sail size???

[duck-n-pond]

Not sure if this would be the correct forum [boat projects?], but here goes. I have a sail from an older 12' sailboard (board on its last legs) with an area of approx 55 sq ft. Since the wife say 'No more new boats - and that includes sailboards!" I find myself wanting to sail, but no board. However, I was looking at an older fiberglass canoe I have around and was considering chopping the last 3 feet off, adding a transom, dry cuddy, and side seats (widen the gunnels for sitting) and adding this sail. It looks reasonable, but will this size sail push it? I also have two nice keels from the board. Any thoughts or anyone tried this?

 

[wakataka]

Re: sail size???

I just did the first "sea trial" on my sailing canoe today. I mounted a windsurfer rig on a Grumman SportBoat (think extra wide square stern canoe). I used windsurfer skegs as lee boards. Made a thwart and some cases out of 1x8 lumber that allows the boards to rotate. I used a short oar for a rudder by mounting an oar lock in the tramsom. She sailed tolerably well in about a 6 to 8 knot breeze. Tiller migt get a little heavy in higher winds, but I should be able to adujst the position of the leeboards to correct that.<br /><br />To hold up the windsurfer rig, I mounted a 5 foot section of 1 1/4 inch electrical condiut as a little stub mast. The eye in the front of my windsurfer boom fits neatly over this stub mast and the windsurfer mast foot mounts into a piece of redwood 4x4 mounted on the keel.<br /><br />Overall, I was real happy with the results, considering it was the first time out. There are still a few details I need to work out, but as I said, the boat sails reasonably well. <br /><br />The one thing I am worried about is that there is no easy way to drop the sail should the wind kick up. I am working on a block and cleat system to winch the windsurfer mast up to my stub mast, rather than slipping the boom eye over the top of the mast. If I can figure this out, then I could just drop the windsurfer mast down into the boat.<br /><br />Here's a link to a Yahoo group on sailing canoes that you should find interesting.<br /><br /> Yahoo Sailing Canoes Group <br /><br />I also got some good ideas about rudders and lee boards from this page<br /><br /> Converting a Pram to Sail

 

[duck-n-pond]

Re: sail size???

Thanks. Interesting idea about the 5' pipe. Never thought of something like that, which is exactly why I asked about the subject. I was considering running cables to the top of the mast, but the canoe dimensions just don't allow for it neatly. Will visit the links for further info. I assume the sail was of sufficient size from the test run? Mine is 16' heigh with 8' across the boom.

 

[wakataka]

Re: sail size???

Duck - <br /><br />The sail seemed just about right. From what I've read, I think most sailing canoes use something on the order of 50 to 60 sq feet. The sail rigs that Grumman used to sell for their canoes were 55 sq feet. The rig they sold for my extra wide canoe was 65 sq feet.<br /><br /> You also probably don't need to work over your canoe very much. I think most canoe sailers sit in the bottom rather than on the seats to lower the center of gravity. You can steer with a paddle, although I've read that you may have your hands full trying to manage the paddle and the mainsheet. Somewhere in my web surfing I saw plans for a rudder that could be mounted on a double ended canoe. It was controlled with a long stick that you pushed and pulled on rather than moved from side to side like a regular tiller. The link to it is probably somewhere on this page<br /><br /> Canoe Sailing Resources <br /><br />For the mainsheet, I just put a block on the end of the windsurfer boom and attached the sheet line back to an oarlock that is conveniently located on my boat just where it needs to be. You could tie it to a clamp on the gunnell. I run a single length of line tied on to the starboard gunnel, through the block, and back to the port gunnell. Depending on which part of the line I grab, I can sheet the sail to either gunnel. For my boat, it took 20 feet of line. It gives a 2:1 advantage, which seems like enough.<br /><br />Keep the weight down and keep it simple to start with. That's part of what I am attracted to with canoe sailing. I've had Hobie Cats and other sail boats and they all take 30 to 45 minutes to rig and de-rig. With my canoe, I'm sailing in under 10 minutes.

 

[duck-n-pond]

Re: sail size???

Thanks Row. I don't mind modifing the canoe because it's one of my old ones that I no longer use and it's after being damaged several times and I have been repairing it. I was only planning to do one step at a time just to experiment with each phase, hopefully iliminating any useless changes I have in mind (K.I.S.S. method). Perhaps I will get started next weekend. Thanks on sail info as I will feel a lot better than starting and not knowing if its a total waste of time.

 

[wakataka]

Re: sail size???

duck - <br />Just one more link you might find useful. It suggests that 55 sq feet is good enough for canoes up to 18 feet. Most use smaller sails.<br /><br /> Sailing Canoes