The Soling keelboat beat out the Etchells and other keelboats to
become the Olympic three man keelboat, despite the fact the
Etchells, a similar design, is a faster boat.

Etchells historians will say that the Etchells class was ripped off,
since the Etchells is a faster boat because its greater waterline
length. This is true.

I feel the Soling won the Olympic three man keelboat competition
because of a fundamental design difference between the two boats.

What is the most fundamental and significant difference between the
Soling and the Etchells keelboats? [10 points]

Bart Senior wrote:
The Soling keelboat beat out the Etchells and other keelboats to
become the Olympic three man keelboat, despite the fact the
Etchells, a similar design, is a faster boat.

Etchells historians will say that the Etchells class was ripped off,
since the Etchells is a faster boat because its greater waterline
length. This is true.

Well, it's faster for a couple fo reasons but a longer waterline sure
doesn't hurt.


I feel the Soling won the Olympic three man keelboat competition
because of a fundamental design difference between the two boats.

What is the most fundamental and significant difference between the
Soling and the Etchells keelboats? [10 points]

The Soling is smaller, has less form stability, a spade rudder, a higher
& smaller transom (indicating a less full & flat run, which is another
speed factor favoring the Etchells), and is cheaper. This last is the
reason the Olympic committee *said* they selected it. IMHO since the
selection board was 100% European, there was no chance an American boat
would be selected no matter good it was.

Bonus question- why hasn't the 505 ever been selected as the Olympic boat?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

10 points to you Doug!

Well you hit the main point I wanted to make. The Soling has a
spade rudder versus the Etchells which has a skeg hung rudder.

I find the handling on the Soling to be exceptional. While the
Etchells handles and steers well, it looses out in a steering comparision.
Also, an Etchells can't put on the brakes like a Soling, which comes
in handy while docking.

I used to own a 5o5 named "Over Easy". I've read the 505 was
never submitted for consideration for fear it would ruin the class.

As you can see the Etchells class has thrived while the Soling class
has died because the rock stars with big budgets drove out the
regulars.

5o5's are a lot like Etchells in that the owners tend to trick them out
and re-rig them. You will usually see places where holes have been
filled as cleats and so forth are moved around. There are many
controls and lots of ideas on how to set up the running rigging.

I'd enjoy getting another of these boats just for the fun of re-rigging
it.

I was heavy for the 505 and sold it. Perhaps I would have kept it if
I stayed in the Bay Area. Mine had a continuous halyard for the
spinnaker attached to the center and head, and a nice launcher
setup with a tunnel in the bow that led back to a nylon sock that
made hoisting and dousing relatively easy--although nothing is easy
on a 5o5 when it is windy.

Mine was a Parker. There are some nice old wooden 5o5's around
that started out with Parker hulls. They will make you drool with envy
when you see them. I don't generally like wooden boats except for
small dinghies which are small enough that the extra time to keep them
bristol is not a hassle but a joy.

I should have named mine "Ear Ache" because I got a few ear infections
from being dumped in the water. now you have me thinking about
getting another dinghy. I don't think there is good dinghy for a man
my size with a crew.

Bart Senior


DSK wrote

What is the most fundamental and significant difference between the
Soling and the Etchells keelboats? [10 points]

The Soling is smaller, has less form stability, a spade rudder, a higher
& smaller transom (indicating a less full & flat run, which is another
speed factor favoring the Etchells), and is cheaper. This last is the
reason the Olympic committee *said* they selected it. IMHO since the
selection board was 100% European, there was no chance an American boat
would be selected no matter good it was.

Bonus question- why hasn't the 505 ever been selected as the Olympic boat?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King