Formal protest concerning nautical terminology

[Neptunes Violin]

I am in the process of adding an inner forestay to my sloop-rigged boat.

All the old literature says that, once complete, my boat will be referred to as a cutter.

However, some sailors have chosen to use a new term. Apparently they figure the new boat is a cross between a sloop and a cutter and they choose to call it a "Slutter". Some may think it amusing, but I dont.

I object to this term, and ask good sailors and riggers everywhere to reject it.

thank you

[Brian Duff]

Yeah, we don't say that S word around here....

locally we call those sort of hybrid things "Cuoops"

ummm...






to be serious, your boat is still a sloop. it just has two headsails. it is still a sloop.

[Matthew Sebring]

I agree, your boat is still a sloop. Still, I do like both alternative titles.

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Actually, it could be argued that most cutters aren't cutters, either. Just because the mast is further aft and the sailplan incrementally different, does it really deserve a different name? With every other basic rig, you either have to add an entire other mast, or else put the stick right up in the eyes of the boat. A cutter? I don't think so, not unless a topmast is involved, and preferably with a reefing bowsprit.
Seriously, as I heard it the earliest usage for Bermudian two-stay configuration was not cutter, but "cutter-rigged", a nice distinction. The masts were, and are, all designed to accommodate sloop loads, with the highest at the top, unlike with 'true" cutters. So they are all double-stays'l sloops. Ah, but usage will drift.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss