Next message: Barry Brazier: "Re: [world-cruising] Re: boat shopping"
The main point of having a keel stepped mast is that the mast is
stiffer. Try holding a single piece of (uncooked) spaghetti at one
end between your thumb and forfinger. Have someone else wiggle it
from the other end. Now try the same experiment by pinching it at
one and and a couple of inches furthur along. It is significantly
stiffer.
So, keel-stepped masts are stiffer, can use lighter rigging, and
areusually stronger. My preference is for keel-stepped masts. My
opinion is that many boats have deck-stepped masts as a concession to
below-decks interior design.
The water ingress can be dealt with. As for rig loss? Well, I am
not making my decisions on the easiest rig to deal with in a
disaster. If the rig goes it's going to be a mess anyway.
Regards
Jeff
s/v Beatrix (KP44 #276 1980)
www.svbeatrix.com
