medium sized yachts and with the shift from large foretriangles (J-dimension in design parlance) to larger mains a solid majority on larger yachts as well. Simple sloop rigs with a single headsail point the highest because of the tighter maximum sheeting angle and therefore have the best windward performance of the rig types. They are the choice for one-design racing fleets and America’s cup challenges. The forestay can attached either at the masthead or some fraction below. These two types of sloops are described respectively as masthead or fractionally rigged. Fractionally rigged sloops where the forestay attaches below the top of the mast allow racers to easily control head and main sail shapes by tightening up the backstay and bending the mast.

Cutter A cutter has one mast like the sloop, and people rightfully confuse the two. A cutter is defined as a yachts whose mast is aft of station 4. Ascertaining whether the mast is aft or forward of station 4 (what if it is at station 4?) is difficult unless you have the design specifications. And even a mast located forward of station 4 with a long bowsprit may be more reasonably referred to as a cutter. The true different is the size of the foretriangle. As such while it might annoy Bob Perry and Jeff_h, most people just give up and call sloops with jibstays cutters. This arrangement is best for reaching or when heavy weather dictates a reefed main. In moderate or light air sailing, forget the inner staysail; it will just backwind the jib and reduce your pointing height.

Ketch The ketch rig is our first that has two masts. The main is usually stepped in location of a sloop rig, and some manufactures have used the same deck mold for both rig types. The mizzen, as the slightly shorter and further aft spar is called, makes the resulting sail plan incredibly flexible. A ketch rig comes into her own on reaching or downwind courses. In heavy weather owners love to sail under jib and jigger (jib and mizzen). Upwind the ketch suffers from backwinding of the mizzen by the main. You can add additional headsails to make a cutter-ketch.

Yawl The yawl is similar to the ketch rig and has the same trade-offs with respect to upwind and downwind performance. She features two masts just like on a ketch with the mizzen having less air draft and being further aft. In contrast and much like with the sloop vs. cutter definition, the yawl mizzen’s has much smaller sail plan. During the CCA era, naval architects defined yawl as having the mast forward or aft of the rudderpost, but in today’s world of hull shapes (much like with the sloop/cutter) that definition does not work. The true different is the height of the mizzen in proportion to the main mast. The yawl arrangement is a lovely, classic look that is rarely if ever seen on modern production yachts.

Schooner The schooner while totally unpractical has a romantic charm. Such a yacht features two masts of which the foremost is shorter than the mizzen (opposite of a ketch rig). This change has wide affects on performance and sail plan flexibility. The two masts provide a base to fly unusual canvas such as a mule (a triangular sail which spans between the two spars filling the space aft of the foremast’s mainsail). The helm is tricky to balance because apparent wind difference between the sails, and there is considerable backwinding upwind. Downwind you can put up quite a bit of canvas and build up speed.

Cat The cat rig is a single spar design like the sloop and cutter, but the mast location is definately forward of station 3 and maybe even station. You see this rig on small racing dinghies, lasers and the like. It is the simplest of rigs with no headsails and sometimes without even a boom but has little versatility. Freedom and Nonesuch yachts are famous for this rig type. A cat ketch variation with a mizzen mast is an underused rig which provides the sailplan flexibility a single masted cat boat lacks. These are great fun to sail.

Conclusion Sloop, cutter, ketch, yawl, schooner, and cat are the six rig types seen on yachts. The former three are widely more common than the latter three. Each one has unique strengths and weaknesses. The sloop is the best performing upwind while the cat is the simplest form. Getting to know the look and feel of these rig types will help you determine kind of sailing you enjoy most.

5 Replies to “Sailboat Rig Types: Sloop, Cutter, Ketch, Yawl, Schooner, Cat”

Thanks for this information. I’m doing my research on what type of sailboat I will eventually buy and was confused as to all the different configurations! This helped quite a bit.

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Being from the south, my distinction between a ketch and a yawl: if that mizzen falls over on a ketch, the boat will catch it; if it falls over on a yawl, it’s bye bye y’all.

I thought a Yawl had to have the mizzen mast behind the rudder and a ketch had the mizzen forward of the rudder.

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What is the difference between a Sloop, Ketch, Yawl and Schooner

18 June 2019

It’s probably fair to assume that for every sailing term there are at least 3 or more other pieces of jargon that fit equally as well. Sailing terminology can be confusing, although in the writer’s experience, the more experienced a sailor you sail with (especially racers) the more relaxed about it they become. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard a very experienced offshore sailor request “a little on the yellow string please..”

That said, when it comes to types of sailing craft, terminology is pretty much definitive. Knowing your yawl from your ketch and your ketch from your schooner may not be critical - but sometimes it’s just useful to know. So here goes;

A sloop has a mainsail and headsail configuration, the mainsail being set on the mast at its luff and and a spar at its foot called a boom.

A schooner has two or more masts with the foreward-most mast shorter than the others. Most schooners are larger sailing vessels and tall ships these days.

The ketch has two masts with the aftmost mast (the mizzen) shorter than the main mast forward of it. The helm position lies to the aft of the mizzen mast.

A yawl, like a ketch has two masts with the aftmost (the mizzen) shorter than the main, but in the case of a yawl, the helming position is forward of the mizzen mast.

All of these yacht types can be rigged differently, the two best known types being gaff-rigged, where the sail is connected to two spars, one at the top of the sail and one at the foot. The sail is quite square and to hoist it the top gaff must be hoisted up the mast, raising the sail under it.

The second, and by far most popular type of mainsail is the Bermuda-rigged vessel where a triangular sail is hoisted up the mast by a halyard attached to its head. The foot is attached to the boom, usually at the tack and clue, but sometimes by way of a bolt rope in its foot which slots into the boom along its whole length.

If the vessel has more than one forestay and flies two or more headsails then it is said to be cutter-rigged. In such cases the main mast might be set slightly further back to accommodate the extra stays. If the forestay connects to the top of the mast then the vessel is ‘masthead’ rigged and if it connects a few feet or metres below the top of the mast it’s a fractional rig, allowing ‘rake’ to be induced in the mast by tensioning the backstay. Most fractionally-rigged yachts have additional bracing aft the mast in the form of ‘running backstays’ which are set and tensioned dependent of the tack and point of sail.

In addition to these vessel types we also have the catboat (usually a vessel with one mainsail set on a mast set more forward than usual), a dinghy (which I doubt needs explanation) and then there are the ships and multi-hulls, of which there are far too many for this blog!

Needless to say, if you ever find yourself confronted by a Jackass-barque, a Brigantine and a Pentamaran and your crew ask you to explain which is which, you’re best to just nod sagely, smile and go put the kettle on..

Why learn to sail in Gibraltar?

The pros and cons of in-mast furling.

How To Tell The Difference Between A Ketch And A Schooner

A Definitive Guide

Sloops and cutters.

Let’s start off with the basics.

Most sailing vessels have only one mast and would be classed as sloops or cutters. A sloop has one headsail, a cutter has two or more. Sloops and cutters can be either gaff rigged like the drawing here or bermudan rigged like most yachts. The majority of yachts today will be bermudan sloops.

Where’s the mizzen mast?

In most cases it’s the after-most mast. A ketch or yawl has a main mast and a mizzen mast but on a two masted schooner or square rigger such as a brig or brigantine the masts are called the fore mast and main mast. On three masted square riggers and schooners the mizzen is the after-most mast. More than three masts? Lets not go there just now…

Ketches and Yawls

A ketch has two masts with the mizzen mast stepped before the rudder head.

If the mast is stepped aft of the rudder head the boat becomes technically a yawl not a ketch. Yawl rig tends to be used on smaller boats, ketch rig is often used on larger vessels, notably the Brixham trawlers and trading ketches of the last century.

The mizzen sail in a ketch is a driving sail, in a yawl it is more of a balancing sail . The mizzen sail is always is smaller, often much smaller than the mainsail. If it was the same size or larger the boat would be a schooner.

Why not take a look at our fantastic Schooner Sailing Holidays while you are here?

Or maybe just scroll past for the rest of this article and our ‘Learn To Sail A Schooner’ articles.

Schooners have two or more masts. The defining thing for a schooner is that the after masts must be the same height or greater than the foremast.

Two masted schooners are simply called schooners , schooners with more than two masts are called by the number of masts they have unless that is they are a topsail schooner. The American seven masted schooner, the Thomas Lawson had more masts than any other schooner but was the only one of its kind.

When Does A Schooner Become A Topsail Schooner? Any time a schooner has a square topsail it becomes a topsail schooner. They were once common in the UK and were just called schooners, a schooner without square topsails was called a fore and aft schooner.

In America the situation was reversed and the standard schooner did not carry square topsails.

Sprit rig is usually reserved for dinghies but is also used on the Thames barges. The sprit is the spar that runs diagonally across the largest sail . This rig is not ideal in a big seaway because the sprit cannot be lowered and could become an unmanageable weight aloft. In coastal waters it is an extremely handy rig, the topsail can catch a high up breeze above river banks and the mainsail can be quickly brailed up to the sprit if bit of a breeze gets up (it’s like drawing a large curtain)

If you want to know more about its use in dinghies there is an article coming soon on our web site.

More ‘Learn To Sail A Schooner’ Articles

Learn to sail a schooner no.1, learn to sail a schooner no.3, learn to sail a schooner no.2, learn to sail a schooner no.6, learn to sail a schooner no.7, learn to sail a schooner no.8, learn to sail a schooner no.4, learn to sail a schooner no.5, tall ships sailing holidays 2024.

Voyages In Date Order

Sailing Weekend Breaks UK

An offshore sailing holiday orkney, orkney sailing holiday, fair isle sailing holiday, shetland sailing holiday, kirkwall, orkney to whitby, whitby to harwich, ipswich to london, sailing london to harwich.

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Schooner: A Classic Sailboat with Timeless Elegance

1. Introduction

Sailing has always captivated the human imagination, and one type of sailboat that has left an indelible mark in maritime history is the schooner. With its distinctive design and graceful sails, the schooner embodies timeless elegance and the romance of the open sea. In this article, we will explore the definition of a schooner, its history, anatomy, types, famous examples, modern relevance, and more. Join us on this voyage as we delve into the world of schooners.

2. Definition of a Schooner

A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by its unique sail plan. Unlike other sailboats, a schooner has multiple masts, with the forward mast being shorter than the aft mast. The sails on a schooner are typically fore-and-aft rigged, meaning they run parallel to the length of the boat, allowing for efficient sailing against the wind. Schooners come in various sizes, from small pleasure craft to large commercial vessels.

3. History and Evolution

The history of the schooner can be traced back to the early 18th century. Its design is believed to have originated in the Netherlands and spread throughout Europe and North America. The schooner quickly gained popularity due to its versatility and speed. It was widely used for various purposes, including fishing, cargo transportation, and even as private yachts for the wealthy.

4. Anatomy of a Schooner

To understand the anatomy of a schooner, let's explore its key components:

Hull: The hull of a schooner is the main body of the boat, providing buoyancy and stability. It can be made of wood, steel, or fiberglass.
Masts: A schooner typically has two or more masts, with the aft mast, known as the mainmast, being taller than the forward mast, called the foremast.
Sails: The sails on a schooner are arranged in a fore-and-aft configuration. Common types of sails found on a schooner include the mainsail, foresail, jib, staysail, and topsail.
Rigging: Schooners have intricate rigging systems that support the masts and control the sails. This includes various lines, ropes, and pulleys.
Deck: The deck is the horizontal surface on the schooner where crew members move and work. It may feature cabins, hatches, and other structures.
Steering Mechanism: Schooners use a rudder system to control their direction, allowing the sailors to navigate through the water.

5. Types of Schooners

Schooners can be classified into different types based on their size, rigging, and purpose. Some common types of schooners include:

Baltimore Clipper: A sleek and fast schooner popularized in the mid-19th century.
Gaff Topsail Schooner: A schooner with a gaff-rigged topsail, providing additional sail area.
Schooner Yacht: Luxurious schooners designed for pleasure sailing and racing.
Two-Masted Schooner: Schooners with two masts, offering a balanced sail plan.
Three-Masted Schooner: Larger schooners with three masts, commonly used for commercial purposes.

Read our top notch articles on topics such as sailing, sailing tips and destinations in our Magazine .

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An elegant two-masted gaff schooner (training tall ship) sailing in Mälaren lake, Sweden.

6. Famous Schooners in History

Throughout history, numerous schooners have gained fame for their remarkable voyages and contributions to maritime heritage. Some notable examples include:

The America: A schooner that won the first America's Cup yacht race in 1851, setting the stage for modern yacht racing.
The Bluenose: A Canadian fishing and racing schooner celebrated for its speed and beauty.
The Wyoming: Once the largest wooden schooner ever built, measuring over 330 feet in length.
The Adventuress: A historic schooner now serving as an educational vessel, promoting environmental stewardship.

7. Schooners in Popular Culture

Schooners have found their way into popular culture, appearing in literature, movies, and music. They symbolize adventure, freedom, and the romanticism of a bygone era. From classic novels like "Treasure Island" to films such as "Pirates of the Caribbean," schooners have captured the imagination of storytellers and audiences alike.

8. Advantages of Schooners

The design of a schooner offers several advantages over other sailboats. These include:

Speed and Maneuverability: Schooners are known for their agility and speed, making them ideal for racing and navigating through various weather conditions.
Sailing Options: The fore-and-aft rigging of schooners provides flexibility in sail adjustments, allowing for efficient sailing in different wind directions.
Versatility: Schooners can be adapted for various purposes, including pleasure sailing, chartering, cargo transportation, and even scientific research expeditions.

9. Sailing a Schooner

Sailing a schooner requires skill and expertise. The crew must work together to hoist and adjust the sails, control the rigging, and steer the vessel. Schooners offer an immersive and hands-on sailing experience, connecting sailors to the rich heritage of traditional seafaring.

10. Schooners in Modern Times

While the heyday of commercial schooners has passed, their legacy continues. Many enthusiasts restore and sail schooners, keeping the tradition alive. Schooners are also popular choices for those seeking a unique and nostalgic sailing experience. Whether for pleasure, racing, or exploring remote corners of the world, schooners continue to inspire sailors and onlookers alike.

11. Schooner Yachts: Luxury on the Water

Schooner yachts combine the timeless elegance of schooners with the luxury and comfort of modern amenities. These magnificent vessels offer a blend of classic design and state-of-the-art features, providing an unforgettable experience for those who appreciate the finer things in life.

Schooners stand as testaments to human ingenuity and our eternal fascination with the sea. Their iconic design, rich history, and enduring allure make them a beloved part of maritime heritage. From their humble beginnings to their continued presence in modern times, schooners continue to inspire and captivate sailors and dreamers alike.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our range of charter boats and head to some of our favourite sailing destinations.

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Difference Between Schooner & Sail Boat

Posted on January 19, 2016 by LibSchoonerAd

The terms, sailboat and schooner, are often used but rarely do people realize that there is a difference. One of the main ones being that sail boat is a general term. A sailboat is described as any boat that is powered by sails and wind. The thing is, there are several different types of sailboats and one of them is a schooner. Here is how you can tell the difference between schooner and sail boats, in general.

Sail Boat Types

A lot of sail boats are sloop rigs which mean that they have a single mast which holds the head sail and the main sail. The cutter is another type of sloop, but it will have a mast that is further aft as well as a staysail. If you have a two masted boat and the mizzen mast is located in front of the rudder post, you are looking at a ketch, which is similar to a Yawl, but has the mizzen aft of the rudder post. As you can see, when talking about a sailboat, there are a lot of different variations of the same type of boat. However, there is a sail boat that is barely a boat at all. The cutter rig is not an actual boat. Instead, it is a rig adapted to fit a single or a multiple-masted boat.

A schooner is a type of sail boat and the only one of its kind to have two or more masts with the one in front being the shortest of all. All other types of sailboats have larger masts up front and smaller ones toward the rear.

Racing Sail Boats or Recreational Sail Boats?

Most of the time, you will not see a schooner as a racing sailboat. They are multi-masted and most often, not designed to be fast boats. Even with the multiple sails that are sometimes attached to them. However, this does not mean that there are no schooners racing because most of the sail boats ability to race is dependent upon the sails that it holds high.

If you have a sailboat that you race, you will have a sail that when filled with air, billows out further. This also means that they have reinforcement around the Cunningham Grommet. It is necessary to have that extra support because of the extra air that is being held and propelling the boat at a faster speed. Smaller, recreational type sailboats do not need as much extra support or reinforcement.

With that being said, if you are looking for a racing sail boat, you will need to buy a higher priced racing sail. If you are not racing, you simply have to look for the size of sail that is right for your sailboat.

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Difference Between Ketch and Yawl Explained

When I was a lad, I thought they were all schooners, but they were not. The difference between ketch and yawl (and schooner) is determined by the position of the mizzenmast relative to the rudder pole.

Also, the height of the mizzenmast relative to the mainmast plays an essential role in the definition of ketch, yawl, and schooner.

Ketch vs Yawl vs Schooner

Ketch sailboat, yawl sailboat, ketch vs yawl – the bottom line.

Before we go down to the ketch vs yawl differences, we need to define a schooner, one of the classic sail configurations echoing from the Age of Sail , which is the 1600s.

Well, a schooner is a sailing vessel with multiple masts (more than one) where all masts bear either Bermuda sails, gaff sails, or a combination of those.

Schooner, the difference between ketch and yawl and schooner.

In application to the modern pleasure boats , we speak mainly about two-masted schooners . More importantly, the second mast, which we often call “mizzenmast,” must be the same height or taller as the “mainmast.”

Sometimes (and officially it is so), we call the second mast of a schooner a main mast, as it is taller, but the first one is the foremast then. I see no serious fault in either use of these terms.

The mizzen sail of a schooner can be significantly larger than her main sail or of the same size.

Schooner sailboat, the difference between ketch and yawl.

Schooners are usually larger boats, tall ships, and super-yachts. We can hardly spot a 25-foot schooner, but they are commonly 50-60 feet and up. Honestly, we can hardly spot a schooner as a pleasure boat at all unless she is a super-yacht or a historical vessel.

Schooners may feature a staysail or a few between the masts, along with or instead of the main sail. Ketches do so as well, while yawls do not.

Ketch vs Yawl

Just to cut it short, one image is worth a thousand words. So let’s take a look at the ketch vs yawl comparison , and we’ll cover the details below.

Once the mizzenmast of the two-masted schooner-alike is shorter than the mainmast, she is a ketch . Yet another cardinal condition to define the ketch vs yawl difference is that for a sailboat to be a ketch, the mizzenmast should be located before the rudder pole (otherwise, she is a yawl).

A ketch with two or more jibs is called a cutter ketch (in the picture above). Bigger ketches may carry triangle staysails between the masts, like for going downwind, which is not the case for a yawl due to the distance between the masts, and the mizzenmast being too small.

Modern ketches can bear gaff sails or a combination of a gaff sail and a Bermuda sail, but the latter we meet pretty seldom. Ketches way more often implement Bermuda sails on both masts.

Because the sail area of a ketch is split into two parts, the masts of a ketch are shorter than the single mast of a sloop, giving more clearance to pass under the bridges, and decreasing the load given on each mast, sails themselves, standing rig, and running rig too.

Ketches are widely recognized as way stable boats when in rough water and strong winds compared to sloops; this makes them idyllic for off-shore cruising. For day-sailing, you can use just one sail and jibs. That makes ketches very versatile sailboats, as you choose the best sail configuration for today’s voyage out of several options.

The complexity of control is a subjective con as well, real ketch-owners never report. The mizzen is smaller anyway than the genny and the main.

Nobody forces you to use all sails at once, but you have a wider range of options . Shorter masts and smaller sails are easier to handle once you sail single-handed. Logically, for a cruising couple, a ketch is simply the best sailboat.

There are no brand-new ketches in the market to buy one straight away from the manufacturer. For the mass market, boatyards prefer making sloops, but for having a brand-new ketch, you need a custom build. The same is about yawls, by the way.

And, we have found yet another beautiful pro for ketches somewhere in sailing forums: a ketch appears like a real ship rather than a sloop-ish big dinghy (ha-ha).

Boaters who tried a ketch do never go back to sloops. If you meet one, please let us know.

The mizzenmast of a yawl is located far abaft the rudder pole. The mizzenmast of a yawl is usually very small, even tiny, standing far abaft. Actually, it is significantly smaller than one on a ketch – the main and the principal difference between a ketch and yawl.

Yawl owners report they never want anything but yawl anymore, just like ketch owners do about their ketches. Many sloop owners, however, think about a ketch or a yawl as their next boat. True.

Gaff Yawl Sailboat with the tiny mizzenmast

Yawls are as stable as ketches on the go, but you’ll meet different physics and behavior once you sail it because the wind force applies behind the rudder. Somewhat a rare-wheel-drive if you wish. Nobody calls sailboats “something wheel drive,” but we want to hint at an idea about how to sail a yawl.

Just because the yawl’s mizzen sail is behind the rudder, it can be used as a wind rudder. Many yawl owners find it way useful, as it adds a ton to stability, including but not limited to the downwind.

Some yawl owners say they also use the second sail as a stabilizer when anchoring, which you can hardly do safely with any bigger sail. I’m unsure if this even counts anything like a serious pro, but some people report they love it.

The mizzenmast standing at the very aft may sometimes complicate the installation of the wind-wane or a solar panel at the aft. Maybe a reason why yawls are, in general, smaller boats than ketches, and the former fit less for off-shore cruising (please don’t shoot at me).

Many boaters we have interviewed about ketch vs yawl say, “I love ketch/yawl because she is just more beautiful than my counterpart.” If you ask me, my dream boat is a ketch sailboat with a heavy steel hull, most probably a cutter of about 40-45 feet LOA.

The stability of yawls and ketches is pretty the same, if I may. They are not really “ketch vs yawl”; there’s not much space for being “versus,” but we think both are generally better than a sloop.

Both ketch and yawl perform amazingly in strong winds, having an option to run with the mizzen and the jib on, downing the main (the combo is called Jib and Jigger ).

Both ketch and yawl are cooler downwind compared to a sloop, but the letter wins the upwind performance. That is why we do not see ketches nor yawls racing.

There are so many reports of how the two-masted yachts (ketches and yawls) perform in rough weather. They are just made for this, as the wind force is spread, giving less load upon each mast and the rig, and then smaller sails serve longer and are easier to handle.

So, finding out the difference between ketch and yawl, I asked my teacher a long time ago: what was the best rig for the rough waters and heavy winds? He replied: A submarine.

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Boats, Schooners, Ships, Yachts and Superyachts - What’s the Difference?

Are boats, yachts and superyachts all the same? What happens if we throw ship in the mix, or vessel? Do they refer to different boat types or are they just interchangeable terms? Will some sea lover become upset if I refer to a boat as a schooner? What’s a schooner anyway? Some require yacht crews while others can be sailed solo.

For those who are new to sea life, it’s okay to not understand the difference. There are still some sea lovers who couldn’t tell you the difference between yachts and superyachts, between boats and ships. And some may say it doesn’t even matter. Some distinctions are clear, like the difference between a ship and schooner. While other differences are more difficult to establish, like the difference between yachts and superyachts.

Here’s a simple cheat sheet. Bookmark this page in case it comes up again! Happy sailing!

Boat – used for commercial and recreational purposes. Technically, boats are motor vessels less than 100 feet long.

Schooner – a sailboat that actually has a sail. Some schooners can also make use of an engine, but if there is no sail, it is not a schooner.

Ship – large, commercial sea vessel. Used to transport goods, people, and for military utility. Ships are usually over 200 feet long.

Yacht – purely recreational vessel. These vessels are built with the idea of luxury in mind. Not all of these vessels require yacht crews, some require 2 or 3 crew members.

Superyacht – a yacht over 100 feet in length from stern to bow. Superyachts cannot function without yacht crews and yacht management .

Regardless of whether you own a large schooner, yacht, or superyacht under 120 feet, Yacht Management has concierge crew, storage, and dockside maintenance services for your vessel. Contact us today for more information and see which packages we offer for your specific kind of vessel – now that you know!

For all inquiries, fill out the form below and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible

The 15 Different Types Of Sailing Ships

The 15 types of sailing ships are listed below.

The Schooner
The Carrack
The Brigantine
The Barquentine
The Clipper
The Windjammer
The Fully Rigged Ship

Throughout centuries, there have been many different types of sailing ships seen from harbors and coastlines around the world.

This article will show the various types of sailing vessels that have made their mark in maritime history and we showcase their purposes and why they are still remarkable feats of marine engineering.

The different sizes, shapes, and masts of the ships required different numbers of sailors to handle them and each type of ship was crafted with a different purpose in mind.

All ships are unique with no two types of ships being the same with each coming with its own experiences, features and requirements.

1. The Schooner

The Schooner sailing vessel, with an average size of 46m (152 feet) in length, was developed in the early 17th century and first used by the Dutch.

The ship came with fore and aft sails and they were created to operate in the toughest of wind and ocean conditions.

The Schooner was a multi-purpose sailing vessel used for transporting slaves to transporting cargo and it was used for fishing and racing too.

There are 5 different schooner types that are characterized by their rig configurations listed below.

Tern schooner : This was a 3-masted schooner most popular between 1880 and 1920 capable of carrying up to 400 tons in cargo and it required a crew of 6-8 people
4-6 masts schooner : These schooners spread the sail area over smaller sails
Grand Bank Fishing schooner : Similar to the famous Bluenose, it carries the main gaff topsail and a fisherman's staysail set between the masts.
Square Topsail schooner : This was a combination of fore and aft sails and small square sails, most popularly used for coastal cargo transportation in the 1800s
Coastal schooner : This was a coastal schooner sailing ship used for carrying goods and general cargo to nearby islands along the coast ( 1 )

The 19th Century schooner came with two or three masts, the one at the fore being shorter than the others.

Modern schooners, with Bermuda rigged sails, remain powerful, economical coastal liners traversing the Pacific.

Famous schooner sailing ships are listed below.

America : The Schooner named " America " was designed for racing and it became the first winner of the America's Cup international sailing trophy ( 2 )
Thomas W Lawson : The schooner “ Thomas W Lawson ” had a unique seven masts, with interchangeable sails and gear
Wawona : The schooner " Wawona " was one of the largest lumber carriers and fishing vessels between 1897 and 1947

2. The Carrack

The Carrack, developed in the 14th and 15th centuries with the first built in Portugal, is a nautically-rigged wooden ship with three or four masts each having square sails or triangular sails and it was heavily used between the 14th to 15th Centuries and remained popular until the 18th Century. It is the sailing ship Christopher Columbus used to sail the world.

It was the largest ship in Europe with the Spanish Carrack being more than 1,000 tons in weight and 150 feet (45 meters) in length. More modern versions of the Carrack were developed by the Portuguese and they could hold up to 2,000 tons. ( 3 ).

The Carrack had 4 decks with the lower 2 used for cargo, the 3rd was for accommodation and the 4th was for cargo owned by the crew ( 4 ) and this bulky ship was the standard trading ship along the Baltic, Mediterranean, Asian, and Atlantic coasts in the mid-16th century useful for carrying cargo across seas.

The Carrack had a strange shape which made it cumbersome to sail close to the wind and after a lot of engineering experiments, parts of the ship were stripped off giving the ship a high stern and a low bow.

The modern Carrack features a square-rigged mainmast, foremast, and a latten-rigged Mizzen mast, along with a rounded stern, sizable bowsprit, forecastle, and aft castle.

This is a large ship, built to carry heavy freight for long-distance hauls since it was very steady even in the worst weather with the British Army calling it the “Great Ship” because of its highly-functional ship design.

Famous carrack shipping vessels are listed below.

Santa Maria : This was the famous ship that Christopher Columbus used to sail and discover America in 1492
Victoria : The first ship to circumnavigate the globe
Grace Dieu : This was commissioned by King Henry V and it was one of the largest carrack ships in the world in 1418
Cinco Chagas : This was presumed to be the richest ship at that time. it was sunk in battle in 1594 ( 5 )

3. The Brigantine

A Brigantine is a two-masted sailing ship with the main mast both a fore-and-aft main sail, a triangular type of sail and a square main topsail that came in various sizes ranging from 30 tons to 150 tons and it could carry a crew of up to 125 people but the shipping vessel could still be handled by a smaller crew if needed.

These ships were similar to the sailing vessel called the Brig as they both had top-gallant sails and were used by the Royal Navy to scout and monitor enemies on the high seas while also being popular amongst pirates as they were faster and easily maneuverable sailing vessels.

It is unclear when the ship was originally built with loose definitions date the ship back to the 13th century when it was originally referred to as the "sail and oar-driven war vessel" ( 6 ) and early academic definitions where the vessel was referred to as the "Brigantine" was first seen in books in the early to mid-16th century ( 7 ).

They would sail across the trade routes of the Baltics and Northern Europe, all the way from Germany to Scandinavia.

The mid-size ships had two sails on the-mainmast with a stripped-down fully-squared rig.

4. The Barquentine

The Barquentine, first built in the 17th century and also referred to as a " schooner barque ", " barkentine " or " schooner bark ", is a sailing ship similar to a barque but with only the foremast square-rigged and the remaining masts rigged fore and aft ( 9 ). They weighed 250 to 500 tons.

The Barquentine has three or more masts and square sails on the fore and aft masts with the main mast had topmast and gaff sails and these had been stripped down to facilitate operation by a slimmer crew and basic rig.

The Barquentine sailed the waters of Northern Europe which were dominated by variable wind speeds and they were popularly used to carry lumber from Scandinavia and Germany to England and the Baltic Areas.

5. The Xebec

The Xebec, also known as " Zebec ", a name derived from the Arabic word for "Small Ship", was a sailing ship built in the 16th to mid-19th century that was used mainly for moving cargo.

The Xebec sailing vessel held between 90 and 400 crew and was 103ft 9 inches in length with a tonnage of between 200 - 300 tons ( 10 ) and they were very agile and popular with European navies.

The features of the Xebec are listed below.

Long-prow bulkheads
Narrow elongated hulls
Huge lateen yards
One aft-set mizzen mast
3 lateen-pillared masts, both raked forward and having a single triangular sail

Their shallow draft and lateen rig allowed for a closer pinch to the wind allowing them to flee quickly or turn around and fire a broadside volley quickly.

After a lot of engineering experiments, the Xebec gave rise to the Polacre-Xebec, which replaced the mizzen mast. The mainmast of the new derivative also had a square rig and these new vessels were light and could not carry a heavy load with the shallow draft and low free-board making them unsuitable for open-seas sailing.

6. The Barque

The barque, also referred to as " barc " or " bark ", is a sailing ship first introduced in the 15th century ( 11 ) with 3 or more masts with square sails on all masts, except the aft or mizzen mast. It could carry approximately 500 tons and could hold a crew of 100 people.

Although they are quite similar, the barque should not be confused with the Schooner Bark which is a different vessel.

The Barque ship was commonly used by traders to carry extremely high volumes of cargo from Australia to Europe with cargo mainly consisting of Nitrates and Guano destined for the Western South American coast and they were popular in the period prior to the start of World War II.

7. The Clipper

A clipper was a sailing vessel introduced in the mid-19th century that was mainly used as a merchant ship for transporting goods and it was designed for speed.

Clipper ships ranged in size from a few hundred tons to over 4000 tons ( 12 ) and they all had a narrow build, a protruding stern, 3 to 5 masts for speed, and a square rig.

They were most commonly used by British and American traders to ship goods from China to their countries and they were also used to ferry Gold and Tea back to Great Britain and the Americas.

Famous clipper ships are listed below.

Cisne Branco : This is a steel-hulled built like the original clipper. It is used as a training vessel by the Brazilian navy to this day
Race Horse : This clipper ship set the record of getting from New York to San Francisco in 109 days in 1850 which was a record at that time
Marco Polo : This clipper vessel was the first boat of the time to make around trip between England & Australia in under 6 months in 1852

8. The Windjammer

The Windjammer is a commercial sailing ship built in the 19th century with a capacity between 2,000 to 8,000 tons and the speed ranged from 14 to 21 knots ( 13 ).

It came with three to five square-rigged masts and it had a cost-effective extended hull that allowed for larger storage space.

It was a general-class merchant ship and was mainly used to transport bulky cargo and it ferried lumber, coal, and many other goods from one continent to another before evolving from carrying cargo to carrying passengers on cruises in later generations.

9. The Fluyt

The Fluyt, also known as " fleut " or " fluit " is a sailing ship that originated in the 16th century in the Dutch Republic with a weight between 200 and 300 tons, approximately 80 feet (24 meters) in length, and a crew capacity of 12 - 15 people ( 14 ).

The Fluyt has three squared-rigged masts and was primarily used as a merchant ship to transport cargo.

It was lightly fortified, had a small stern and extended box-style structure, and was crafted using specialized tools to reduce the costs of production and make them affordable to merchants.

10. The Fully-Rigged Ship

A fully rigged ship, also referred to as a "full-rigged ship", is a sailing ship with three or more masts, with all of the masts being square-rigged and the rig, hull, mast, and yards made of iron, wood, or steel.

A full-rigged ship weighed an average 325 tons and could carry a crew of up to 36 people and these ships required a larger crew because of their fully rigged construction ( 15 ).

During the 18th century, a full-rigged ship was also referred to as a " frigate " and they were mainly used for patrolling and for attacking.

A full-rigged ship weighed an average 325 tons and could carry a crew of up to 36 people ( 16 ).

However, towards the end of the 19th century, these ships were stripped down so they could be handled by a smaller crew which helped in easier handling of the sails during the monsoon period when winds would change speed and direction without any warning.

This helped in easier handling of the sails during the monsoon period when winds would change speed and direction without any warning.

A fully rigged ship masts from stern to bow consists of: ( 17 )

Mainmast : This is the tallest mast on the ship
Foremast : This is the second tallest mast on the ship
Mizzenmast : This is the third tallest mast on the sailing vessel
Jiggermast : If there is a 4th mast, it will be the jiggermast and will be the smallest mast on the ship

11. The Cutter

The cutter is a smaller sailing ship built in the early 18th century with a single mast rigged fore and aft and it varied in size from 20ft to 34 ft in length on average with a crew capacity of between 21 to 66 people ( 19 ).

A cutter sailing vessel features: ( 18 )

Narrow hull
2 or more headsails
Decked sailcraft
Raking transom
Vertical stem
A gaff-rigged long bowsprit

This sailing ship was used for patrolling territorial waters and other enforcement activities during the 18th century and it was used to ferry soldiers and government officials because it was very fast and could outrun any enemy.

Modern-day cutters have a rugged appearance, are small and aptly fit into their intended purpose – speed and agility and the British Sailing Club still has open-oared cutters in their fleet of sailing ships.

12. The Yawl

A Yawl is a sailing ship that was originally that was originally a dutch ship nicknamed " Dandy " or " Jol " in Dutch built in the 19th century with a speed range from 10-14 knots, an average crew size of 25 people and a ship size ranging from 30ft to 75ft in length with beam sizes ranging from 10ft to 12ft.

They bore two fully-equipped masts and a fore-and-aft sail, a smaller jigger-mast and a mizzen mast that leans towards the rudder post of the ship with the mizzen sail in this case purposely designed to aid in balancing and trimming the ship on rough waters.

One famous yawl sailing ship is the Islander which was a 34ft yawl that Harry Pidgeon sailed around the world on. He was the second person in 1918 to sail around the world at that time.

13. The Brig

The brig is a two-masted sailing ship that was originally built in the 18th century with square rigging on both masts and sometimes had a spanker on the aft mast.

The length of a brig varied from 75ft to 165ft with tonnages up to 480 ith tonnages up to 480 and it needed a crew of 22 people ( 20 ).

The brig was used as a war vessel and a cargo ship for transporting goods and they were later used to ferry large cargo on the open seas since they could easily follow the direction of the prevailing winds.

It came with a berthing deck that had sleeping quarters for cabin crew and marine officials, storage areas, a sail bin, a wood-paneled stove room, guns, and carronades.

They would be brought into the harbor without using tugs and could maneuver well in small areas.

Famous brig ships are listed below.

USS Argus : This was a United States Navy brig that fought in the First Barbary War, taking part in the blockage of Tripoli and the war of 1812
USS Reprisal : This was the first ship of the United States Navy
USS Somers : This was a brig in the United States Navy that became infamous for being the only US Navy ship to undergo a mutiny

14. The Ketch

A ketch is a two-masted sailboat that originated in the 17th century with most ketch ships ranging from 40ft to over 120ft in size and weighing between 100 and 250 tons. A ketch ship needed a smaller crew of only 4 people to operate ( 21 ).

The ketch looked just like the Yawl and as stated had two masts each having a fore-and-aft rig with the difference between the two being that the ketch had a mizzen mast placed on the taller mainmast but at a position in front of the rudder post. The mizzen in this case aided in maneuvering the vessel.

A ketch ship was used for:

Cargo Transportation

15. The Hulk

A hulk is an 18th-century ship that is a derivative of the Carrack with a weight of 400 tons that is afloat but incapable of going to sea. In maritime terms, the name "Hulk" was given to ships that were outdated, stripped down or unprofitable to run.

The bulk of the hulk fleet was comprised of abandoned ships, stripped down and therefore could not continue to ply across the Mediterranean Sea as cargo or transport ships.

They are stationary and kept for their buoyancy and were used as a prison, a place for gambling.

Maritime Museum Of The Atlantic. " Sailing Ship Rigs ".
The New York Times. " America's Cup Held Here Since 1851 ", PDF.
World History Encyclopedia. " Carrack Definition ," Paragraph 3.
Same As Reference 3
Military History. " Carracks, Famous Carracks ," Paragraph 9.
" Aken, tjalken en kraken " by Hans Haalmeijer & Dirk Adrianus Vuik, Page 12.
Google Books Ngram Viewer. " Brigantine ".
Gaspee Info. " Brigentines Described ," Paragraph 3.
Wikipedia. " Barquentine ," Paragraph 1.
" Ship: 5000 Years Of Maritime Adventure " by Brian Lavery, Page 137.
Oxford English Dictionary (Online Edition). " Barque ".
University of Houston. " No. 338 Clipper Ship ". Paragraph 2
Marine Insights. " Windjammer Sailing Ships: From Past to Present ". Paragraph 8
History Today. " Dutch Shipbuilding in the Golden Age ". Volume 34, No. 1
" The Story Of The Sea, Volume 1 " by Arthur Quiller-Couch, Page 20.
Whaling Museum. " Rigs Of Vessel, Ship ," Paragraph 1.
" A Dictionary of Sea Terms " by Anstead, A, Page 96.
Britannia. " Cutter, Sailing Craft ". Paragraph 1.
" The Boats Of Men Of War " by William May & Simon Stephens
Texas Navy Association. " Glossary Of Nautical Terms ". Page 1
National Museum Of American History. " Ship Model, Ketch ". Paragraph 1

BoatNews.com

How to distinguish a ketch, a yawl or a schooner?

If for you all the sailing boats merge, here is how to differentiate those which are rigged with 2 masts. To help you classify the types of yachts, here is a series entitled"Learn to recognize them". Today, the differences between a ketch, a yawl and a schooner.

Sailing boats with two masts are classified in 3 categories: the ketch , the yawl and the schooner .

Ketch : - 1 mainsail - 2 jib or genoa - 3 mizzen

A ketch has the mizzen mast (at the stern) smaller than the main mast (called mainmast). To be a ketch , the mizzen mast must be placed forward of the helm, or more precisely of the rudder. If the mizzen mast is aft, we are dealing with a yawl (see below).

A ketch always has a mainsail without a jib. A ketch that rigs a jib (triangular sail above) the jib is a Dundee.

Yawl : - 1 mainsail - 2 jibs or genoa - 3 tapes

The yawl has the same rigging as the ketch , but the mizzen is called here a tape-cul and it is placed behind the rudder. Often small, it is not used to propel the boat , but to balance the yacht according to the conditions.

Placed far back on the boat , it often requires a mallet tail (a kind of bowsprit towards the back) to carry its sheet. It can be fitted with an under-bar for its rigidity.

The schooner

Schooner (masts of identical heights) : - 1 foresail - 2 jib or genoa - 3 mainsail

Goelette (foremast smaller than the mainmast) : - 1 foresail - 2 jib or genoa - 3 mainsail

The schooner has at least 2 masts, but can carry more. The masts are either identical in size, or the foremast (foremast) is smaller than the main mast. There are many forms of sail on schooners that the foresail rigged as a mainsail (on a boom) or as a jib with the halyard point on the main mast.

Among the known examples of ketch we can quote Pen Duick VI with which Tarbaly won the solo transatlantic race or Joshua with which Moitessier made his famous round-the-world trip

Typical of the yawl , the boat designed by Harlé for Van Den Heede with which he finished 3rd in his first Vendée Globle.

The exploration boats Tara and Why are schooners with a main mast as high as the foremast.

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20-09-2017, 10:37
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54	better than ketches. I was surprised to hear that -- I always though that schooners exacerbate the problems of split rigs when going upwind. Is that not the case? The larger gets turbulence from all the ahead, instead of operating in relatively clean air like a ketch's does. As we all know, split rigs have a big disadvantage for sailing upwind -- more windage of the second , and aerodynamic between the masts. But I have always thought that these theoretical disadvantages might not outweigh the many advantages for long distance ocean sailing. Also, I believe that if the is large enough and the masts are far enough apart, these disadvantages become smaller. I believe Dashew has built some ketches with really good sailing performance. So what about schooners?

20-09-2017, 13:23
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar	where reaching (in alternating land/sea breeze?) was the most common point of sail. Considering your interest in getting to windward, perhaps schooners are not best for you. Jim

20-09-2017, 17:18
Boat: Mauritius 43 Sloop	on a 30' Maid of Kent schooner, a 6 ton , not all that different from our 30' in dimensions, weight and sail area. The owner and had owned the boat for decades and knew her in and out, we met working on our in a yard and sharing sorrows and beers (mostly beers). The had to manage the mainsail carefully to minimize the . This seemed to me the biggest weakness of the schooner rig, at least on a . The main boom also swept the on each tack and was a lot more threatening than our mizzen boom, which also sweeps the . The jib's luff was pretty small and didn't contribute much. The gaff foresail was pretty cool and reefed down could probably heave the boat to very well. Also, the fisherman sail is a nice, controllable way to add sail area without flying a in front of the boat. That's not really an advantage of schooner over , because the ketch can always fly a mizzen mule, which is pretty similar.

20-09-2017, 17:36
Boat: 1962 Columbia 29 MK 1 #37	. (And probably ketches too) Still schooners are so beautiful, especially that one, under sail, a little weakness in pointing ability would be ok with me....

20-09-2017, 17:40
Boat: Currently Shopping, & Heavily in LUST!	when going downwind, along with exacerbating any oversteering tendencies in the . Where moving the rig's CE forward tends to reduce it. Then there are the upwind issues... The Uncommon Thing, The Hard Thing, The Important Thing (in Life) Making Promises to Yourself, And

20-09-2017, 17:43
Boat: Mariner 40 Ketch	. I can speak for the ketch rig. In my experience the mizen sail is limited and in any point down it usually blocks the from the main. On a beam or broad reach it helps balance the boat and in some points of sail i can gain about one . I do wish i had a staysail so i could manage the helm caused by my being rigged on my out infront of the boat. My biggest complaint about my ketch is that the mizen boom is directly above my at the helm, i have to duck and scramble on every tack and all the related dominates the cockpit. The mizen sail, boom and also obstructs my view looking forward. I have sailed on some schooners and depending on the rig and its size, usually takes more crew to handle, although they look beautiful in full sail, i cannot imagine trying to singlehand a schooner rig.

20-09-2017, 20:50

Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar

I do wish i had a staysail so i could manage the weather helm caused by my being rigged on my out infront of the boat.

20-09-2017, 20:53
Boat: Seaton 60' Ketch

20-09-2017, 21:40

Boat: Mariner 40 Ketch

22-09-2017, 00:08
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54

22-09-2017, 00:19

Boat: Catalina 470

22-09-2017, 00:28

Boat: Mariner 40 Ketch

22-09-2017, 00:30
Boat: Condor Trimaran 30 foot	that is pretty deep when I let her swing all the way out. I used to on sloops. My boat can't point as high as modern rigged boats. But she is wicked fast off the wind. I pull the center board all the way up and she can outsail many boats bigger than her. I draw less than 2 foot and can get into many places most skippers would never even think of going. I like that I can split the sails surface area into two smaller areas for handling. I have an unstaid rig so it makes life even more simple for an old guy to deal with. I have no winches at all. She is a Spartan machine and I love her even with her flaws.

22-09-2017, 05:18

Boat: Murray 33-Chouette & Pape Steelmaid-44-Safara-both steel cutters

22-09-2017, 05:25

Boat: Murray 33-Chouette & Pape Steelmaid-44-Safara-both steel cutters

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Types of Sailboats by Type of Rig

16 December 2015

To have a better idea of which types of sailboats would best suit your needs, your Allied Yachting broker can advise you on the various options available on the market for new or second-hand vessels as well as new construction. In the meantime, here is a summarized guide to the different categories of sailing yachts by type of rig , whether they are monohull (single hull) or multihull , as they’re called in the Mediterranean.

Sailboats by rig type: hulls, masts

Single masted sailboat with monohull

The most common monohull modern sailing yacht is the sloop, which features one mast and two sails, thus sloops are single-masted sailboats. If they have just two sails — a foresail and a headsail — then they’re a Bermudan sloop, the purest type of sailboat. This simple configuration is very efficient for sailing into the wind.

Sailing sloops with moderate rigs are probably the most popular of all cruising sailboats. Just a single-masted sailboat with two sails (a foresail or headsail, and a mainsail) and the minimum of rigging and sail control lines they are relatively simple to operate and less expensive than rigs with multiple masts.

Sloops are adapted for cruising as well as racing, depending on the height and size of their rig.

The cutter sailing yacht is also a monohull similar to a sloop with a single mast and mainsail but generally carries the mast further aft to allow for a jib and staysail to be attached to the head stay and inner forestay, respectively. Once a common racing configuration, today it gives versatility to cruising boats, especially in allowing a small staysail to be flown from the inner stay in high winds.

Thus, a cutter-rig sailboat has an additional sail (the staysail) set on its own stay between the foresail and the headsail.

Cutters are mostly adapted for cruising, but capable of good performance while racing as well.

A ketch is a two-masted sailboat, the main-mast forward and a shorter mizzen mast aft.

But not all two-masted sailboats are ketches — they might be yawls.

A ketch may also carry a staysail, with or without a bowsprit, in which case it would be known as a cutter-rigged ketch.

Ketches are also monohulls, but there is a second shorter mast astern of the mainmast, but forward of the rudder post. The second sailboat mast is called the mizzen mast and its sail is called the mizzen sail.

Yawls have their origins as old-time sail fishing boats, where the small mizzen sail was trimmed to keep the vessel steady when hauling the nets.

Similar to a ketch, the difference being that the yawl has the mizzen mast positioned aft of the rudder post whereas the ketch has its mizzen mast ahead of the rudder post.

Thus, a yawl is also a monohull, similar to a ketch, with a shorter mizzen mast carried astern the rudderpost more for balancing the helm than propulsion.

Schooners are generally the largest monohull sailing yachts.

Monohull two masts sailing boat

A schooner has a mainmast taller than its foremast, distinguishing it from a ketch or a yawl. A schooner can have more than two masts, with the foremast always lower than the foremost main. Traditional topsail schooners have topmasts allowing triangular topsails sails to be flown above their gaff sails; many modern schooners are Bermuda rigged.

A schooner is a two-(or more) masted sailboat, in which the aft-most mast – the mainmast – is the same height or taller than the foremast. Many sailors agree that of all the different types of sailboats, a schooner under full sail is one of the most beautiful sights afloat.

Gaffed-rigged sailboats, or “gaffers”, have their mainsail supported by a spar – the “gaff” – which is hauled up the mast by a separate halyard. Often these types of sailboats are rigged with a topsail. The gaff rig is no longer seen on modern production yachts.

A catamaran (‘cat’ for short) is a multihull yacht consisting of two parallel hulls of equal size.

A catamaran is geometry-stabilized, that is, it derives its stability from its wide beam, rather than having a ballasted keel like a monohull. Being ballast-free and lighter than a monohull, a catamaran can have a very shallow draught. The two hulls will be much finer than a monohull’s, allowing reduced drag and faster speeds in some conditions, although the high wetted surface area is detrimental in lower wind speeds, but allows much more accommodations, living and entertaining space in stability and comfort.

Two parallel hulls sailing catamaran

The speed and stability of these catamarans have made them a popular pleasure craft in Europe, most high-quality catamarans are built in France, but careful since their wide beams aren’t easy (or cheap) to berth in the French Riviera.

Racing catamarans technology has made them today’s leading racing sailboats of the world, like in the latest editions of America’s cup or other renowned transoceanic races.

Please surf through our website listings of sailing catamarans .

OTHER MULTIHULLS

Even harder to berth in the Mediterranean, and most commonly designed for around-the-globe racing rather than cruising, the trimarans have also been gaining some popularity in the western hemisphere, especially by naval designers with futuristic projects.

A trimaran is a multihull boat that comprises a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls (or ‘floats’) which are attached to the main hull with lateral beams.

MOTORSAILER

A motorsailer or “motorsailor”, is a type of sailing vessel, typically a pleasure yacht, that derives propulsion from its sails and engine(s) in equal measure.

While the sailing yacht appeals primarily to the purist sailing enthusiast, the motorsailer is more suited for long-distance cruising, as a home for ‘live-aboard’ yachtsmen. The special features of the motorsailer (large engine, smaller sails, etc.) mean that, while it may not be the fastest boat under sail, the vessel is easily handled by a small crew. As such, it can be ideal for retired people who might not be entirely physically able to handle large sail areas. In heavy weather, the motorsailer’s large engine allows it to punch into a headwind when necessary to make landfall, without endless tacking to windward.

The Turkish word gulet is a loanword from the French goélette, meaning ‘schooner’.

A gulet is a traditional design of a two-masted (more common) or even three-masted wooden sailing vessel from the southwestern coast of Turkey, particularly built in the coastal towns of Bodrum and Marmaris; although similar vessels can be found all around the eastern Mediterranean. For considerations of crew economy, Diesel power is commonly used on these vessels, similar to a motorsailer. Today, this type of vessel, varying in size from 14 to 45 meters, is very popular and affordable for tourist charters in Turkey, the Aegean, Greece and up to Croatia in the Adriatic.

Please surf through our website listings of cruising sailing yachts by type of rig.

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17 Sailboat Types Explained: How To Recognize Them

Ever wondered what type of sailboat you're looking at? Identifying sailboats isn't hard, you just have to know what to look for. In this article, I'll help you.

Every time I'm around a large number of sailboats, I look around in awe (especially with the bigger ones). I recognize some, but with most of them, I'll have to ask the owner. When they answer, I try to hide my ignorance. The words don't make any sense!

So here's a complete list with pictures of the most common sailboat types today. For each of them, I'll explain exactly where the name comes from, and how you can recognize it easily.

So here's my list of popular sailboat types, explained:

Bermuda sloop, sailing hydrofoil, dutch barge, chinese junk, square-rigged tall ship, in conclusion, how to recognize any sailboat.

Before we get started, I wanted to quickly explain what you should look for when you try to identify a sailboat.

The type of sailboat is always determined by one of these four things:

The type of hull
The type of keel
The number of masts
And the type of sails and rig

The hull is the boat's body. There are basically three hull types: monohull, catamaran, and trimaran. Simply said: do I see one hull, two hulls (catamaran) or three hulls (trimaran)? Most sailboats are monohulls.

Next, there is the keel type. The keel is the underwater part of the hull. Mostly, you won't be able to see that, because it's underwater. So we'll leave that for now.

The sail plan

The last factor is the number of masts and the sail plan. The sail plan, simply put, is the number of sails, the type of sails, and how the sails are mounted to the masts (also called rigging ).

Sailboat are mostly named after the sail plan, but occasionally, a sail type is thrown in there as well.

So now we know what to pay attention to, let's go and check out some sailboats!

Row of sailing dinghies in golden hour at the dock

Dinghies are the smallest and most simple sailboats around.

They are your typical training sailboats. Small boats with an open hull, with just one mast and one sail. Perfect for learning the ways of the wind.

On average, they are between 6 and 20 ft long. Mostly sailed single-handed (solo). There's no special rigging, just the mainsail. The mainsail is commonly a Bermuda (triangular) mainsail. Dinghies have a simple rudder stick and no special equipment or rigging.

Dinghies are great for learning how to sail. The smaller the boat, the better you feel the impact of your trim and actions.

How to recognize a sailing dinghy:

short (8ft)
one Bermuda sail
open hull design
rudder stick

Common places to spot them: lakes, near docks

Three Bermuda Sloops in bright blue water

If you'd ask a kid to draw a sailboat, she'll most probably draw this one. The Bermuda Sloop is the most popular and most common sailboat type today. You'll definitely recognize this one.

How to recognize a Bermuda Sloop:

triangular mainsail (called a Bermuda sail)
a foresail (also called the jib)
fore-and-aft rigged
medium-sized (12 - 50 ft)

Fore-and-aft rigged just means "from front to back". This type of rigging helps to sail upwind.

Any sailboat with one mast and two sails could still be a sloop. Even if the sails are another shape or rigged in another way. For example, here's a gaff-rigged sloop (more on the gaff rig later):

Gaff Rigged Sloop in white in front of coastline with flat

If you want to learn all about sail rigs, check out my full Guide to Understanding Sail Rig Types here. It has good infographics and explains it in more detail

The Bermuda sloop has a lot of advantages over other sailboat types (which is why it's so popular):

the Bermuda rig is very maneuverable and pretty fast in almost all conditions
it's really versatile
you can sail it by yourself without any problems
it's a simple setup

Common places to spot a sloop: everywhere. Smaller sloops are more common for inland waters, rivers, and lakes. Medium-sized and large sloops are very popular cruising boats.

Cutter motorsailor against sun in black and white

Cutters have one mast but three or more sails. Most cutters are Bermuda rigged, which means they look a lot like sloops.

How to recognize a cutter:

looks like a sloop
two or more headsails instead of one
commonly one mast
sometimes an extra mast with mainsail

Cutters have more sail area, which makes them faster, but also harder to sail single-handed. There's also more strain on the mast and rigging.

Common places to spot a cutter: everywhere. Cutters are very popular for cruising.

They mostly have a Bermuda rig, which means triangular sails. But there are also gaff cutters and naval cutters, and some have two masts.

Here's an example of a two-masted naval cutter with an extra gaff mainsail and top gaff:

The Hydrofoil is a pretty new sailboat design. It's a racing sailboat with thin wing foils under the hull. These lift up the hull, out of the water, reducing the displacement to nearly zero. The foils create downforce and keep it from lifting off entirely.

This makes the hydrofoil extremely fast and also impressive.

The hydrofoil refers to the keel type. There are both monohull and multihull hydrofoils.

How to recognize a hydrofoil:

it flies above the waterline and has small fins

Common places to spot a hydrofoil: at racing events

Cruising catamaran at dock in blue waters

Famous catamaran: La Vagabonde from Sailing La Vagabonde

A catamaran is a type of cruising and racing multihull sailboat with two hulls. The hulls are always the same size.

Most catamarans have a standard Bermuda rig. The catamaran refers to the hull, so it can have any number of masts, sails, sail types and rig type.

How to recognize a catamaran:

any boat with two hulls is called a catamaran

Common places to spot catamarans: coastal waters, The Caribbean, shallow reefs

The advantages of a catamaran: Catamarans heel less than monohulls and are more buoyant. Because of the double hull, they don't need as deep a keel to be stable. They have a smaller displacement, making them faster. They also have a very shallow draft. That's why catamarans are so popular in the Caribbean, where there's lots of shallow water.

Catamarans are nearly impossible to capsize:

"Compared with a monohull, a cruising catamaran sailboat has a high initial resistance to heeling and capsize—a fifty-footer requires four times the force to initiate a capsize than an equivalent monohull." Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize a trimaran:

any boat with three hulls is called a trimaran

Trimarans have three hulls, so it's a multi-hull design. It's mostly a regular monohull with two smaller hulls or floaters on the sides. Some trimarans can be trailered by winching in the auxiliary hulls, like this:

This makes them very suitable for long-term cruising, but also for regular docking. This is great for crowded areas and small berths, like in the Mediterranean. It sure is more cost-effective than the catamaran (but you also don't have the extra storage and living space!).

Common places to spot Trimarans: mostly popular for long-term cruising, you'll find the trimaran in coastal areas.

Gaffer refers to gaff-rigged, which is the way the sails are rigged. A gaff rig is a rectangular sail with a top pole, or 'spar', which attaches it to the mast. This pole is called the 'gaff'. To hoist the mainsail, you hoist this top spar with a separate halyard. Most gaffers carry additional gaff topsails as well.

Gaff rigs are a bit less versatile than sloops. Because of the gaff, they can have a larger sail area. So they will perform better with downwind points of sail. Upwind, however, they handle less well.

How to recognize a gaffer:

sail is rectangular
mainsail has a top pole (or spar)

Since a gaffer refers to the rig type, and not the mast configuration or keel type, all sailboats with this kind of rigging can be called 'gaffers'.

Common places to spot a gaffer: Gaffers are popular inland sailboats. It's a more traditional rig, being used recreationally.

Schooners used to be extremely popular before sloops took over. Schooners are easy to sail but slower than sloops. They handle better than sloops in all comfortable (cruising) points of sail, except for upwind.

How to recognize a schooner:

mostly two masts
smaller mast in front
taller mast in the back
fore-and-aft rigged sails
gaff-rigged mainsails (spar on top of the sail)

Common places to spot a schooner: coastal marinas, bays

How to recognize a ketch:

medium-sized (30 ft and up)
smaller mast in back
taller mast in front
both masts have a mainsail

The ketch refers to the sail plan (mast configuration and type of rig). Ketches actually handle really well. The back mast (mizzenmast) powers the hull, giving the skipper more control. Because of the extra mainsail, the ketch has shorter masts. This means less stress on masts and rigging, and less heel.

Common places to spot a ketch: larger marinas, coastal regions

White yawl with two masts and blue spinnaker

How to recognize a yawl:

main mast in front
much smaller mast in the back
back mast doesn't carry a mainsail

The aft mast is called a mizzenmast. Most ketches are gaff-rigged, so they have a spar at the top of the sail. They sometimes carry gaff topsails. They are harder to sail than sloops.

The yawl refers to the sail plan (mast configuration and type of rig).

Common places to spot a yawl: they are not as popular as sloops, and most yawls are vintage sailboat models. You'll find most being used as daysailers on lakes and in bays.

Dutch Barges are very traditional cargo ships for inland waters. My hometown is literally littered with a very well-known type of barge, the Skutsje. This is a Frisian design with leeboards.

Skutsjes don't have a keel but use leeboards for stability instead, which are the 'swords' or boards on the side of the hull.

How to recognize a Dutch Barge:

most barges have one or two masts
large, wooden masts
leeboards (wooden wings on the side of the hull)
mostly gaff-rigged sails (pole on top of the sail, attached to mast)
a ducktail transom

The clipper is one of the latest sailboat designs before steam-powered vessels took over. The cutter has a large cargo area for transporting cargo. But they also needed to be fast to compete with steam vessels. It's a large, yet surprisingly fast sailboat model, and is known for its good handling.

This made them good for trade, especially transporting valuable goods like tea or spices.

How to recognize a Clipper:

mostly three masts
square-rigged sails
narrow but long, steel hull

Common places to spot a clipper: inland waters, used as houseboats, but coastal waters as well. There are a lot of clippers on the Frisian Lakes and Waddenzee in The Netherlands (where I live).

This particular junk is Satu, from the Chesapeake Bay Area.

The Chinese Junk is an ancient type of sailboat. Junks were used to sail to Indonesia and India from the start of the Middle Ages onward (500 AD). The word junk supposedly comes from the Chinese word 'jung', meaning 'floating house'.

How to recognize a Chinese junk:

medium-sized (30 - 50 ft)
large, flat sails with full-length battens
stern (back of the hull) opens up in a high deck
mostly two masts (sometimes one)
with two mainsails, sails are traditionally maroon
lug-rigged sails

The junk has a large sail area. The full-length battens make sure the sails stay flat. It's one of the flattest sails around, which makes it good for downwind courses. This also comes at a cost: the junk doesn't sail as well upwind.

White cat boat with single gaff-rigged sail

The cat rig is a sail plan with most commonly just one mast and one sail, the mainsail.

Most sailing dinghies are cats, but there are also larger boats with this type of sail plan. The picture above is a great example.

How to recognize a cat rig:

smaller boats
mostly one mast
one sail per mast
no standing rigging

Cat-rigged refers to the rigging, not the mast configuration or sail type. So you can have cats with a Bermuda sail (called a Bermuda Cat) or gaff-rigged sail (called a Gaff Cat), and so on. There are also Cat Ketches and Cat Schooners, for example. These have two masts.

The important thing to know is: cats have one sail per mast and no standing rigging .

Most typical place to spot Cats: lakes and inland waters

Famous brig: HMS Beagle (Charles Darwin's ship)

A brig was a very popular type of small warship of the U.S. navy during the 19th century. They were used in the American Revolution and other wars with the United Kingdom. They carry 10-18 guns and are relatively fast and maneuverable. They required less crew than a square-rigged ship.

How to recognize a brig:

square-rigged foremast
mainmast square-rigged or square-rigged and gaff-rigged

How to recognize a tall ship:

three or four masts
square sails with a pole across the top
multiple square sails on each mast
a lot of lines and rigging

Square-rigged ships, or tall ships, are what we think of when we think of pirate ships. Now, most pirate ships weren't actually tall ships, but they come from around the same period. They used to be built from wood, but more modern tall ships are nearly always steel.

Tall ships have three or four masts and square sails which are square-rigged. That means they are attached to the masts with yards.

We have the tall ship races every four years, where dozens of tall ships meet and race just offshore.

Most common place to spot Tall Ships: Museums, special events, open ocean

This is a bonus type since it is not very common anymore. As far as I know, there's only one left.

The Trabaccolo is a small cargo ship used in the Adriatic Sea. It has lug sails. A lug rig is a rectangular sail, but on a long pole or yard that runs fore-and-aft. It was a popular Venetian sailboat used for trade.

The name comes from the Italian word trabacca , which means tent, referring to the sails.

How to recognize a Trabaccolo:

wide and short hull
sails look like a tent

Most common place to spot Trabaccolo's: the Marine Museum of Cesenatico has a fully restored Trabaccolo.

So, there you have it. Now you know what to look for, and how to recognize the most common sailboat types easily. Next time you encounter a magnificent sailboat, you'll know what it's called - or where to find out quickly.

Pinterest image for 17 Sailboat Types Explained: How To Recognize Them

I loved this article. I had no idea there were so many kinds of sailboats.

i have a large sailing boat about 28ft. that im having a difficult time identifying. it was my fathers & unfortunately hes passed away now. any helpful information would be appreciated.

Jorge Eusali Castro Archbold

I find a saleboat boat but i can find the módem…os registré out off bru’x, and the saleboat name is TADCOZ, can you tell me who to go about this matter in getting info.thank con voz your time…

You may also like, guide to understanding sail rig types (with pictures).

There are a lot of different sail rig types and it can be difficult to remember what's what. So I've come up with a system. Let me explain it in this article.

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Tall Ships Are a Slow Travel Adventure—Here’s Where to Find Them in the U.S.

A historic experience yes, and lots of fun..

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Travel with a sense of adventure on tall ships like the Matthew Turner .

Photo by John Skoriak

White sails dot San Francisco Bay all year—thanks to its moderate climate. For those lucky enough to own or have access to a boat, it’s one of the most inviting and scenic urban playgrounds in the nation. I’m not a sailor and don’t know any sailors, but this past spring I went sailing one Saturday afternoon on the Matthew Turner , a tall ship that sails out of Sausalito. In addition to a history lesson, I gained a fresh perspective of the bay, after decades of living and working near it. The primary mission of the Matthew Turner is teaching sailing to young people, but it also offers passage to the general public.

Before I stepped on the ship’s deck, the closest I’d gotten to this form of slow travel was in books about seafaring explorations centuries earlier. And aside from short ferry rides to Angel and Alcatraz islands, my only previous sailing on SF Bay did not augur well. That was on the Oceanic Society’s 60-foot motorboat heading 25 nautical miles west to the Farallon Islands; half of the eight hours aboard were choppy. Although I didn’t get seasick, I also didn’t eat the apple I’d brought along. And several passengers looked as though death could not come soon enough.

In contrast, sailing via Call of the Sea on the larger MT was smooth—and among assorted small sailboats and gigantic cargo ships, it’s the classiest boat on the bay. With wind power, traveling at about five knots per hour, it’s genuine slow travel. That speed lets you take in the scenery, which includes dolphins, seals, birds, and wind surfers among the other vessels. It also lets you appreciate the vast size of the bay: Rocky Alcatraz, green Angel Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge were backdrops, not closeups. The winds determine the route. And the fresh air vanquished the theme from Gilligan’s Island (“a three-hour tour”) that had been stuck in my head for days.

Built in the 21st century, over seven years, the Matthew Turner is named for the designer and builder of the brigantine Galilee, which had an advanced design for its time, in the late 19th century. (The Galilee long held the passage record of 19 days from San Francisco to Tahiti.) The fir and oak 132-foot MT brigantine has 11 sails (including several that are square); the main mast rises 100 feet. Its few modern features include an electric hybrid motor used for leaving the harbor. Otherwise, it’s strictly wind powered. That means no smell and no noise—aside from the crew leader calling out instructions about modifying sails—on an eco-friendly trip.

The brigantine sails on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the year, ranging from 90 minutes to several hours . When I booked in May, I skipped the Mother’s Day special, figuring it would be crowded (it sold out) and got lucky: The amiable, enthusiastic young crew outnumbered the passengers. I chatted with nearly everyone aboard, including Alan Olson, the force behind the original project to build the ship. Highlights included watching the crew, which included a few volunteers and several women, set the sails. At the end of the too-short, two-hour trip, they scampered up the rigging to the top of the masts to roll up and tie the sails closed. So many ropes and sails: It’s not easy to travel this old-school way.

Among the passengers was a couple who had sailed on the ship before. I didn’t need to ask why.

Photo on the left displays a tall ship; Photo on the right displays sailing ropes

Oftentimes, tall ships offer sailing classes.

Photos by Pat Tompkins

How to find your own tall ship adventure

Opportunities to participate in a day sail in the USA are more widely available than you might think. That’s partly because “tall ship” includes topsail and two- and three-masted schooners, barques, and other sailboats smaller and less grand than the Matthew Turner . Many tall ships with trips open to the public also operate as hands-on “classrooms” with programs to teach young people how to sail. For example, the Los Angeles Maritime Institute has tall ships for families or groups to charter; these private charters help support the educational programs.

You’ll find more possibilities through Tall Ships America, an organization based in Newport, Rhode Island, that promotes learning to sail and learning from sailing.

Where to sail on a tall ship in the United States

Book now: Seattle’s Tall Ship ; Tall Ship Lady Washington

See the city from a tall ship on the gaff-rigged schooner Bay Lady , an 85-footer. A two-hour sail from Seattle’s Tall Ship starts at $45 for adults; $35 for kids 2–12; there are several sailings daily on Puget Sound from late April through the end of October.

Another nearby option: the Lady Washington brig, the official tall ship of the state of Washington, has day sails of two hours or more during July from Anacortes, Port Ludlow, Everett, and other cities. It’s a replica of the original Lady Washington , the first U.S. ship to sail the West Coast. For a two-hour sail: $70 for adults, $50 kids 4–12; four-hour voyages are also available.

Book now: Pride of Baltimore II

Besides public two-hour sails, the Pride of Baltimore II , a topsail schooner, provides several guest crew opportunities for hands-on experience during the summer. While it visits New York in July, evening two-hour trips are available from Greenpoint on Long Island on the 19th and 20th (adults $55, $35 kids).

Book now: Tall Ship Adventure

Enjoy a tall ship trip on the Californian through the Maritime Museum of San Diego. In addition to four-hour sails on Sundays (through October) at $119 for adults, $69 for children 3–12, this summer, for the first time since 2020, the Maritime Museum offers two chances for families to spend the night aboard the 1863 Star of India. (The boat stays docked but staff will teach the night’s “crew” about life for sailors long ago.) Overnights are Friday July 26 and August 9, 2 p.m. to 9 a.m., with two meals, $125 per person.

Book now: Tall Ship Windy

Aboard the 148-foot schooner Windy , offerings include a daily Chicago Skyline tour from Lake Michigan (75 minutes; $49 adults, $39 kids) and an educational 90-minutes hands-on sail (Saturday–Monday, $35 adults, $25 kids). Summer features two-hour blues concert trips on Monday nights, $59 adults, $49 kids.

Gloucester, Massachusetts

Book now: Schooner Adventure

During a 2.5-hour jaunt from the nation’s oldest fishing port, Gloucester Harbor, passengers can participate—helping raise the sails—or not, as they wish. You’ll be on the restored 1926 Adventure , a dory-fishing schooner and a National Historic Landmark. Those age 18 and under can enjoy the experience for free; tickets for adults are a modest $52. The Adventure offers public trips June through September on Sunday afternoons and Friday evenings.

An aerial view of the Palm Beach Par 3 golf course and hotel along the beach in Florida

Buying a Sailboat: Sloop vs. Ketch

Consider many different questions when deciding what kind of sailboat is best for you. If you are looking for a cruising sailboat, depending on your preferred size range, you may be choosing between a sloop and a ketch. These are the two most common types of cruising sailboats . Each offers certain advantages.

massmatt/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

A sloop is generally the most common type of sailboat rig. A sloop has a single mast and usually only two sails: the mainsail and a headsail, such as a jib or a genoa. A sloop may also use a racing or cruising spinnaker.

Sloops come in all sizes, from 8-foot dinghies to maxi boats over a hundred feet long. A sloop uses what is called a Bermuda or Marconi rig. This is the tall, thin, triangular mainsail that's commonly seen on the waters of popular boating areas.

The sloop rig generally is simpler to use and cheaper to build than a ketch rig. Because of the wind and sail dynamics involved, a sloop is almost always faster than other rigs in boats of comparable size, especially when sailing windward.

Jukka/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

A ketch is a common rig for cruising sailboats. It has two masts: a traditional mainmast as on a sloop, plus a smaller mast in the rear of the boat. This is called the mizzenmast. Technically, the mizzenmast must be mounted forward of the boat’s rudderpost to be a ketch. If the mizzen is mounted further aft, behind the rudder post, it is considered a yawl. The mizzenmast is typically smaller on a yawl than on a ketch, but otherwise, these rigs are similar.

A ketch, therefore, uses three primary sails: the mainsail and headsail, as on a sloop, plus the mizzen sail aft. A ketch may also use a spinnaker.

The three sails do not necessarily mean that the sail area on a ketch is larger than on a sloop of the same size, however. Sail area is usually planned by boat designers based on the boat's size, displacement (weight), hull shape and configuration, not on the number of masts or sails. This means that the mainsail and headsail of a ketch are generally smaller than on a sloop, but the mizzen sail roughly makes up the difference.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Sloops vs. Ketches

Gellinger/Pixabay/CC0 Creative Commons

Sloops and ketches each have their own benefits, but also disadvantages. When deciding what type of boat to buy, consider these differences.

Advantages of a Sloop

A sloop is generally faster and sails closer to the wind.
Sloops have fewer sails than ketches to buy and maintain.
With a sloop, there is less standing and running rigging with one mast, which means there is less to manage and maintain overall.
As the most popular contemporary boat, sloops are available in a wide variety.

Disadvantages of a Sloop

Sloop sails are generally larger and heavier, requiring more strength for handling, hoisting, and trimming, particularly on a larger boat.
Sloops have fewer options to reduce sail area in stronger winds. Sloops offer only reefing or furling of the sails.

Advantages of a Ketch

Ketches have smaller sails. These sails are more easily managed and hoisted on a larger boat, which is why ketches are preferred by many older sailors.
Using only two sails at a time provides multiple options for managing different sailing conditions, such as strong winds.

Disadvantages of a Ketch

Ketch rigs generally do not sail as fast or as close to the wind as a sloop sailboat.
Ketches have more standing rigging (shrouds and stays) and running rigging (halyards and sheets) to manage and maintain.
The mizzenmast in ketches takes up space in the stern.
There are fewer ketches available on the market. Ketches are more popular as an older boat.

Most ketches are intended as cruising boats that are easy to handle and comfortable for cruising. Many sloops, even sketch sloops, are designed for greater speed and racing. Many ketches, therefore, are different from sloops in ways other than just the masts and sails. Designed as cruisers, many ketches are heavier, more stable in sea conditions, and more commodious down below. On the other hand, contemporary builders produce few ketches, so there are a greater variety of sloops available as new boats.

As in other decisions when shopping for a sailboat, the preferable rig depends mostly on your preferred uses of the boat. The same is true when comparing fixed keel and centerboard sailboats.

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Better Sailing

Sailboat Vs Yacht: What is The Difference?

Many boaters use the terms “sailboat” and “yacht” interchangeably when they are actually quite distinct. A yacht is a larger boat or ship that is used for recreational purposes. The term “yacht” is of Dutch origin, and it was initially described as a small, swift sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to track down and catch pirates. A boat, on the other hand, is a smaller vessel that can range from a fishing boat to a sailboat in size. So, if you’re interested in this topic, this article will compare yachting with sailing in many ways. Like this, you will have a much better understanding of which option is best for you. Keep reading!

Sailboats and Yachts: Meaning

Firstly, it’s important to understand the meaning of each word. Generally, a boat is a form of watercraft that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. A boat is a watercraft that is small enough to fit on a ship, which is typically less than 1,000 feet long. A ship is a huge vessel with a large carrying capacity that can transport other vessels. The size, shape, and capacity of a boat vary depending on its intended usage. Boats are most commonly employed for navigating places along the water’s edge or inland waterways like lakes and rivers, although they can be utilized on any water source. Boats can be used for a variety of purposes, including providing service to people and vessels on the water, recreational activities, commercial passenger, and cargo transportation across waterways.

So, a sailboat (sailing vessel) is a boat that is propelled primarily by the force of the wind on sails. Keep in mind that the term “boat” can cause some misconceptions about the vessel’s size. People may refer to it as a sailing ship rather than a sailing boat once it reaches a particular size. Also, boats are generally thought to be smaller than ships. A sailboat is a water-borne watercraft whose principal means of propulsion is the wind, which is captured and controlled by triangular-shaped pieces of cloth known as ‘sails.’ On the other hand, a powerboat is a watercraft with an internal combustion engine as its primary source of propulsion.

A yacht is most likely a vessel that is primarily used for personal rather than business purposes. There are yachts that you can hire for a week or more. This might add a little confusion as they are commercially owned but within the hire period, they are used by individuals for leisure purposes. Generally, people usually refer to sailboats as yachts or vice-versa. This is a common phenomenon nowadays, however, there are significantly more sailing yachts than motor yachts at the seaside/marina. If you want to specify a boat that is not largely powered by the wind, use the word motor yacht.

Sailing yachts and motor-powered yachts are the two forms of yachts available today. Yachts range in length from 26 feet to hundreds of feet. A cabin cruiser, or just a cruiser, is a luxury vessel that is less than 39 feet long. A superyacht is typically above 70 feet long. So, what is the definition of a mega yacht? They usually exceed 150 feet in length, but there is no top limit! Note that the world’s largest boat is 728 feet long, or 222 meters.

Let’s now check the main differences between a sailboat and a yacht:

Sails and Motor

The boat may be powered purely by the wind or by one or more inboard or outboard motors, depending on the model. While some larger boats may have very massive engines to provide genuine speed on the water, most yacht engines are far less powerful. Yacht engines are substantially larger, can produce far more power – up to 800hp in some circumstances – and can go many further distances.

If you’re searching for a vessel that’s easier to operate, you could argue that a yacht is a superior option. Sure, the computer components are more complicated, and there is more to manage, but sailing will be simpler. In stormy weather, managing a sail can be tricky. From inside the cabin, you can’t manage your sails. You may, however, operate your yacht from the cabin.

It’s a fact that sailboats will always have sails. After all, it’s their primary source of propulsion. The nail is what propels the boat forward by harnessing the wind. So long as the weather permits, sailing can be done anywhere, at any time. Yachting, on the other hand, has its own set of restrictions. A yacht will usually lack a sail, which can be viewed as a good or negative aspect, depending on your perspective.

The advantage of having a sail over only an engine is that you don’t have to worry about running out of fuel. Fuel is not only costly but also inconvenient and pollutes the environment. When on long voyages, you must always keep an eye on your fuel levels, or you risk breaking down at sea. The great thing with sailboats is that as long as there is wind, a sailboat can sail. If you have an extra sail onboard, you should be alright regardless of what occurs. You have a significantly lower chance of being left stranded at sea.

>>Also Read: Sailboats Vs Powerboats: Why Sailboats are Better

Size Matters

The size difference between a yacht and a sailboat is one of the most significant ones. Most of the time, a sailboat will almost certainly be smaller than a yacht. Of course, some sailboats are larger than others, but if we’re talking about average sizes, a yacht will be larger. The reason that size counts so much when deciding which boat to buy is that the available space is limited. So, if you opt for space note that the larger your boat is, the more space you’ll have. This may seem self-evident, but it is one of the most crucial aspects of your boat to which many people forget to give due consideration.

Generally, when it comes to boats, size will always matter. Except in cases where someone prefers overall better performance and speed. But, keep in mind that almost everything you do will be influenced by the size of your boat. The smaller the boat, the less storage space you have, the less space you have for emergency supplies, and even the less space you have for yourself. Regardless of the size of your boat, your sleeping quarters will most certainly be small. Also, depending on your height, every inch of a room may be crucial.

When there are more people on your boat than just you, size matters the most. If you intend to live alone on your yacht, you will have a significant space advantage. If there are three persons on board, you probably going to need more equipment and devices for cooking or for emergencies. All of this suggests that the sleeping space is the most significant distinction between living alone and living with people. If you live alone on a yacht that can sleep four people in theory, you will have a lot more storage and consequently space.

People on Board

The extent to which the crew will influence your decision is mostly determined by your budget and the size of the vessel you are considering buying. Meaning that if you’re intending to buy a sailboat, you won’t need any crew. Except for your family/friends that live on your boat with you, you basically are the entire crew. However, if you own a yacht, it’s an entirely different scenario.

If you intend to live aboard your yacht, you may require the assistance of one or two crew members. There will be plenty to do even if you are the most essential member of the team, i.e. the captain. This is because you might haven’t already mastered things like navigation, maintenance, plumbing, and engineering. So, a yacht often requires a complete crew to assist with navigation, maintenance, electronics and engineering, repairs, and sometimes even stewards to attend to the passengers.

In other words, having a sailboat means that you can take care of everything yourself. There are only a few computer components that will need to be repaired, and you are unlikely to have an engine. Repairing a sailboat isn’t easy in and of itself; it’s just easier for one person to handle. Meaning that it’s far easier to replace a sail than it is to fix an engine. In bad weather, a small sailboat is just easier to monitor than a large yacht. At the absolute least, another set of eyes will be probably required when sailing with a yacht.

Price also Matters

In general, yachts tend to be more expensive than sailboats. Occasionally, a great deal more. For a variety of factors, the most important of which are materials, design, and construction techniques. Note also that a boat’s price is likely to rise as it becomes more modern. Although this isn’t always the case, it is the vast majority of the time. If money is a key factor in deciding which boat to buy, here’s something to think about: just because a yacht is more expensive doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one. If you have the cash, knowledge, and you know the kind of sailing you will be doing then go for a yacht!

Note also that a sailboat can be outfitted with a variety of amenities and conveniences. But, the sailboat doesn’t always include these features. This will mostly depend on the type of sailboat. As a result, buying a basic sailboat can save you a lot of money. However, most yachts will provide high end amenities. As a result, a motor yacht will cost significantly more than a regular sailboat. Sailboats are also smaller than yachts, which means you have a larger selection of less expensive boats to pick from when making your purchase. But, yachts often start in the six-figure range and can reach millions of dollars depending on the yacht’s size, age, and build quality.

Maintenance and Repairs

Yachts are frequently more expensive to maintain than sailboats. Meaning that boat engines require a great deal of upkeep, and the expense of fuel can be prohibitive for many individuals. For example, did you know that a gallon of diesel fuel in a yacht may only allow you to travel less than 1 nautical mile? If you’re going on a long voyage out to the sea, you can end up spending a lot of money on fuel. A sailboat, on the other hand, can take you wherever you want to go with very little fuel. Bear in mind also that a yacht’s insurance is more expensive than that of a sailboat. One of the main reasons is because it is classified as a yacht.

In addition to the boat’s price there are some other things to consider. The most important one is maintenance and repairs. A boat will always need these and it might need them once per month or once per year. It depends on the kind of repairs and on the way in which you “treat” your boat. Also, if you’re buying a used sailboat, you will need sometimes more research and more money for upgrades. It will be repainted, restored, and upgraded, although it will remain the same size. You should approach buying a boat in the same way that you would with a car. So, according to the size and kind of boat you want to buy, it’s important to keep in mind the price and extra costs as well.

While advanced marine electronics and navigation systems are available on some boats, they are more of a must for yachts. When doing transatlantic voyages, it is critical not only to be able to navigate with precision but also to be able to identify other boats or objects that you may not be able to see, as well as to comprehend your vessel’s performance.

When it comes to technology, it’s not just about whether you’re choosing a sailboat or a yacht. The age of the specific vessel is also something to consider. A sailboat that is more than ten years old may not be as technologically advanced as a brand new sailboat. Better technology can offer a lot of opportunities for you if you decide to buy a yacht. First and foremost, it can make working on your boat much more convenient. There’s no reason you couldn’t work remotely from your boat if you have the ability to set up a functional office with wifi.

Technology also brings up a lot of new possibilities for you when it comes to the act of sailing. A sailboat could traverse the Pacific or Atlantic, but it would be rather difficult. On the other hand, with a yacht, it can be a lot easier. In comparison to a sailboat, your yacht will have advanced navigational systems, warning and guidance systems, and many more safety features.

Sea, Lakes, or Rivers?

Bear in mind that in shallow waters, large yachts are unable to sail. A sailboat is a way to go if you plan on sailing in areas with shallow waters. In the Caribbean, for example, a yacht might be difficult to navigate. At the very least, it’ll be more difficult than sailing. A yacht, on the other hand, may travel to far more places than a sailboat.

A small sailboat might theoretically sail across the Atlantic. However, it can be quite risky, and your boat might not be able to withstand the strong winds and waves. Furthermore, if you’re aboard a sailboat, you can be the only one on board. This means that if the worst happens, far out at sea, there will be no one to aid you. You can do it, of course, but it is risky.

So, smaller boats may normally operate in calmer seas such as lakes, rivers, and shallow harbors. Larger boats, usually between 20 and 30 feet long, can equally navigate rougher ocean seas. A yacht, on the other hand, can sail in deeper ocean waters and handle more choppy seas. Yachts are significantly more ideal for lengthy ocean voyages due to their bigger size, high-tech electronics and guidance equipment, weather protection, and a variety of other characteristics.

>>Also Read: Sailing Vs Boating: Why Sailing Is Better

Sailboat and Yatch Construction

Depending on the anticipated scale of production, sailboat makers can fabricate their own parts or order them. Masts, sails, engines, and metal fittings are common items provided by specialty vendors. Boatbuilders, on the other hand, create their own fiberglass hulls, using Gel coat polyester resin, a catalyst for the resin, woven fiberglass roving, and fiberglass. Wooden hull manufacturers create and shape their own wood in the same way. Note that the main building materials used in boat construction are aluminum, metal, wood, and fiberglass. The unique structure of each material offers a different design and usage as well as additional features to the way in which the boat is built.

Material considerations are important, whether they affect the cost or the durability of the product. Fiberglass, carbon fiber, and metals such as titanium will also be used to construct a boat. On the contrary, a sailboat will most likely be composed of wood or fiberglass. So, in case you value safety and sturdiness above all else, and money isn’t a big issue, a yacht will be significantly safer for you.

The material can also influence the way in which you make repairs. For instance, a wooden boat is much easier to repair than a metal boat. You can make some simple and quick repairs using wood, and they’ll probably last till you get to a marina. To do major repairs on a yacht, you’ll need a lot of specialized equipment and knowledge. Moreover, you may need to ask for a crew member to help you with this.

Sailboat Vs Yacht – Summary

As you can see there are many differences between a sailboat and a yacht. Nowadays many people tend to confuse or don’t be aware of the exact meaning and differences of these vessels, and it’s normal. But, we, as sailors, have to know the differences in order to understand which kind of boat is right for us. For example, if you want big spaces, luxury, or intend to liveaboard then you should opt for a yacht. But, if you want to experience the true joy of sailing, sail anywhere without worrying about polluting the environment or spending too much on fuel, then go for a sailboat! It will entirely depend on your needs and preferences so weigh the pros and cons of each one before making the decision.

In any case, I hope that you have now clarified the differences between these two and that you will make the right choice. I wish you all safe & enjoyable voyages!

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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UnCruise Adventures: What to Expect and Why It's Unique

I first heard of UnCruise in 2016 and have wanted to do a sailing ever since. Well, we finally have gotten to have an UnCruise adventure and it was truly remarkable. It was unlike any sort of travel we’ve done before and I’m going to break down what made it special for us and why it’s worth it for others. UnCruise Adventures is truly unique and when you put together the destinations with the level of service, food and activities, it all makes sense.

As I dig into our UnCruise experience and what we discovered on our first sailing, our UnCruise Hawaiian Seascapes voyage, please let us know if you have any questions. We’ve done a lot of research and now have solid experience with the brand and are happy to share anything that helps with making a decision to do a small ship sailing with UnCruise. Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a note with any inquiries.

Note : UnCruise invited us to sail with them and we happily accepted the invitation. All opinions and observations are our own and if anything doesn’t gel with you, just ask. Also, we are now UnCruise affiliates so YOU cand get a booking discount of $500 and we may receive compensation if you choose to book and use our code, TWODADS500.

What is UnCruise?

UnCruise Adventures is a small ship sailing company focused on creating low-impact travel experiences that show a very different or less-common side of a destination. Because the UnCruise ships are smaller and are outfitted with zodiac-style skiffs, passengers get to really venture into less accessible coves and waterways that you just can’t do on a major vessel.

Kayaking and active excursions are a huge part of the UnCruise small ship sailing experience, so there are several opportunities for adventures directly from the boat on any and every itinerary.

Since UnCruise ships are smaller and there are fewer passengers with an amazing crew to passenger ratio, each person’s experience can be tailored (within limits) to their abilities and interests, and then the personal service onboard is also very special. Oh, and UnCruise adventures are all-inclusive so you’re not stunned when it’s time to depart and you get a crazy onboard bill.

As you look at UnCruise Adventures and try to see if it’s the right option for you, know that the destinations are really the prime feature of choosing one of the UnCruise ships. You’re not going to be sailing to major tourist destinations geared towards mega cruise ship passengers, but you’re making port in small towns or anchoring just off the coastline. The destinations in Alaska, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and Mexico are all NEAR major tourism spots, but they also all offer the local vibe and unique elements specific to that port area. You’re not pulling into Cabo San Lucas to buy cheap trinkets, but anchoring off a reef for epic snorkeling or sea lion encounters. It’s a really cool and unusual concept.

List to our Podcast Episode about Our UnCruise Experience

Yes! We have a podcast episode all about what you’ll experience on an UnCruise sailing. It’s such a unique, nuanced type of travel that you have to hear us talk about it. Read everything here for expedition details, costs and planning, but I think listening to us discuss the experience is very helpful.

Why choose an UnCruise vs land adventures?

I love road trips and we take a lot of them; they are our primary type of travel. We get to see a lot of mountains and deserts on our driving travel and our time in the car eats up a lot of time away from home that we could be actively having an adventure. That’s something I really enjoy about the UnCruise small ship sailing experience: you’re still getting to visit cool places with hiking or beaches or something, but you sail to them and make boat stops along the way.

On a day when you might be driving for hours and just stopping for gas and to grab lunch, when on a small ship, you’re waking up IN your destination and pausing on your sailing route to jump in the water or check out sea cliffs. And the food and drinks between stops is pretty stellar.

While our budget doesn’t often afford us to jump on an UnCruise adventure instead of doing a road trip along the Florida Gulf Coast or to visit family in North Georgia, it is for sure a priority for us over a costly week at a theme park or doing a mega-cruise in the Caribbean. (more on our cost analysis below)

When booking an UnCruise small ship sailing, mention our code (online or via phone) TWODADS500 to receive $500 discount towards your passage. Education and adventure await!

Who owns UnCruise?

UnCruise Adventures is owned by a captain, CEO Dan Blanchard. He’s a normal person who wants to explore and share unique travel experiences, hence developing UnCruise to what it is today. Working in travel, it’s interesting to chat with people and hear that they know who owns the company and they alway mention him as being invested in making the UnCruise experience impactful for both passengers and the places they port.

When we were on Molokai, I was talking to a local lady about our sailing experience between the islands and about our time on Molokai. She shared with me that initially there was a good deal of pushback towards UnCruise being able to port at Molokai and it took the owner and team explaining what made UnCruise different and what they wanted passengers to experience that WASN’T normal Hawaii travel to be able to have a successful portage here. The lady said that once the locals saw both the different approach to tourism and the positive financial impact welcoming UnCruise would have, they were cool with it.

I will say, our visit to Molokai truly was unique and unlike any other Hawaiian experience we’ve had. While there we got to spend time with a local family that’s been farming in the same valley for hundreds of years, we learned about the island’s forests and science, and we got to enjoy a pa’ina (party) with some awesome aunties and uncles. It was very different and special.

Why spend $6k per person on UnCruise

This is the part I’ve been really jazzed to talk about. I don’t talk a lot about budget and costs because a lot of people think it’s crunchy, but when it comes to UnCruise I think the value is surprising so it’s going to be awesome to talk about.

When you look at booking a normal cruise for 8 days, you’re paying for individual excursions, drinks or drink packages, and all kinds of other fees. You might think you’ve found a great deal, and you really might have, but at the end of the day it may be twice the ticket price you first found. And that’s where I have been able to really see and define the monetary value of UnCruise. The following is my own analysis based on our own planning and research, and then based on our own experience, so if you have questions tell me!

Overall Cost Savings

I did the math for our Alaska Uncruise that we’re completing in 2024. We also had been looking at doing a family Alaska cruise on a major cruise line (keeping the company name anonymous). When we looked at the activities we wanted to experience from the big boat and then the additional cost of adding a drink package, we saw a significant price difference in general, and that doesn’t even account for the nature of being a smaller, more intimate cruise experience.

Doing an UnCruise sailing adventure is all-inclusive: food, drinks, fun… As you look at the expense breakdown per person, keep in mind that not everyone chooses to do an excursion at each port of call, but also that UnCruise offers an excursion of some sort at each port AND makes stops midway through a day of sailing for activities. (data below is based on early season sailing dates for both UnCruise and cruise line X)

I fully get it that sometime you’ll find amazing cruise deals or maybe you don’t do excursions or cocktails or specialty dining, and if so, then my budget layout doesn’t matter to you, but for people who go all in on a mega cruise, this sort of consideration may be a huge part of their next decision.

If you’re trying to plan 8 days of island hopping in Hawaii , here’s the budget breakdown for what that may cost, as it too can be a costly trip (we’ve done it!). My prices noted in the below budget table are based on our costs from our November 2023 trip to the Big Island, Kauai and Maui.

Benefit of bespoke travel

Something I really liked about doing an UnCruise small ship sailing with our kids was that since we had complete flexibility with our activities each day, we could change our plans based on how we all were feeling. For example, I fell while hiking and cranked my back, so later I didn’t have to kayak like was planned but went on a skiff outing and took it easy. I didn’t miss out on an excursion we’d already booked and paid for.

Another thing that is cool about the UnCruise experience is the flexibility of the overall itinerary. On our Hawaii adventure because the water was so calm and the weather was awesome, we got to go a different route than normal and see the northern sea cliffs of Molokai and loop around to the backside of Lana’i. This gave us different views and wildlife than other trips had previously in the season. The same thing happened when there was a forecasted swell so we were able to get to a sheltered bay instead of getting rollers rocking us, which meant we woke up in the shadow of Haleakala on Maui . Bespoke travel like this is so unusual for us and it really ensured our best possible experience.

What are UnCruise Cabins like?

There are a variety of cabin types across the different UnCruise ships. We’ve had a Single and Trailblazer Cabin, each of which gave us plenty of space to function and prepare for our daily adventures. Each cabin had a desk area, sink/vanity, water closet, and sleeping space. The kids loved the twin beds of the Trailblazer, and we did great in the queen cabin (Single). I also got to check out the Admiral Cabins which were a bit bigger and had more living space.

Each boat does vary and you’ll find a range from several twin beds in a cabin to a king suite with a balcony. There’s plenty of space onboard so having a large cabin wasn’t important to us. We spent very little time there.

What’s different about UnCruise vs mega cruise?

I think there are three primary things that differ between an UnCruise and a mega-ship cruise: sailing inclusions, flexible itinerary and crew to passenger ratio. There are more nuanced differences too, but these three things really stand out to me. Getting to hang out with other like-minded guests having adventures for a week is an added bonus.

Personalized service, crew / passenger ratio

I’m fine just being a number and having a shared experience with lots of people, but I think I may be spoiled for that now. When we sailed on the Safari Explorer on UnCruise’s Hawaiian Seascapes itinerary, there were only 30 passengers. For our small group we had 2 expedition leaders, 4 or 5 stewards, hotel manager (shout out to Tichelle!), skiff crew, cool kitchen staff and an awesome captain that was always around. Of all the ships in the UnCruise fleet, the largest guest to crew ratio is 3:1.

For our Kids in Nature sailing on the Wilderness Legacy out of Juneau , there were more expedition guides under the direction of an expedition leader. This was great for ensuring that there were plenty of crew to provide addition support and attention with the kids. All of our guides were wonderful and really knowledgeable about the Alaskan ecosystems.

Having so many people available to support guests both onboard and during expeditions / excursions from the ship made it feel that all our needs and wants were met at all times. There was always a snack available or a bartender around for us. The kids were welcome to hang out with the stewards between activities and the expedition leaders when we were on an adventure. Somebody knowledgeable was always available for questions, whether it was about the ship or our itinerary or whales. Also, being such an intimate cruise experience, we got to know the crew and they, in turn, got to know us. By our last day our youngest was in the galley working with the pastry chef, Julia, baking the day away.

When I say that we were amazed by the overall experience of small ship sailing, I’m serious. I don’t think any of us understood the friendly nature and joy of the crew when we started, but by the end we were sad to leave our new friends.

Community on an UnCruise Sailing

We travel to enjoy time as a family and see new sights. I didn’t expect to do our UnCruise sailing and make friends, let alone feel like a part of a community. I think this is one of the most important parts of what made this experience special for us. When we’re traveling as a family, every time we meet new people we’re “coming out” again and it’s always very visible if our presence makes somebody uncomfortable. In fact, there’s usually a subtle comment about being friends or leaving the wives at home that sets the tone. As we met the 26 other passengers and the crew for our sailing, not a single person batted an eye at our family in a negative way and EVERYONE addressed us just as any other family would be.

This may not mean much to some readers, but if you’re a part of an atypical family, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The people we met during our sailing, beforehand when passengers had disembarked and were hanging out, and even after we had ended our time on the boat and the next round of passengers was arriving on Molokai at the welcome station, everyone was very like-minded in terms of being welcoming and what they were looking for from their UnCruise experience.

In talking with lots of different people, the themes of environmentalism, healthcare, international relations, LGBTQ issues, community work and much more kept coming up. Conversations at breakfast or on hikes were always engaging and meaningful. Despite our ages and backgrounds varying so much, over the course of a week we all really got to enjoy one another’s company. And I loved seeing so many people taking to the kids and treating them as fellow passengers versus rowdy kids onboard. It was really special for all of us.

Accessibility of UnCruise

Due to the nature of being small ships with very active daily excursions, there are not many options available from UnCruise for handicap accessible sailing. The Wilderness Legacy has one wheelchair accessible cabin, and then both the Wilderness Legacy and the Wilderness Explorer have an elevator. This is the one area that a mega cruise ship has up on UnCruise, but who’s to say that won’t change in the future.

If you don’t use a wheelchair but still have mobility issues, there are things that make doing an UnCruise still an option. Different ships have first floor cabins and there is outdoor space at each level. While disembarking to a skiff or dock during rocking waves may need to happen, there are lots of staff available for assistance. Some guests may not be comfortable or feel safe if they’re unstable or need mobility assistance in general, so that’s something to keep in mind before planning this sort of adventure.

Onboard Amenities

I love how active the small ship sailing with UnCruise is. You’re not left with oodles of downtime on the ship, but there is certainly enough to relax or enjoy some of the amenities onboard. Not every ship is the same, and ships that vary their routes might have different amenities depending on the sailing, but in general you can expect the following for your UnCruise adventure:

Paddleboards
Yoga / fitness gear
Snorkel gear
Lounge chairs
Library / lounge area – games, books, musical instruments maybe…
Hot tub (not always available even when onboards, dependent on sailing)

And there are other features of UnCruise ships that might be considered amenities. Things like turndown service, specific outdoor gear and certain expedition experiences all can fall into the bucket of amenities onboard. Like I said though, you do stay quite busy if you take advantage of the “adventure” side of doing an UnCruise. You’ll love it, I think.

Where does UnCruise Sail To?

I really do wish that UnCruise had sailings all around the world, but for now it’s limited to the Pacific Ocean and western ports. That’s okay though, because each itinerary is different and you’ll get to experience different coastal landscapes, wildlife and ports of call. As of Spring 2024, here are the destinations available with UnCruise:

Alaska – a variety of cruise itineraries from the Inside Passage to the Aleutian Islands
Hawaii – the Hawaiian Seascapes itinerary is amazing and is such a different Hawaii trip
Baja California – this is MY favorite part of Mexico, including La Paz and the Sea of Cortez
Galapagos Islands – a bucket list destination for many, this is our kids’ dream sailing

Previously, UnCruise also offered small ship sailings in the Puget Sound , including the San Juan Islands and Olympic Peninsula , as well as a sailing in the Caribbean in Belize and Guatemala. These are no longer available but the company is always evaluating their routes, so if there are updates and new sailings become available, we’ll be sure to update this article. You can still sail out of Seattle and do Olympic National Park on the 12 night sailing to Juneau , but some people don’t want to do that long of a cruise.

Read about our different trips here:

Alaska’s Inside Passage – Kids in Nature on the Wilderness Legacy

Island Hopping – Hawaiian Seascapes on the Safari Explorer

Does UnCruise do Land Tours?

Ahh, this was the big question I had before I started to research and subsequently do an UnCruise with my family. There are land-tour add-ons available if you’re doing a sailing, but they are not specifically run by UnCruise. They have tour vendors who execute that part of the trip. You’ll find land tour options with Alaska sailings that include trips to Denali National Park, and then trips to Machu Picchu if you’re doing the Galapagos sailing.

I think this should answer nearly every question somebody might have about doing an UnCruise . I’m excited to do another sailing (Alaska in June 2024, and hopefully Baja in April 2025) and look forward to hearing from friends and readers about their experiences. If you have any questions, whether it be about life onboard, kid-friendly ideas, seasickness or whatever, please ask away. Feel free to leave a comment or send us a note .

When booking an UnCruise Adventure, mention our code (online or via phone) TWODADS500 to receive $500 discount towards your passage. Education and adventure await!

Unsure about what UnCruise sailings entail or want to see if an UnCruise Adventure is right for you? We explain the difference between UnCruise small ship sailing vs mega cruise ships, what makes the experience unique, and even break down the cost differences between UnCruise, mega cruise, or independent island hopping.

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Table of Contents

1. Spellbound by Magic Castle

2. star wars: hyperspace lounge, 3. skyy vodka ice bar, 4. alchemy bar, cruise line bars are just getting started.

Forget the stuffy piano bars and generic buffets. These standout cruise ship bars have over-the-top themes with zany cocktails — and mocktails — to match.

The vibe inside these cruise ship bars might even be compelling enough to pique the interest of travelers who've sworn off cruising. Here are top choices to imbibe on the sea in 2024.

On board the Sun Princess by Princess Cruises

(Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)

Spellbound by Magic Castle offers a cruise line version of The Magic Castle, an iconic and exclusive club for magicians and magic enthusiasts in Los Angeles.

The Princess Cruises version features magic-themed rooms and theatrical cocktails. For example, the butterfly pea tequila used to make a cocktail called "The Magician" transforms from blue to purple as the server pours it into the glass. In "The Conjuror," classic ingredients like bourbon, maraschino and agave join with squid ink, which adds a spooky look.

And unlike the Hollywood version — where you need to be a member of the Academy of Magical Arts or a guest of one of its members to enter — anyone can experience this iteration of The Magic Castle (provided you have a reservation, you’ve paid the additional fee to get inside, and you’re at least 13 years old). Admission costs $149 on top of your cruise fare, though it includes dinner and unlimited drinks, according to the Princess Cruises website.

On board the Disney Wish by Disney Cruise Line

(Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line)

With bartenders serving up mixed drinks like "Spire Sunset" and "Cloud City," Disney Cruise Line’s Hyperspace Lounge illustrates how cruise lines are incorporating themed experiences to cater to fans — this one specific to “Star Wars” fans. A virtual window into the galaxy shuttles travelers past iconic locales in the “Star Wars” universe, including Tatooine, Mustafar and Coruscant.

The immersive bar experience has proved popular, as there's often a line to get in — though the line may also have to do with the bar’s small capacity. Only about four dozen people can fit in the intimate lounge at one time. At peak times, customers are asked to limit their stay to just 45 minutes.

While admission to the bar is included with the price of a Disney cruise , you’ll pay extra for drinks (typically about $15 to $20 each).

On board select Norwegian Cruise Line ships

(Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Though a cruise might evoke the mood of a sunny beach, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Skyy Vodka Ice Bar briefly transports cruisers to frozen temperatures. The bar is made entirely from ice — all the way down to the seating and glasses. And yes, it’s cold inside. The bar is kept at a chilly 17 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Norwegian Cruise Line.

But don’t worry about packing winter garb, as cruisers can borrow gloves and coats to wear inside.

You’ll find the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar on a few Norwegian Cruise Line ships, including Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic.

On board select Carnival Cruise Line ships

(Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

Themed like a vintage pharmacy, Carnival Cruise Line’s Alchemy Bar serves up both alcoholic and — uniquely, alcohol-free — drinks with labels like "passion potions" and "energizing elixirs."

In 2023, Carnival teamed up with nonalcoholic spirit distiller Lyre’s to offer the world’s first full range of alcohol-free cocktails (that’s as opposed to a mocktail, which is a beverage that relies on ingredients such as sodas or fruit juices as substitutes for alcohol).

Alchemy Bar taps into a growing trend of reduced alcohol consumption. In fact, the sale of nonalcoholic beer, wine and spirits in the U.S. reached $565 million in 2023, according to NielsenIQ, which tracks consumer behavior. That’s a 35% increase from the year prior.

But whereas mocktails can sometimes cost less than half the price of a cocktail, that’s not the case with Alchemy Bar’s nonalcoholic cocktails. A la carte nonalcoholic drink prices are only a few dollars cheaper than their boozy counterparts. Carnival cruise drink package prices start at more than $70 per day — and that’s whether you opt for alcoholic or nonalcoholic cocktails.

More themed cruise bars are on the horizon.

When Disney’s newest ship, Disney Treasure, sets sail on its maiden voyage in December 2024, it’ll feature multiple adult-exclusive themed bars. That includes the world’s first Haunted Mansion-inspired bar, as well as a bar called Skipper Society themed to Disney parks’ Jungle Cruise attraction.

While some options, like Carnival’s Alchemy Bar, are a fixture across nearly every ship in a cruise line's fleet, there’s also a growing trend of one-of-a-kind experiences that double as bars, like Spellbound by Magic Castle. The limited availability and unique offerings might encourage repeat or first-time cruisers.

Plus, bars mean additional revenue for cruises. While some cruise lines are more inclusive than others, it’s rare to find a cruise line that includes unlimited specialty drinks with your cruise fare. In fact, visiting any of the bars above entails an additional charge.

A 2023 NerdWallet analysis of Caribbean cruises found that the average seven-night Caribbean cruise costs $635 per person — but that’s before taxes, port fees and extras (like specialty drinks). Given that, make space in your cruise budget should you want to dive in.

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IMAGES

Classic Schooner Vs Modern Schooner
Guide to Understanding Sail Rig Types (with Pictures)
CRUISING SAILBOAT RIGS: Ketches, Yawls, and Schooners
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COMMENTS

What's The Difference Between a Sailboat and a Schooner? Here's What
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The most common kind of sailboat is the sloop, as it's simple to operate and versatile. Other common sailboat types include the schooner, cutter, cat, ketch, schooner, catamaran, and trimaran. Other sailboat variations include pocket cruisers, motorsailers, displacement, and shoal-draft vessels. The information found in this article is sourced ...
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What's in a Rig # 7- The Schooner. The schooner is another split rig plan, like the ketch and yawl, but really fell out of favor after having a very dominant place in sailing history for quite a long time. Early in the 18 th century on into the 19 th they became widely popular for their speed, versatility, and upwind prowess, which by today ...
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Conclusion Sloop, cutter, ketch, yawl, schooner, and cat are the six rig types seen on yachts. The former three are widely more common than the latter three. Each one has unique strengths and weaknesses. The sloop is the best performing upwind while the cat is the simplest form. Getting to know the look and feel of these rig types will help you ...
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The mizzen sail on a yawl can't really drive the boat forward. Schooner. Schooners have two masts that are fore-and-aft rigged. The extra mast is a foremast which is generally smaller than the mainmast, but it does carry a mainsail. Schooners are also built with a lot more masts, up to seven (not anymore). The schooner's mainsails are generally ...
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Lewis R. French, a gaff-rigged schooner Oosterschelde, a topsail schooner Orianda, a staysail schooner, with Bermuda mainsail. A schooner (/ ˈ s k uː n ər / SKOO-nər) is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. A common variant, the topsail ...
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Schooner: A Classic Sailboat with Timeless Elegance. 1. Introduction. Sailing has always captivated the human imagination, and one type of sailboat that has left an indelible mark in maritime history is the schooner. With its distinctive design and graceful sails, the schooner embodies timeless elegance and the romance of the open sea.
Difference Between Schooner & Sail Boat
The terms, sailboat and schooner, are often used but rarely do people realize that there is a difference. One of the main ones being that sail boat is a general term. A sailboat is described as any boat that is powered by sails and wind. The thing is, there are several different types of sailboats and one of them is a schooner.
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As nouns the difference between sailboat and schooner. is that sailboat is a boat propelled by sails while schooner is (nautical) a sailing ship with two or more masts, all with fore-and-aft sails; if two masted, having a foremast and a mainmast.
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What makes a schooner a schooner. A typical schooner has two or more masts, with the foremast being shorter than the mainmast. Schooners are distinguished from other types of sailing vessels by their rigging; they are square-rigged on the foremast and mainmast, and fore-and-aft rigged on the mizzenmast (if present). The different types of schooners
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June 17, 2024. Sailboats are powered by sails using the force of the wind. They are also referred to as sailing dinghies, boats, and yachts, depending on their size. Sailboats range in size, from lightweight dinghies like the Optimist dinghy (7'9") all the way up to mega yachts over 200 feet long. The length is often abbreviated as LOA (length ...
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Ketch vs Yawl vs Schooner. Before we go down to the ketch vs yawl differences, we need to define a schooner, one of the classic sail configurations echoing from the Age of Sail, which is the 1600s.. Well, a schooner is a sailing vessel with multiple masts (more than one) where all masts bear either Bermuda sails, gaff sails, or a combination of those.
Boats, Schooners, Ships, Yachts and Superyachts
Here's a simple cheat sheet. Bookmark this page in case it comes up again! Happy sailing! Boat - used for commercial and recreational purposes. Technically, boats are motor vessels less than 100 feet long. Schooner - a sailboat that actually has a sail. Some schooners can also make use of an engine, but if there is no sail, it is not a ...
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It is the sailing ship Christopher Columbus used to sail the world. It was the largest ship in Europe with the Spanish Carrack being more than 1,000 tons in weight and 150 feet (45 meters) in length. More modern versions of the Carrack were developed by the Portuguese and they could hold up to 2,000 tons.
How to distinguish a ketch, a yawl or a schooner?
Ketch : - 1 mainsail - 2 jib or genoa - 3 mizzen. A ketch has the mizzen mast (at the stern) smaller than the main mast (called mainmast). To be a ketch, the mizzen mast must be placed forward of the helm, or more precisely of the rudder. If the mizzen mast is aft, we are dealing with a yawl (see below). A ketch always has a mainsail without a jib.
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Join Date: Mar 2009. Location: Denmark (Winter), Cruising North Sea and Baltic (Summer) Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54. Posts: 34,427. Schooner vs Ketch. In another thread, someone suggested that schnooners rigs work better than ketches. I was surprised to hear that -- I always though that schooners exacerbate the problems of split rigs when ...
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A ketch is a two-masted sailboat, the main-mast forward and a shorter mizzen mast aft. But not all two-masted sailboats are ketches — they might be yawls. A ketch may also carry a staysail, with or without a bowsprit, in which case it would be known as a cutter-rigged ketch. Ketches are also monohulls, but there is a second shorter mast ...
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one mast. triangular mainsail (called a Bermuda sail) a foresail (also called the jib) fore-and-aft rigged. medium-sized (12 - 50 ft) Fore-and-aft rigged just means "from front to back". This type of rigging helps to sail upwind. Any sailboat with one mast and two sails could still be a sloop.
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Book now: Seattle's Tall Ship; Tall Ship Lady Washington See the city from a tall ship on the gaff-rigged schooner Bay Lady, an 85-footer.A two-hour sail from Seattle's Tall Ship starts at $45 for adults; $35 for kids 2-12; there are several sailings daily on Puget Sound from late April through the end of October.
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