Scow schooners had a broad, shallow hull, and used centreboards, bilgeboards or leeboards rather than a deep keel. The broad hull gave them stability, and the retractable foils allowed them to move even heavy loads of cargo in waters far too shallow for keelboats to enter.

Oct 25, 2023 · There has been a raft of new sailing scows announced this year, with the cruising market following the racing world in design philosophy.

For a given overall beam and keel weight, a scow bow gives more volume away from the centreline as well as more volume ahead of the centre of gravity. Instead of only having outboard volume from the middle of the boat to the transom as on a pointy boat, with a scow you have it …

Avon Scow. Based on the Lymington / West Solent Scow with a smaller sail area. Sailed across the Solent area, but particularly at Christchurch. Length: 3.45m (11 ft 4 in) Width: 1.52m (5 ft) Sail Area: 5.85 sq. m; Construction: GRP; Hull Shape: Smooth; Sail number Prefix: A; Rig: Balanced Lug; Designed: Based on the 1914 Lymington Scow design

The scow hull shape however can provide two distinctive hull shapes depending on whether the boat is heeled or upright. Both ‘virtual’ shapes can then be tailored specifically and respectively to the upwind and reaching conditions to reduce hull drag.

The virtues of the Scow remain the same - you can sail, row, race, potter or even fit it with an outboard. We have spent considerable time on perfecting the moulds and construction method and now produce a hard working Scow that will last for years and will become a family favourite over many generations!

In this photo essay, I have attempted to capture why I am so intrigued with these little boats and the seemingly endless variations that are possible. As of this writing, I have had a hand in constructing 18 of these small scows for myself and as a mentor for others.

For a dinghy sailor, the surprising thing here is how controllable everything remains even at top speed: not only does a scow’s (completely flat) hull shape naturally tend to plane upright, but when it does roll or heel, the heel angle doesn’t try to steer the boat and overpower the rudder.

Auxiliary power is intended to be an outboard in a well in the cockpit sole, but an inboard diesel with vee or sail-drive could fit under the cockpit. 28' sailing scow and coastwise liveaboard cruiser.

Apr 23, 2010 · Most scows I've ever seen are necessarily of low freeboard, particularly in the popular one design classes. That's kind of a defining characteristic of the type from what I know. There are scads of scow classes in the US, from 18 foot Y-Flyers to …