| I assume he was trying to mock me for a stupid question.

I didn't take it that way. I think it was just a funny line. Doug will speak for himself, but, I suggest it was not intended at you Bjorn, or to mock or hurt, in any way.

Doug has not struck me as mean or disparaging. At least, he seems more tolerant than me.

| But my questions was serious.

No one suggested it was not.

| I have read that the ideal is in the area of 14:1. That may have been the ideal given different constraints than what was used for the design of this boat though.

That's interesting. Do you have a source?
I would just ask Rick after searching a bit to sound intelligent.