MC Scow
Encyclopedia
The MC-Scow is a 16 ft one-design
sailboat made by Melges Performance Sailboats
. The boat is cat rigged
, and is sailed by either one or two people.
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-90's, the MC has changed from a strictly midwest lake boat, to a boat sailed nationwide.
One-design
One-Design is a racing method where all vehicles or boats have identical or very similar designs or models. It is also known as Spec series. It is heavily used in sailboat racing. All competitors in a race are then judged based on a single start time...
sailboat made by Melges Performance Sailboats
Melges Performance Sailboats
Melges Performance Sailboats, is a United States company founded by Harry Melges, father of former Olympic sailor Buddy Melges. The company's headquarters is in Zenda, Wisconsin. The about six hundred existing boats are approximately evenly split between North America and Europe, with fleets in...
. The boat is cat rigged
Catboat
A catboat , or a cat-rigged sailboat, is a sailing vessel characterized by a single mast carried well forward ....
, and is sailed by either one or two people.
History
In the 1960s, Johnson Boat WorksJohnson Boat Works
Johnson Boat Works was a builder and developer of racing sailboats and scows in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Founded in 1896 by John O. Johnson, an emigrant from Norway, the builder started building A-Scows. As more classes were founded, Johnson moved on to B's, C's, D's, and E's. Johnson was...
introduced the J-Scow as its new boat. The boat had a hull similar in size and shape to the M Scow
M Scow
The M-Scow is a sloop rigged scow. Commonly called the M-16, the M-scow is sailed widely from Minnesota to New Jersey. The boat was originally designed by Melges Boat Works and became an ILYA sanctioned class in 1959. Over the years, there have been several builders, including: Melges, Larson, Bay...
but sporting only a mainsail
Mainsail
A mainsail is a sail located behind the main mast of a sailing vessel.On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast....
and no jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
. Harry Melges, owner of Melges Boat Works (now called Melges Performance Sailboats
Melges Performance Sailboats
Melges Performance Sailboats, is a United States company founded by Harry Melges, father of former Olympic sailor Buddy Melges. The company's headquarters is in Zenda, Wisconsin. The about six hundred existing boats are approximately evenly split between North America and Europe, with fleets in...
)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-90's, the MC has changed from a strictly midwest lake boat, to a boat sailed nationwide.