What is the best and most inexpensive used shallow water cruising sailboat?
Most sailboats are deep draft due to their keel depth. The keel helps keep the sailboat from flipping over in the wind. The most common alternative to deep keels are a shallower hull in combination with a moveable centerboard. Trimarans (main center hull with outriggers) and catamarans (two hulls) use a much wider beam (width) to maintain stability instead of using a deeper keel depth. They do have a greater risk with hitting waves the wrong way and flipping lengthwise. To reduce that risk, Many owners use a mesh web for the “deck” on the front half of their boat instead of a solid surface which could catch waves the wrong way. Overall though, they tend to stay afloat even after an accident. There are often cited quotes about trimarans & catamarans floating upside down, and monohulls resting on the bottom (under the water). With their shallower hulls & drafts, trimarans and catamarans tend to be fastest sailboats. Depending on where you are willing to travel and sail a boat back from,