Catboat

From Boat Design Wiki

A catboat rig is a fore-and-aft rig, consisting of a single sail on a single mast, with the mast stepped very near the bow of the boat.

Characteristics

The catboat may carry its mainsail in virtually any fashion- it might be gaff rigged, or Bermudan, or lateen, or virtually any other fore-and-aft setup. It is distinguished primarily by the fact that its mast is stepped in the bow.

The traditional catboat, in the purest sense, has a gaff-rigged sail, usually with a gaff nearly as long as the boom; however, the term is generally used for any vessel whose single mast is stepped in the forepeak.

Performance

Examples

The Nonsuch line of cruisers is perhaps the best known catboat among cruising sailboats. Built in 22', 26', 30', 33' and 36' versions by Hinterhoeller Yachts in St. Catharines, Ontario, the Nonsuch carried a single triangular sail on an unstayed mast with wishbone boom.

Catboat rigs were used on small fishing boats long before accurate records of their design and numbers were kept, and continue to be a popular choice for smaller craft.

Handling

- Members with experience on this rig: Advice on the handling of this rig would be welcome:

Upwind

Reaching

Downwind

Storms