Although it would be impossible for any 21-question quiz to perfectly quantify the relative seaworthiness of various small sailboats, we think our SCA Seaworthiness Test, designed years ago with expert John Vigor, has held up pretty well.
It works best in the narrow range of trailerable monohulls and can be skewed by especially unusual designs, but it does a good job of valuing seaworthy factors as varied as ballast, build quality, flotation, rudder accessibility—and even shallow draft.
The quiz also asks the user to account for the condition of the vessel, the experience of her skipper, and how well-equipped it is with safety gear. Whether or not you agree with your boat’s seaworthiness rating, we hope taking the test will stimulate ideas on how you might make your boat even safer.
Below we also include a list of some of the boats we’ve reviewed and their scores on the test for comparison. * Please note that in every case we’ve assumed the boat was in excellent condition, equipped with at least the standard reefing options offered, two anchors with chain and rode, all safety equipment, and a thoroughly experienced crew. —Eds
SCA Seaworthiness Test
By John Vigor and the SCA Editors
Anyone who sails a small boat for any length of time will almost certainly be overtaken by bad weather at some stage. With the wind howling and the waves building, we often wonder: “How seaworthy is my boat?” There is no question that some boats survive bad weather better than others, even allowing for various degrees of experience among their crews. But what makes one boat more seaworthy than another?
