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Sailing A MC Scow
- Thread starter Don Guillette
- Start date Jun 9, 2018
- Featured Contributors
- Sail Trim with Don Guillette
Don Guillette
I received a Email today from a lister who asked the following question - "I'm always last in the race. My competitors lower the traveler about 3". My MC Scow is main only. Why is it faster than centering the traveler?". I was going to suggest that he follow the lead of the competitors ahead of him and do what they do but he asked WHY. I've never sailed a scow - in fact, I've never seen one. I called a friend of mine who has at least seen one and he knew a fellow who sailed one. He told me that the way they sail these boats is with 30* heel and the traveler 3" off center and that the crew constantly adjusts the traveler to maintain 30*. That answers the WHAT you do but the WHY of sail trim is everything otherwise a sailor is just guessing at the adjustment. Can anyone familiar with these boats provide a answer to help me and forum lister?
I've never sailed one either. But I'll step right up to see if I can guess. I think the key is 30 degrees heel. That gets a good deal of the bottom out of the water and reduces drag. It would also put the forward leeward chine under water which would make the boat track like it's on rails and reduce slamming in waves as opposed to the almost flat bottom. Why the traveler down some? Because you don't want 40 degrees heel.
Kings Gambit
Andrew/Kings Gambit: Thank you. I'll pass your info to the Scow sailor. A common sail trim suggestion is to watch and copy the sail trim of boats in front of you. Most times it doesn't work (this case is different) because the sailor in the back of the pack doesn't have a clue as to set his sail trim controls to duplicate what he's seeing. This Scow sailor has my book & chart so he knew WHAT he was looking at and had an idea WHY the boats ahead of him were faster. I've told him that first he should review the chapter of my book on the traveler & angle of attack, which is all the traveler controls. Next, he should duplicate 30* heel and to hold the traveler about 3" off center. Fool around with the 3" setting to see if he squeeze a little bit more speed out of his boat . Additionally, he should review the section on the basics of the racing start in order to get a jump on the competition - after he gets the jump he has to hold it and that's the hard part.
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Kings Gambit said: MC Scow. Click to expand
It’s not as painful as it looks. It’s worse.
They say... no pain no gain.
I built a Laser 1/2 c-pit with side deck and a hiking strap for a couple of masochists that used it to hike out on while watching T.V. in their living room.
@Don Guillette , MC Scows sail with the main down off center because their mainsail is not in the relative knock of a headsail. True of any main-only boat. The same boat with a jib (M16 scow) sail normally. MC hulls were designed by Johnson Boatworks in White Bear Lake MN. Melges changed the rig and called that boat the MC
Kings Gambit said: Is this the boat? MC Scow. A Melges-designed performance OD? View attachment 151764 That attached photo is a C scow. usual crew is two. MC is smaller at 16 feet and is single handed except in breezier conditions. As I recall the MC hull weight is about 420 pounds, its cat rigged and sail area I believe is about 135 square feet. Its been a few years since I have sailed one. Generally, the traveller is dropped a few inches to keep the boat heeled at more like 15 degrees, 30 sounds a bit extreme, that would just about have the rudder out of the water. The boat has leeboards and generally the windward board is retracted. On a reach, the leeward board is often retracted about halfway or so. Its a planing hull and will go like mad in the right conditions. They are a blast to sail. I was always a bit heavy to sail one competetively except in windy conditions When I was sailing them, I owned MC822, MC1236, and MC1465 in succession. I sailed in a club that at one time counted 45 boats in that fleet and routinely fielded over 20 boats on Saturday and Sunday races. Those days are gone, the boats have just gotten too expensive, and younger people don’t want to take the time to learn to sail. Click to expand
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About the MC Scow
As one of the largest fleets in North America, the Melges MC Scow® is a true Melges original. Designed, engineered and built by Harry C. Melges Sr. and Buddy Melges during the mid-’60s, it continues to be a great day sailor whether sailed single- or double-handed. The Melges MC Scow is modern and more performance driven than ever before. It’s high quality from bow to stern, featuring a new and improved board system, not to mention stronger, safer and extremely comfortable.
Class Information:
Class Contact: Dan Fink
Class Contact Email: [email protected]
Class Contact Phone: 414-344-8765
Class Website: mcscow.org
Social Media: Facebook
Class Specs
LOA: 16 ft.
Beam: 5 ft. 8 in.
Sail Area: 135 sq. ft.
Weight: 420 lbs.
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Sarasota Sailing Squadron
Mc scow, the melges mc scow.
Interested in fun? Come sail the MC Scow!
The Melges MC is one of the largest, most popular one-design fleets in North America. The scow design maximizes speed yet provides unmatched stability.
An original design by the Melges family in 1956, it is unique in the fact that you can sail single-handed or double-handed. Sailing solo is easy, taking a crew is fun!
Sarasota Bay is a perfect home for this hugely popular one-design. Easy to launch, easy to sail, easy to maintain, and affordable.
Race with friends and family
All ages, all sizes
Sail with one or two
Simple tuning
Powerful sail plan
offering the maximum in maneuverability
and stability
New open cockpit design
Step the mast on your own
Interested in fun, come sail an MC Scow.
They race during the season (winter) every other Saturday with the Flying Scot Fleet.
MC Sailing Association
Class contact information.
Click below
Class Email
Class Website
One-Design Class Type: Dinghy
Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both
Approximately how many class members do you have? 1800+
Join/Renew Your Class Membership – Click here
Photo Credit:Lisaksphotos.com
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About MC Sailing Association
The MC Sailing Association originally formed in Shreveport LA, 1971. Since then, the MC class has grown to be one of the top one-design sailboat racing classes in North America. The scow design maximizes speed yet provides unmatched stability. There are more than 110 active fleets nationwide. An original design by the Melges family in 1956, it is unique in the fact that you can sail single-handed or double-handed. Sailing solo is easy, taking a crew is fun! The MC class is not just about racing — it has also been described by many people outside of the class as a very enjoyable and fun group to spend a weekend with!
Boats Produced: 2800+
Class boat builder(s):
Melges Performance Sailboats P.O. Box 1 N598 Zenda Road Zenda, Wisconsin 53195 USA
Phone +1 262 275 1110 Fax +1 262 275 8012
Email [email protected]
Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 2800+
Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:
The contiguous United States plus Quebec
Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? No
How many people sail as a crew including the helm? 1-2
Ideal combined weight of range of crew: 130-260lbs (singlehanded), 180-340 (with crew)
Portsmouth Yardstick Rating: 89.4
Boat Designed in 1956
Length (feet/inches): 16
Beam: 5’8″
Weight of rigged boat without sails: 420
Draft: ~3 ft (0.91 m) with a bilge board fully extended
Mast Height: 33’7″
Coaching or Clinic Resources
Tuning guides tuning guides tuning guides, class rules (pdf doc).
Back to One-Design Central
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Published on January 31st, 2022 | by Editor
Welcome to the MC Sailing Association
Published on January 31st, 2022 by Editor -->
The 16-foot MC Scow was born in the 1950s, and depending on wind strength will be sailed by one or two people. Its famous flat hull shape revels in lake conditions, but requires the right amount of heel to avoid excess drag through the water.
With just a mainsail, there is less for a crew to do other than hike, but this role also is a gateway for countless youth sailors and new adults to gain exposure, and the MC Class is thriving.
In this day and age when the mantra ‘foiling is the future’ diminishes the bulk of the sport, the MC Class Association (MCSA) reports that other variables beyond technical advancements are what matter.
“2021 was a year of MCSA records: 84 boats at Midwinters, 119 boats at Nationals, and the best record of all is officially topping the 700+ membership plateau for the first time in our history!” reports MCSA Commodore Scott Harestad.
“The strength of our association comes from having a strong consistent boat builder, multiple sail makers, and some very enthusiastic members who promote the MC fleet at their clubs. I’m especially thankful for the new friendships that grow through your attendance at local, regional, and our sanctioned regattas.
“Financially speaking we are looking very strong and your board is working on projects to provide you with more sailing instruction days, live GO Pro videos, additional drone footage at select events, and increased social media.
“This coming year our sanctioned events take us from Lake Eustis, Florida to Gull Lake, Minnesota to Barnegat Bay, New Jersey and ending in Spring Lake, Michigan. I hope to see on a starting line soon!”
The class is actively looking for good used boats, hoping to pry them apart from sentimental owners who haven’t used them in some time. Plus, the MC Scow will gain exposure as the boat selected for the 2022 U.S. Championship of Champions.
For MCSA information, click here . To view the 2022 MCSA event schedule, click here .
Tags: growing the sport , MC Scow
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- Sailboat Guide
M-16 Scow is a 16 ′ 0 ″ / 4.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Johnson/Melges Boat Works and built by Tanzer Industries Ltd., Windward Boatworks, and Melges Performance Sailboats starting in 1950.
Rig and Sails
Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3
- SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D : Displacement in pounds.
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Ballast / Displacement * 100
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
Since 1999, all new M-16’s have been built using the MC SCOW hull and deck molds and now shares other rigging, such as a single rudder, with the MC SCOW. The main sheet traveller has been done away with and the mast no longer rotates.
Sail Area Main: 108 sq.ft. Jib: 39 sq.ft.
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IMAGES
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COMMENTS
The MC Sailing Association originally formed in Shreveport LA, 1971. Since then, the MC class has grown to be one of the top one-design sailboat racing classes in North America. The scow design maximizes speed yet provides unmatched stability. There are more than 113 active fleets nationwide. An original design by the Melges family in 1956, it ...
The MC Scow is a recreational sailboat, with the reverse sheer scow hull built predominantly of fiberglass, with mahogany wood trim. It has a catboat rig with anodized aluminum spars, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and dual retractable bilgeboards.It displaces 420 lb (191 kg). [1] [2]The boat has a draft of 3 ft (0.91 m) with a bilgeboard extended and can be transported on a trailer.
The Melges MC is a fast and stable scow sailboat that can be sailed single-handed or double-handed. It has a new open cockpit design, a powerful sail plan and more than 100 active fleets in North America.
MC SCOW. Save to Favorites . Beta Marine. BOTH. US IMPERIAL. METRIC. Sailboat Specifications Definitions Hull Type: Scow Twin Cbrd. Rigging Type: Cat (Marconi) LOA: 16.00 ft / 4.88 m: ... Kelsall Sailing Performance (KSP): Another measure of relative speed potential of a boat. It takes into consideration "reported" sail area, displacement ...
MC Scow is a 16′ 0″ / 4.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Melges/Johnson and built by Johnson Boat Works and Melges Performance Sailboats starting in 1965.
Learn about the history, popularity and appeal of the MC Scow, a Melges-designed scow that draws sailors of all ages and skill levels. Read how the class celebrated its 50th anniversary with a record-breaking regatta at Clear Lake, Iowa.
MC-Scow Sailing Speed Guide Plus Drills. In the MC class, your biggest opportunity to pass boats occurs while beating to windward. It separates the top 10 percent of the fleet from the rest. If you want to be a better MC-Scow sailor, boat speed is the first place to start. In this series of articles, MC-Scow sailor and SailZing contributor ...
The M Scow is a recreational sailboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim.It has a fractional sloop rig with tapered or untapered aluminum or wooden spars. The hull is a reverse sheer scow design, with dual internally-mounted rudders controlled by a tiller and a dual retractable bilgeboards.It displaces 440 lb (200 kg). [1] [2]The boat has a draft of 2.67 ft (0.81 m) with a ...
The MC Scow class is growing rapidly. Some of the sailors joining the class don't have much sailing experience, so we decided to develop an MC Scow user guide to help them learn the basics quickly. There are also plenty of MC tips on the MC Sailing Association (MCSA) website and the Melges website. Be sure to join the MCSA.
MC Scows sail with the main down off center because their mainsail is not in the relative knock of a headsail. True of any main-only boat. The same boat with a jib (M16 scow) sail normally. MC hulls were designed by Johnson Boatworks in White Bear Lake MN. Melges changed the rig and called that boat the MC.
ABOUT THE MC SCOW The MC Scow is a fast, fun boat that appeals to all ages and skill levels. With over 110 fleets and well-attended regional and national regattas, the MC class is one of the most active one-design classes in the U.S. Melges Performance Sailboats builds the MC. The MC Sailing Association (MCSA) manages the class.
2023 Beneteau First 14. $14,671. Palm Beach, FL 33408 | Nautical Ventures. Request Info. <. 1. >. Find 16 Melges Mc Scow boats for sale near you, including boat prices, photos, and more. Locate Melges boat dealers and find your boat at Boat Trader!
Sailing the MC. If you haven't sailed a scow before, let me try to explain what is going on. The scow is a very flat bottomed boat that, when sailed on a reach or a run, can skip along the top of the water on a plane at very high speeds. Instead of a centerboard, the scow has two bilge boards that extend outward at a slight angle. When the scow ...
To purchase book, go here: MC BOOK. Falling in Love with the MC Scow is a primer on racing the MC from a new comer to the class with a lifetime of sailing experience. Much of information is based on Zenda U. on-the-water training by the Melges Team and by MC champions. It is infused with personal recollections by the author.
LOA: 16 ft. Beam: 5 ft. 8 in. Sail Area: 135 sq. ft. Weight: 420 lbs. As one of the largest fleets in North America, the Melges MC Scow® is a true Melges original. Designed, engineered and built ...
MC Sailing Association, Mukwonago, Wisconsin. 1,434 likes · 225 talking about this. The MC class is one of the top one-design sailboat racing classes in North America.
Come sail the MC Scow! The Melges MC is one of the largest, most popular one-design fleets in North America. The scow design maximizes speed yet provides unmatched stability. An original design by the Melges family in 1956, it is unique in the fact that you can sail single-handed or double-handed. Sailing solo is easy, taking a crew is fun!
The MC Sailing Association originally formed in Shreveport LA, 1971. Since then, the MC class has grown to be one of the top one-design sailboat racing classes in North America. The scow design maximizes speed yet provides unmatched stability. There are more than 110 active fleets nationwide. An original design by the Melges family in 1956, it ...
The 16-foot MC Scow was born in the 1950s, and depending on wind strength will be sailed by one or two people. ... Plus, the MC Scow will gain exposure as the boat selected for the 2022 U.S ...
M-16 Scow is a 16′ 0″ / 4.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Johnson/Melges Boat Works and built by Tanzer Industries Ltd., Windward Boatworks, and Melges Performance Sailboats starting in 1950. ... Since 1999, all new M-16's have been built using the MC SCOW hull and deck molds and now shares other rigging, such as a single rudder, with ...
16' Johnson Boat Works MC Scow. Year. Length. Beam. Draft. Location. Price. 1993. 16' 5' 8' ' Wisconsin. $3,500. Description: Well maintained MC. You could be competitive with this one! 2 North sails. 1 fair and one good condition. Im selling because its not being used this season. Very fast boat! A blast to sail!
MELGES MC. An original design by the Melges family, the Melges MC is cat-rigged boat with one of the largest one-design fleets in all of North America. It is unique in the fact that you can sail single-handed or double-handed - Sailing solo is easy, taking a crew is fun! There are more than 100 fleets nationwide with more than 2,700 MCs ...
156 sq ft. 14.5 m 2. CREW. 2. The Melges 15 features an ergonomic platform and a broader weight range for competitive racing. Melges conducted extensive research and product testing to produce this layout factoring in cockpit depth, backbone height, and floor plan. The result is a comfortable environment for both the skipper and crew.