Requesting comments on a sail canoe rigging/setup concept/design
I could use a bit of design advice.
Have just acquired, for a song, a well-used, but undamaged very good condition, 30year old 17' fiberglass keelless canoe with 36" beam, with ash gunnels.
Have also acquired a used free-standing Sunfish mast, spars, and sail.
I just begun this project and am gathering used materials and components, to reduce cost, and wish to convert it into an 'all-purpose' type craft, and plan to use it for solo, inland waterway and light coastal cruising, camping, fishing, and exploring, but no racing or rum-running...
When broken down (15 minutes?) all components fit inside the hull, and can be hauled in my pick-up truck bed, without need for a trailer.
Even filled completely with water, I'm adding enough flotation foam to float the boat, me, and my cargo) without sinking. In other words, I would like to be able to either paddle it or sail it, albeit at a snails pace, when filled to the gunnels with sea water.
With this much sail (7 sq meters)-to-empty weight (60-70 Kilos) ratio, it has promise to be decently swift in 5-12 knot winds, and probably dangerous, if I'm not careful. This seems like a lot of sail, but it is what I have, and plan to use it, if feasible.
Am a more than a little concerned, about ever letting lee gunnel get below water line...ever...
A few details:
I need some advice on my rigging design (see sketch for preliminary dimensions) Â in particular:
Comments, suggestions, ideas, and even guffaws, requested and appreciated...
Thanks for you kind attention to this request.
John in Palm Harbor Fl, USA.
http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/Ni...uc2z2.jpg.html
Have just acquired, for a song, a well-used, but undamaged very good condition, 30year old 17' fiberglass keelless canoe with 36" beam, with ash gunnels.
Have also acquired a used free-standing Sunfish mast, spars, and sail.
I just begun this project and am gathering used materials and components, to reduce cost, and wish to convert it into an 'all-purpose' type craft, and plan to use it for solo, inland waterway and light coastal cruising, camping, fishing, and exploring, but no racing or rum-running...
When broken down (15 minutes?) all components fit inside the hull, and can be hauled in my pick-up truck bed, without need for a trailer.
Even filled completely with water, I'm adding enough flotation foam to float the boat, me, and my cargo) without sinking. In other words, I would like to be able to either paddle it or sail it, albeit at a snails pace, when filled to the gunnels with sea water.
With this much sail (7 sq meters)-to-empty weight (60-70 Kilos) ratio, it has promise to be decently swift in 5-12 knot winds, and probably dangerous, if I'm not careful. This seems like a lot of sail, but it is what I have, and plan to use it, if feasible.
Am a more than a little concerned, about ever letting lee gunnel get below water line...ever...
A few details:
- Aluminum mast is 3.1 meters tall from keel to top.
- Upper and lower spars are 4.0 meters, each.
- Un-battened Lateen, 3.6 ozs, sail with a (4 meters x 4 meters x 4.36 meters)
- Also, I want to be able to quickly reset it up for paddling, or for stable rowing (if I can work out an oar to outrigger non-interference scheme). Also, I want to be able to use a 2HP Tohatsu O/B for fishing,
- 2.4 meter long outriggers on a 2.4 meter beam, to control heel.
- Maximum passenger and cargo weight 130 kilos.
- Maximum wind might be in range of 12-15 knots, with wave height below a meter. But would like to sail it in light air down to say, 5 knots.
- Will add removable fore and aft spray covers/deck 3.4 meters long, each  either thin marine plywood (fiber-glassed), or waterproof 'snap on' membrane, over curved battens.
- Will install enough flotation foam in hull and outriggers to support 180-200 kilos, which should float rigged boat, me, and rarely used heaviest cargo load
- Will run main halyard, down haul, topping lift and rudder lines to 'cockpit'.
I need some advice on my rigging design (see sketch for preliminary dimensions) Â in particular:
- Mast-to-bow relationship to OAL is 25%, initially
- Mast to leeboard measurements. But am assuming center-lines of lee board and 'center of effort' of sail should be close to same.
- Leeboard area and effective working depth
- Not really sure about need for keel.
- Rudder area and effective depth.
- AMA beam width
- AMA vertical positioning as you can see is kind rough as of yet (initially, I' ll make both very adjustable until I can figure it out) Using 2" PVC (heat gun) bending, or pinned 45° and 90° fittings
- AKA cross section for strength vs. lightness. Will start with 2" PVC.
- Best way to reef the sail. (Thinking of holding lower spar in place with topping lift, lowering upper spar with main halyard, and adding 3-4 reefing grommets on the imaginary line from Tack to midpoint of Leech.
- What else?
Comments, suggestions, ideas, and even guffaws, requested and appreciated...
Thanks for you kind attention to this request.
John in Palm Harbor Fl, USA.
http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/Ni...uc2z2.jpg.html