Catboat

[3]: 92 Advantages of this sail plan include the economies derived from a rig with a limited number of component parts.

As a working boat, the forward mast placement gave ample room in the cockpit for fishing gear.

[4]: 92-93 [5]: 7 Disadvantages of the rig include the limited deck space around the mast, which can be problematical when raising or lowering sail, or when reefing; halyards are often led back to the cockpit, so partially mitigating this problem.

Despite the simplicity of the rig, a good level of skill is required to design a balanced catboat, since there are limited options to correct any slight errors.

[13] A typical New England style has a very long boom that extends over the transom and may carry foresails stayed from a bowsprit.

[14] Around the turn of the 20th century, catboats were adapted for racing, and long booms and gaffs, bowsprits and large jibs were fitted to capture as much wind as possible.

Historically, they were used for fishing and transport in the coastal waters around Cape Cod, Narragansett Bay, New York and New Jersey.

Designer Fenwick Williams summarized the original design philosophy as: "The ample beam made the use of stone ballast feasible … the high bow provided good support for the unstayed mast … the barn door rudder provided adequate strength … high coamings served to keep water out of the large open cockpit … side decks provided a handy ledge on which to set a lobster trap.