Windsurfer Sails for Sailboat

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JohnD - 26 May 2004 00:02 GMT

I am thinking of getting a rowing pram dinghy and adding sail
capability. What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a
windsurfer rig it would be nice to get a two-fer, if possible. I am
also thinking of a leeboard for lateral stability.

TIA

J

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Bowgus - 26 May 2004 00:50 GMT

About the winsurfer rig ... you cannot raise/lower/reef the sail ... and ...
you would pretty much have to put ashore to rig/derig ... just go watch a
surfer setting up ... you'll quickly see the problem. And ... it's gonna be
a tad difficult manning the tiller with both hands manning the sail.
Advantages to a windsurfer rig? None.

> I am thinking of getting a rowing pram dinghy and adding sail
> capability. What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> J

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Skip Gundlach - 26 May 2004 03:37 GMT

> > I am thinking of getting a rowing pram dinghy and adding sail
> > capability. What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a
> > windsurfer rig - it would be nice to get a two-fer, if possible. I am
> > also thinking of a leeboard for lateral stability.
> >
> > TIA

> About the winsurfer rig ... you cannot raise/lower/reef the sail ... and ...
> you would pretty much have to put ashore to rig/derig ... just go watch a
> surfer setting up ... you'll quickly see the problem. And ... it's gonna be
> a tad difficult manning the tiller with both hands manning the sail.
> Advantages to a windsurfer rig? None.

Ehhhh.... If you're a windsurfer, you don't have a rudder. Granted, they
are standing, but there's no reason I can see that you couldn't do that,
too.

OTOH, there's also nothing to prevent you from doing the equivalent of a
nonsuch rig, if that's what you'd prefer. Windsurf rigs don't *have* to be
complicated, particularly if you're putting it on a base rather than an
hourglass. Ease the outhaul, unclip the boom, roll it up on the mast,
unclip the mast, put the boom across (top to bottom, luff to leech) the
mast, and you're stowed. A simple pin suffices to hold the mast on the post
in the base. An aluminum extension is typical for masts; and the usual
"foot"/Step arrangement on a windsurfer is easy to duplicate in non0flexible
material.

I see no problem. With the bendy mast, you'd likely get a lot of drive from
a pretty small sail, too...

L8R

Skip

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Bowgus - 27 May 2004 01:20 GMT

Lemme just say, there's a vast difference in weight and handling
characteristics between a board and a dingy. If it was me, I'd forget the
windsurfer rig for the dingy. Geez, just doing a broad reach for a 1/2 hour
or so on my medium board in harness was (haven't been out in a few years)
quite a workout ... and that's on a planing board. I would think a dingy
with windsurfer rig and no rudder would amount to about the same
manouverability as a tall ship ... you would go where the wind blew you.

> > > I am thinking of getting a rowing pram dinghy and adding sail
> > > capability. What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
> permanent change in your deportment that will be greatly appreciated
> by your friends." - James S. Pitkin

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cwest - 29 May 2004 02:21 GMT

I just completed a similar project on my 8 ft. fiberglass dinghy. It
wasn't a sailboard rig though. I made the whole thing myself with some
help from a few design programs i found on the net.
The sail was designed with "sailcut "..a freeware program that develops
the shape of the panels after you give it the dimensions that you want.
Figure out where the center of lateral resistance is on your dinghy.
(you will most likely need a lee board or a dagger board). include the
rudder in your calcs.
Do a little research on the net and you can find so much information for
a project like this.
I chose to use a small gaff rig, my wishes were to keep the mast and
boom small enough to store inside the dinghy when knocked down.
The sail wound up being 26 square feet. It works great.
Decide whether you want a bermudan rig or ?. Calculate the centre of
effort (the centre of the sail) .Make sure the c of e is positioned
about 10% aft of the c of lr so if you go for a swim the boat will head
up and stop rather than sailing away from you.
The mast and other yards were made with hemlock closet rod..1 1/2 for
the mast.1 5/16 for the others...simple and cheap...1/16 s.s. aircraft
cable for shrouds and fore stay with cheap alum. turnbuckles. Rip
stop nylon for the fabric store for the sail...The whole thing cost
about $150 cdn.
Lots of fun to do the design..and more to do the building......and more
to play in.

Enjoy.........

>I am thinking of getting a rowing pram dinghy and adding sail
>capability. What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>J
>

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Boat Forum / Cruising / May 2004

Windsurfer Sails for Sailboat