MC Scow
The MC-Scow is a 16 ft (4.9 m) one-design sailboat made by Melges Performance Sailboats. The boat is cat rigged, and is sailed by either one or two people.
.jpg){kind=small} Class symbol | |
| Boat | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Hull | |
| Type | Monohull (Scow) |
| Hull weight | 420 lb (190 kg) |
| LOA | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Beam | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Cat rig |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 135 sq ft (12.5 m2) |
History
In the 1960s, Johnson Boat Works introduced the J-Scow as its new boat. The boat had a hull similar in size and shape to the M Scow but sporting only a mainsail and no jib. Harry Melges, owner of Melges Boat Works (now called Melges Performance Sailboats) and Johnson's competitor, saw the new design and had a chance to test sail it. He found that the boat was a good design but was underpowered and could use some modern rigging. Later on, Melges brought out a version of the J-Scow with a larger mainsail and some new designs. The MC-Scow was born. The MC proved to be faster than the J-Scow and so eventually, Johnson converted its J-Scow production into MC production. Johnson and Melges both continued to make MC's until 1998 when Melges bought out Johnson.
In recent years, Melges has stepped up its marketing efforts with the MC. Since the mid-1990s, the MC has changed from a strictly midwest lake boat, to a boat sailed nationwide.