The Ultimate Guide to Sailboats & Rigs: Sloops, Ketches & More

In a Nutshell...

Choosing the right sailboat comes down to a few key factors: your sailing style, the waters you'll be cruising, and how much complexity you're comfortable with.

Monohull rigs like sloops and cutters are the most common, offering a great balance of performance and ease of handling, especially for single-handed or shorthanded sailing. Ketch and schooner rigs, with their multiple masts, excel in blue-water cruising by allowing for a more manageable sail plan in varying conditions.

Multihulls—catamarans and trimarans—provide incredible stability, speed, and spacious living areas but require different sailing techniques and can be a challenge to handle in a crowded marina.

Ultimately, there is no single "best" sailboat; the ideal choice is the one that best fits your sailing ambitions.

The Schooner 'Kairos' at anchor in Deep Bay, Antigua

The Schooner 'Kairos'—she must look absolutely stunning under full sail

An Introduction to Sailboat Types & Rigs
Monohulls vs. Multihulls: A Fundamental Choice
Sloop, Catboat & Cutter Rigs: The Cruising Workhorses
Ketch, Yawl & Schooner Rigs: Blue-Water Specialists
Catamarans & Trimarans: Speed, Stability & Space
Which Sailboat is Right for You? Making a Decision
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

An Introduction to Sailboat Types & Rigs

Welcome aboard. As a long-time offshore sailor, I’ve spent countless hours on the water, getting to know the nuances of different sailboat rigs. Whether you’re a novice just learning the ropes or a seasoned sailor looking for your next boat, understanding the fundamental differences in sailboat design is crucial.

This article will guide you through the most common sailboat types, from the ubiquitous sloop to the stately schooner, and explain the pros and cons of each. We’ll also cover the fundamental difference between monohulls and multihulls, giving you the insights you need to make an informed decision about what’s right for you.

Monohulls vs. Multihulls: A Fundamental Choice

Before we get into the specifics of different rigs, we need to address the most fundamental choice you’ll face: a single hull or multiple hulls.

Monohulls

Monohulls are the traditional sailboat design, featuring a single hull with a keel for stability. They are the boats you likely picture when you think of sailing—they heel over in the wind, providing a classic sailing feel.

Pros

They are generally more affordable to buy and maintain.
Offer excellent upwind performance.
Can be easier to handle in marinas.

Cons

Can feel less stable and have less deck and interior space compared to multihulls of a similar length.

Multihulls

Multihulls, which include catamarans (two hulls) and trimarans (three hulls), are a more modern evolution of sailboat design.

Pros

They are incredibly stable, don't heel, and offer vast living spaces.
Impressive speed, especially on a reach.

Cons

Have a wider beam, which can make them more expensive to dock and haul out.
Tend to be less nimble upwind and can be tricky to maneuver in tight quarters.

For a side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right multihull for your sailing style, read our guide, Trimaran vs. Catamaran: Finding Your Ideal Multihull.

Sloop, Catboat & Cutter Rigs: The Cruising Workhorses

The vast majority of sailboats you see today, particularly in the cruising world, fall into these categories. They all feature a single mast, but with key differences in their sail plan.

The Sloop

$Difference between masthead and fractional rig$

This is the most common and simplest rig. It has one mast, one mainsail, and one headsail (jib or genoa). The rig is efficient and easy to manage, but there are two main variations you need to know about: masthead and fractional.

As a cruising sailor, I've found that the simplicity of a sloop is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.

While it's wonderfully easy to set sail, a big genoa on a masthead sloop (less so with a fractional rig) can be a real handful to furl in a sudden squall when you're shorthanded.

Dick McClary

Masthead Sloop: In this traditional configuration, the forestay—the wire supporting the mast from the bow—attaches at the very top of the mast. The headsail is a large sail, often a genoa, that provides the majority of the boat's power. It is a sturdy and simple rig, favored on many cruising boats from the 1960s and 70s.

Fractional Sloop: A more modern and performance-oriented rig where the forestay attaches to the mast at a point below the very top (typically 7/8 or 9/10 of the way up). This leaves the top section of the mast unsupported, which allows it to be bent or "tuned" with the backstay to flatten the mainsail in stronger winds. This rig is often found on racing and newer high-performance cruising boats.

Pros

Simple to operate.
Excellent upwind performance.
A large number of available boats on the market.

Cons

The sail plan offers fewer options for balancing the boat in varying wind conditions.
On larger boats, the single headsail can be a monster to handle.

For a deeper dive into whether this is the right choice for your next boat, see our article, Is a Sailing Sloop the Best Rig for Cruising?

The Catboat

A Catboat—this one's a Nonsuch 30 with a wishbone rig

I've always appreciated the elegance of a catboat's simplicity. While they might not win any races, there's a unique joy in sailing a boat where you can be ready to go in minutes with just one sail to manage.

They're perfect for gunkholing in protected bays and estuaries, but I've chatted with several skippers in the Caribbean that have sailed theirs over from the UK.

Dick McClary

A classic American design, the catboat is the epitome of sailing simplicity. It features a single mast stepped way up in the bow and a single sail (often gaff-rigged) with no jib. Its distinctive features are its wide beam and shallow draft, making it perfect for coastal and shallow-water cruising.

Pros

Incredible simplicity, minimal rigging, huge interior volume for its length.
Shallow draft for exploring skinny water.
Easy to rig and single-hand.

Cons

Poor upwind performance compared to other rigs.
The single, large sail can be a handful in strong winds.
The wide beam can also be a challenge in some marina slips.

The Cutter

'Second Wind' an IP40 sailboat at anchor

A cutter rig is a variation of the sloop with a single mast but two headsails—a jib on the forestay and a smaller staysail set on an inner forestay.

Pros

The split headsail plan gives you tremendous flexibility.
In a blow, you can drop the jib and sail on just the staysail and a reefed main, a wonderfully balanced and powerful combination. This is why a cutter is often the preferred rig for serious offshore cruising.

Cons

There’s more rigging to manage on deck.
Tacking can be a bit more work as the staysail needs to be sheeted in separately.

My personal preference for cruising is the cutter rig, and I've detailed my reasons in Why the Cutter Rig Sailboat Is My First Choice for Cruising.

Not a cutter—this Wauquiez 48 sports a Solent Rig

I also explore the specific differences with another popular rig in Is the Cutter Rig More Useful than the Solent Rig for Offshore Cruising?

Ketch, Yawl & Schooner Rigs: Blue-Water Specialists

When you add a second or third mast, you move into the world of blue-water cruisers. These rigs are designed to be powerful yet manageable on long ocean passages.

The Ketch

Seadog 30 Ketch at anchor in the mangroves is English Harbour, Antigua

A Seadog 30 ketch

I once helped a cruising couple sail their newly-purchased ketch from Mallorca to Gibralter and truly appreciated this rig's versatility.

When a squall hit unexpectedly, we were able to quickly drop the mainsail and continue sailing under the headsail and mizzen, maintaining control and making for a much safer and more comfortable ride.

Dick McClary

A ketch has a main mast and a second, shorter mast called a mizzen mast, which is positioned forward of the rudder post. This splits the sail area into smaller, more manageable units.

Pros

This rig allows for a greater variety of sail combinations, which is perfect for matching the sail plan to changing wind conditions without excessive effort.
In a heavy wind, you can drop the main and sail on the headsail and mizzen ("jib and jigger").

Cons

The added mast and rigging increase maintenance and cost.
The mizzen mast can also interfere with the cockpit layout.

If you're considering a ketch for your next boat, I offer some further insights in Does a Ketch Sailboat Make a Good Cruising Boat?.

The Yawl

A Bowman 46 Corsair at anchor in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua

A Bowman 46 Corsair yawl

A yawl is very similar to a ketch but with a crucial distinction: its mizzen mast is located aft of the rudder post. This mast is generally smaller than a ketch’s mizzen, and its sail, known as a jigger, is more for balancing the boat and trimming than for providing significant forward thrust. The yawl is a beautiful and classic rig, though less common today.

Pros

The jigger sail helps to balance the helm, making the boat easier to steer and more stable on a long passage, especially when the main is reefed or dropped.

Cons

The mizzen mast is often so far aft that it can be a nuisance for anyone sitting in the cockpit.
The sail itself provides very little propulsion.

The Cat-Ketch

A Freedom 44 cat-ketch

There's a lot of debate in the sailing community about the effectiveness of unstayed rigs. In my experience, they can be surprisingly capable.

I've seen cat-ketches handle lively conditions with a grace that a conventional rig might struggle to match, thanks to the simplicity of their sail plan.

Dick McClary

The cat-ketch is a unique rig with two unstayed masts (meaning they are not supported by wires) and no headsail. The mainmast is forward, and a shorter mizzenmast is aft, much like a traditional ketch, but without the complex web of rigging.

Pros

Extreme simplicity and ease of handling, particularly for single-handing.
Since there's no headsail to tack, you simply turn the boat, and the sails take care of themselves.
The unstayed masts also reduce windage.

Cons

Upwind performance can be less efficient than a traditional cutter or sloop.
The rig can also be less powerful in light winds.

For a more in-depth look at this particular rig, a good resource is our article, Do The Unstayed Rigs Of Cat Ketch Sailboats Really Work?

Staysail Ketch

A Bowman 57 staysail ketch

A variation of the ketch, a staysail ketch has the same two-mast configuration but also includes an inner forestay for a staysail, much like a cutter. This rig offers the most versatile sail plan for a monohull, making it a powerful and highly adaptable option for serious offshore voyaging.

The Schooner

A schooner has two or more masts, with the foremast being the same height or shorter than the aft mast. While less common on modern recreational boats, schooners are iconic and powerful sailing vessels.

Pros

With a large number of sails, they can be balanced beautifully for various points of sail.
They are magnificent to look at and offer a truly classic sailing experience.

Cons

Schooners are complex and require a skilled crew.
The large number of sails and lines means a lot more work, making them a poor choice for shorthanded sailing.

Catamarans & Trimarans: Speed, Stability & Space

Multihulls offer a radically different sailing experience. They don’t heel over and their stability makes them incredibly comfortable for long-term living and cruising.

Catamarans

Voluminous accommodation in a typical catamaran layout

With two parallel hulls, catamarans provide immense deck and interior space. They are often chosen for their stability, shallow draft, and high speed potential, making them popular for charter businesses and liveaboards.

Pros

Exceptional stability.
Large living space, and great visibility from the helm.

Cons

Wide beam can limit marina access and increase docking fees.
Upwind performance is not as good as a monohull.

If you’re drawn to the spaciousness and stability of a catamaran for long passages, we have a detailed guide in Can a Catamaran Sail Boat be a Good Choice for Cruising?.

Trimarans

But not so much living space in a similarly-sized trimaran

Trimarans feature a central main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls. They are known for their speed and exhilarating sailing performance.

Pros

Extremely fast and stable, offering a thrilling sailing experience.

Cons

The folding amas (outrigger hulls) can be a point of failure.
They have a very wide beam, making them challenging to find a slip for.

Which Sailboat is Right for You? Making a Decision

The choice of a sailboat rig is deeply personal. Here’s a simple comparison to help guide you:

Rig Type	Ideal Use	Key Advantage	Key Disadvantage
Sloop	Coastal & Day Sailing, Racing	Simple & efficient	Less versatile in heavy weather
Catboat	Shallow-water Coastal Cruising, Day Sailing	Extreme simplicity & shallow draft	Poor upwind performance
Cutter	Offshore Cruising	Versatile sail plan	More complex to rig & handle
Ketch	Long-distance Cruising	Easily managed sail area	Higher maintenance & cost
Yawl	Offshore Cruising	Balances the helm	Mizzen provides little power
Cat-ketch	Shallow-water cruising, Single-handing	Extreme simplicity and ease of handling	Less efficient upwind performance
Schooner	Classic Sailing, Large Vessels	Powerful & majestic	Requires a large crew
Catamaran	Coastal Cruising, Liveaboard	Stability & space	Wide beam & higher docking fees
Trimaran	Performance Sailing	High speed & exhilarating	Complex & limited marina options

By Dick McClary, Yachtmaster Offshore (RYA) and member of The Yachting Journalists Association (YJA)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main difference between a sloop and a cutter?

A sloop has a single headsail on the forestay, whereas a cutter has two—a jib and a staysail—allowing for a more versatile and easily managed sail plan, especially in heavy weather.

What is a catboat and how is it different from a cat-ketch?

A catboat is a single-masted vessel with a single sail. A cat-ketch, on the other hand, is a two-masted vessel that also sails without a headsail. While both rigs prioritize simplicity, the cat-ketch distributes its sail area across two masts.

What is the difference between a ketch and a yawl?

The difference is the placement of the mizzenmast. On a ketch, the mizzenmast is located forward of the rudder post, while on a yawl, it is located aft of the rudder post. A ketch's mizzen provides more power, while a yawl's is primarily for trimming and balancing the boat.

Are catamarans really faster than monohulls?

Generally, yes. Catamarans have less hull displacement and a wider beam, which allows them to achieve higher speeds, particularly on a reach. Their speed comes from their design, not their sail area.

What is the benefit of a ketch rig for cruising?

A ketch's mizzenmast and sail break up the total sail area into smaller, more manageable parts. This makes it easier to balance the boat and reef sails without a lot of effort, which is ideal for shorthanded sailing on long passages.

Is a schooner a good boat for single-handing?

Schooners, with their multiple masts and large sail plans, are generally not considered ideal for single-handed sailing. They require a larger crew to manage the sails effectively, especially during maneuvers.