Besides their almost rectangular, long narrow shape and their very shal- 

 low hulls, the scows, which must sail heeled 15 degrees to attain maximum 

 speed, are equipped with twin "bilge boards" run through the hull at either 

 side of the cockpit at an angle of about 15 degrees to the vertical. Twin 

 rudders, as on the Class A and E Scows, enable good control despite a 

 pronounced heel. In disagreement with Bob Bavier, Jr. ( see below ) , a lead- 

 ing scow racer says that "scows excel to weather more so than on free legs 

 in comparison with other boats of size and sail area." As will be imagined, 

 the excitement of sailing a scow can be intense. A Class C Scow owner told 

 the writer that he had been timed at 23 miles per hour in his 20-foot boat. 



Bob Bavier, Jr.,* points out that an Inland Lake Scow is great sport plan- 

 ing but has some drawbacks. She is only fair to windward and is not fast 

 running in light air. "She is also wet and unseaworthy, tending to sub- 

 marine in heavy seas. Yet for all their limitations, scows are the most popular 

 type on a number of inland lakes and semi-protected bodies of salt water. 

 In fact, few scow sailors are happy sailing any other boat and, under proper 

 conditions, I can understand why." 



While Inland Lake Scow designers are various, they include Harry 

 Melges, Sr., and J. O. Johnson. Melges Boat Works (Zenda, Wis.) makes 

 boats for most of the classes of scows and is considered the leader in this 

 field. Other builders covering one or more classes are Johnson Boat Works 

 (323 South Lake, White Bear Lake 10, Minn.), Bay Boats (120 North St., 

 Sharon, Wis.), Aluma Craft (1515 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn.), 

 and Stamm Boat Company (P. O. Box 5, Delafield, Wis.), The Inland Lake 

 Yachting Association Inc., Ernst C. Schmidt, Secretary (212 N. Main St., 

 Walworth, Wis.), represents twenty-six clubs, and sponsors an active racing 

 program. Estimates received as to the number of boats in each class vary 

 considerably. However, one source of information giving the numbers in 

 each class reports the following: A (40), E (600), C (1000), M (150), D 

 (30), and X (500). They are, of course, scattered among many lakes. 

 Material varies. Prices reported are: A ($6000 to $8500 new, used $500 

 up), E ($3300 new, used $300 up), C ($2200 new, used $150 up), M 

 ($1395 new, used $500 up), D ($2500 new), X ($1195 new, used $150). 



* "The Planing Sailboat," by Robert N. Bavier, Jr., Yachting, January 1949. 

 104 THE SAILBOAT CLASSES OF NORTH AMERICA 



