Double-Enders Vs. Transom Sterns

Another Opinion.

- Graham Byrnes

One day back in the 1970s, during my double-ender design phase, a beautiful canoe yawl sailed into our local harbor. The skipper turned out to be Nick Clifton, Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race competitor and circumnavigator.

After meeting, I proudly showed him one of my double-ender plans and while studying the design he said, “Be very careful when designing a double-ender. I have been pooped many more times in double-enders than transom sterns. I would add some more buoyancy in the stern.”

He went on to explain that as a double-ended hull surfs down a wave, the more steeply curved buttock lines act like a speed brake, even though gravity is doing its best to force the boat beyond its hull speed. This action sucks the stern downward, reducing freeboard aft, sometimes allowing a breaking sea to roll over the deck.

I took Nick’s advice seriously and modified the stern. I voyaged in that boat for more than a decade, crossing several oceans and many seas. I had a lot of time to watch my boat behave and ponder his words of wisdom. I would dearly love to meet up with Nick and thank him.

Another boat that I sailed and had many sea miles aboard (not my design) had a very cute little stern. She was a joy to sail until you pushed her past her hull speed, at which point she got very cranky. I would look at the bend in the tiller in amazement as I struggled to keep her going straight. Of course, the obvious tactic is to slow the boat down; but sometimes it’s hard to slow down enough to regain good handling.