Wendy wrote:
Ok, I got intrigued and ran some numbers applying your above methodology to
three other boats (I'm in accounting, numbers interest me):

Pacific Seacraft 37 .38
Tayana 37 .30 (!!)
Cabo Rico 37 .37

Now, I am not a naval architect, but the people who designed the above
(well-respected) sea-going yachts are, and their numbers prompt me to ask
what you base your 40% number on. I'm not calling your assertion
questionable, I just want to know what I am missing here- help me out.


OK, looks like I spoke in haste, at least a little bit. Looking over the
boat data base and running some numbers, I see a lot of well respected
cruising boats in the -below 40- category. I wonder if that is due to one
or more of the following
Any given boat can only carry X amount of weight... more ballast = less
stores

All else being equal, it's more expensive to build a boat with a higher
B/D ratio

A slightly lower B/D ratio will not make as big a difference in
stability in the common ranges of heel while sailing, but will make a
noticable difference in easy motion in a seaway. "Seakindliness" is a
term that may be applicable.

It's just a matter of differing priorities... and shucks, if you've got
the skill, you can circumnavigate in a canoe! However, having sailed a
wide range of boat types, my own taste leans strongly towards the
highest B/D ratio practical. Not to say you should get a racing type
boat with B/D around 60%, but there are plenty of boats over 40% or even
45% that would get a nod from serious passagemaker types.

The following is not a complete list at all, just boats that caught my
eye running through the data base-

Over 50%: Ericson 39, Abbott 33, Tartan 41, Avance 36, Kalik 40,
Serendipity 43, Morgan 41 (the old model)

Between 50% ~ 45%: Hylas 44, Cal 39-3, Tartan 37, C&C 40, Bristol 38.8,
Island Packet 350 & 37, Catalina 38, Hughes 38, some Ericsons,
Westerlys, Amels, Cape Dories

Between 45% ~ 40%: Calibers, Gozzards, Aldens, Contests, Sabres,
Bristols, Morris (mostly Chuck Paine designs AFAIK),Oysters, Albergs,
Bowmans, Hallberg-Rassy, Tayana 42 & 47

This is ignoring some of the boats that could make great cruisers but
probably would not be on your personal list, like Swans, the Corel 45,
NY-40, J-125, or the Herreshoff S-boat but am just showing that
it's not totally crazy to put priority there.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

I don't understand why the bigger Tayanas have a higher B/D ratio, it
seems to me that a smaller boat would need more reserve stability, not less.