Sailboats

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There are many different kinds of sailboats.  As a general rule, they are classified according to how many masts they have, as well as how those masts are positioned.  Size is not taken into consideration.

Sloops comprise the largest category of sailboats.  Sloops have one mast that is set into the deck slightly forward of amidships.  The mast is able to support two sails — the main, which is located on the back of the mast, and the jib, which is a smaller sail located on the front.  A sloop that has a mast with only one main is called a catboat, while a sloop that has a mast with one main and two jibs is called a cutter.

Sailboats with two masts are for experts only.  A sailboat with two masts is usually larger and requires more sail power than a one-mast boat.  A ketch-rigged sailboat has the larger mast in front and the smaller mast in back, while a schooner has a foremast that's shorter than the mainmast, which sits in the back of the boat.  A yawl, in which the rear mast is behind the wheel or tiller, is infrequently seen these days.

Most sailboats have one hull.  Catamarans are two-hulled sailboats, and trimarans have three hulls.  Sailboats with more than one hull are becoming increasingly more popular because of their excellent stability.  Why would you choose a choose a boat with one hull versus one with two or three?  Boats with one hull right themselves when capsized, but are more likely to sink if there is a hole in the hull.  Boats with more than one hull are very difficult to right once they capsize, but stay afloat when punctured.  So you have to decide whether you would rather have a boat that doesn't capsize, or a boat that doesn't sink!

Sailboat Manufacturers

• Cabo Rico Custom Yachts
  

  2258 S.E. 17th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 954-462-6699 www.caborico.com/

  Offers a selection of sailing yachts, cruising sailboats, sportfishers, and unique motorsailers.

  
  
• Hinckley Company
  

  130 Shore Road Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 207-244-5531 www.thehinckleycompany.com/

  Features durable, New England style powerboats and sail boats.

  
  
• Hobie Sailing
  

  4925 Oceanside Blvd. Oceanside, CA 92056 800-HOBIE-49 www.hobiecat.com/

  Leading manufacturer of catamarans, sailboats, fishing kayaks and float cats.

  
  
• Hunter Marine
  

  Route 441 P.O. Box 1030 Alachua, FL 32616 386-462-3077 www.huntermarine.com/indexUS.html

  Premiere builder of state-of-the-art recreational sailboats.

  
  
• Jeanneau America
  

  105 Eastern Avenue Suite 202 Annapolis, MD 21403 410-280-9400 www.jeanneauamerica.com/

  Prestigious motor yachts and sailboats built by artistic craftsmen.

  
  
• Pacific Seacraft
  

  1301 East Orangethorpe Avenue Fullerton, CA 92831 714-879-1610 www.pacificseacraft.com/

  A foremost designer and builder of sailing yachts and motoryachts.

  
  
• PDQ Yachts
  

  202 South Blair Street Units 1-6 Whitby, ON L1N 8X9 Canada 905-430-2582 www.pdqyachts.com/

  This Canadian firm offers a series of sailing catamarans and power catamarans.

  
  
• Team Vanguard Sailboats
  

  300 Highpoint Avenue Portsmouth, RI 02871 800-966-SAIL www.teamvanguard.com/

  Leading manufacturer of small recreational and racing sailboats.

  
  
• WindRider
  

  214 Eagle Drive Sandstone, MN 55072 800-311-7245 www.windrider.com/

  Manufacturer of simple, affordable sailing trimarans.

  
  

For additional boating resources, please visit this boat builders directory.

Sailboats