Selecting the Class Boat Best for You 



23 



As you will note in Section II, some of the newer class sailboats have a 

 combination centerboard keel. This design style, while offering many 

 of the advantages of both the centerboard and keel-types, is more popular 

 with the cruising sailor than with the racing skipper. 



Two types of keels— the full keel (left) and the fin type {right) 



TYPES OF HULLS 



The hull shapes commonly used on all class sailboats are classified as 

 flat-, V-, round-, and arc-bottomed. In the following discussion, remember 

 that we are considering the hull shape in section, not as it looks when 

 viewed from one side. When you look at a beached boat from one side, 

 the profile is relatively the same irrespective of whether it is flat-, V-, 

 round- or arc-bottomed. 



The flat-bottom hull is possibly the most popular with beginners, but 

 is least attractive from just about every viewpoint. This type of hull is 

 suitable only on protected waters. When it is used in a moderate sea, it 



Sailboat hull shapes: Left to righf— flat-bottom, modified 

 flat-bottom, V-bottom, round-bottom, and arc-bottom 



