Overview
The Ketch is the smallest and fastest hull class in Windrose at launch. Every new player's first combat-capable ship is a Ketch. Three variants exist, all mount three cannons, and all are reached through the I Need a Bigger Boat main-story quest rather than through piastre purchases. The larger Ship Design: Brig and Ship Design: Frigate are the mid-game and late-game steps up; both are unlocked by reputation-gated purchases from the Brethren Provisioner, not story quests.
Variants
Variant | HP | Speed | Cannons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stock Ketch | 50,000 | 19 knots | 3 x 12-pounder | Default hull obtained at the end of I Need a Bigger Boat. |
Brethren Ketch | 65,000 | 17 knots | 3 x 12-pounder | Reputation-locked variant from the Brethren of the Coast shipwright. |
Blackbeard Ketch | 35,000 | 21 knots | 3 x 12-pounder (some sources list 24-pounder option) | Fastest variant, lowest HP; positioned for hit-and-run skirmishers. |
A note on the cannon count: some community writeups and an older Cannon Types wiki draft listed 6 cannons for the Ketch. The data-driven sources (method.gg, windrose.gaming.tools, bisecthosting, fandomwire) all agree on 3 primary cannons across the three variants. The 6-figure appears to be a miscount that included secondary decorative or non-primary gun ports.
How To Unlock
Start the I Need a Bigger Boat story quest after How My Sea Adventure Began.
Locate the marooned Ketch wreck on the starting-island-cluster Coastal Jungle shore.
Gather the repair materials (details below) and repair the hull.
Complete the Rescuing the Crew sub-quest to find seven captured sailors across nearby islands.
Build a Wharf to permanently dock the ship; the Wharf unlocks customization through the Shipwright.
Repair Materials (Disputed)
Sources disagree on the exact repair-material list. Three variants appear in public guides:
Source | Materials |
|---|---|
GameSpot, bisecthosting | 100 Wood, 20 Nails, 10 Rope, 20 Coarse Fabric |
GAMES.GG | 100 Wood, 4 Copper Ingots (for nails), 90 Plant Fiber |
AllThings.how Brig guide (mentioning Ketch in passing) | 150 Wood, 100 Nails, 40 Coarse Fabric, 30 Rope Fiber |
The 100 Wood, 20 Nails, 10 Rope, 20 Coarse Fabric variant is the 2-source majority and matches the launch build best; the GAMES.GG list likely reflects an older demo recipe. Players who are short on one input should check the Shipwright's tooltip in the live build rather than any single guide.
Crew Requirements
The I Need a Bigger Boat / Rescuing the Crew chain requires the player to locate seven sailors before the Ketch can leave port. The seven-sailor requirement is a one-time story gate, not an ongoing crew cap. On the live ship, the ongoing crew slot count is lower (community databases list 4 active crew for the Stock Ketch) and additional crew are hired later through Recruitment Vendor NPCs.
Pros and Cons
Strengths
Fastest base speed of any hull at launch (19 knots Stock, 21 knots Blackbeard variant).
Agile turning radius, strong for learning island-skipping routes and early Naval Combat.
Free unlock via story quest; no piastre cost.
Low crew overhead; solo-friendly out of the gate.
Weaknesses
Lowest HP pool of the three launch hulls (35k to 65k depending on variant).
Three cannon slots means limited broadside volume. A Brig's six cannons outrange it in long engagements.
Small deck space makes dodging boarders cramped; community consensus is that defending a Ketch against a boarding Pirate Sergeant pack is harder than defending a Brig.
Limited cargo hold compared to the Brig and Frigate.
Role at Each Tier
Early game (hours 1 to 10): primary ship. Exploration, Coastal Jungle naval skirmishes, and Shipwrecks recovery.
Mid game (hours 10 to 30): upgraded to Brethren Ketch for HP buffer, still viable against Coastal Jungle and early Foothills encounters.
Late game (hours 30+): outclassed by the Brig on HP-per-engagement and by the Frigate on broadside damage. Kept for fast transit, solo exploration, and low-stakes Blackbeard-Transport intercepts.