C Scow Information, Review, Specs

Boat drawing
Make
Model
Number Built
Production Year(s)
1905 - ??

The search results provide a good amount of information for the Melges C Scow.

Key findings from search results:

  • Introduction/History: The C Scow is a one-design racer designed by John O. Johnson, first built as early as 1905. Melges Performance Sailboats (then Melges Boat Works) started building the C Scow in 1945, making it the first scow class built by Harry Melges Sr.. It's known for competitive, tactical racing.
  • Design: It's a scow hull type, known for superior speed capabilities. It's cat-rigged. The builder, Melges, is synonymous with high-performance racing, speed, and precise handling. Melges' design philosophy prioritizes stability and performance, often with narrow beams and flat cross-sections. The C Scow has a length of 20 feet and a beam of 6 ft 9 inches (approx. 7 ft from). It's a centerboard boat.
  • Performance/Handling: Described as "highly maneuverable, furiously fast" and "super-charged with a large, powerful mainsail". It's considered fun and a pleasure to sail, appealing to racers. It's raced with 2-3 crew, with an optimum combined weight not exceeding 475 pounds. Good in heavy wind. Tactical skills are central to racing it. North Sails and Quantum Sails develop specific designs for the C Scow, indicating its strong racing focus and demand for performance sails.
  • Accommodations: It's a racing dinghy/scow, and the search results consistently refer to it in terms of racing, deck layout, and rigging, not interior accommodations. There's no mention of a cabin or interior living spaces. It has a cockpit cover mentioned as an accessory. This confirms it's an open boat.
  • Owner's Perspectives: Owners praise its solid construction and comfortable motion in a seaway (this applies to Melges boats in general, not specifically C Scow, but consistent with the builder's reputation). Discussions mention racing experience and the challenge it provides. Some discussions around tuning guides and sail choices. No common problems specific to the C Scow itself were highlighted, but rather discussions around racing strategies and equipment.

Given the 20ft length and the "scow" and "racer" classification, and the lack of specific interior mentions, I can confidently state it's an open boat with no significant accommodations. I will omit the "Owner's Perspectives" section as I didn't find enough synthesized owner viewpoints beyond general racing enjoyment and tuning discussions.

I have enough information to proceed with generating the article.

InfoView listings

Measurements

Construction & Hull

Construction Material
Fiberglass/Wood Composite
Hull Type
Scow Sailboat
Keel Type
Centerboard
Ballast
-
Displacement
650 lbs
Water Capacity
-
Fuel Capacity
-

Engine

Engine Make
Engine Model
Engine Type
Engine HP
Engine Count
1
Drive Type
Fuel Type
Hover over a measurement
IJPE FS LOALWL

Rig & Sails

Rig Type
Cat Rig
P (Main Luff)
27 ft
E (Main Foot)
16 ft
I (Foretriangle Height)
-
J (Foretriangle Base)
-
Forestay Length (est)
-
Main Sail Area
216 sqft
Foretriangle Sail Area
-
Total Sail Area (Reported)
216 sqft
Total Sail Area (Calc)
-

Dimensions

LOA
20 ft
LWL
-
Beam
7 ft
Draft
3.3 ft
Max Headroom
-
Air Draft
-

Calculations

Hull Speed
— kn
Pounds per Inch Immersion