Capt. JG wrote:
Every boat is different. Sailing a "sister ship" only gives one a fuzzy
picture of what another boat is like. Fine for general impressions, but not
worth much instead of a sea trial.


Agreed, but then it's also true that you can learn a lot
about how a boat sails... specifically, what techniques it
rewards and which ones it doesn't... sailing a sistership.

The vast majority of production boats are far from
one-design, details of hull construction (if not actual hull
shape) and rig vary tremendously over a production run.
Still, the basic proportions of hull, foils, rig, etc are so
close that the boats will behave pretty much the same. Then
again, to jump on a sisership with different sails &
different tuning might give you the impression that it's a
completely different boat.

As for the specifics of a given boat's gear, deck layout,
wiring, etc etc... you're right on, a sistership is useless
as a teaching platform.

DSK