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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    mackay. qld
    Posts
    30

    Default Sail area hints.

    Hello fellow pilgrims,
    I am just finishing a lovely little six foot dinghy from a plan from a nineteen fifties 'Rudder' magazine. ( It was called 'Katydid,nt) I built it using clinker ply technique and it has turned out well.
    Just for fun, I am going to put a scrap of sail on her and I would really appreciate some advice on sail area from those who know how.
    I had in mind either a tiny standing lug, or lateen ( after the Sunfish style)
    I intend to make small spars to stow inside the boat, either hollow birds mouth cedar, or bamboo. It has a full length hollow seat for buoyancy and I am currently covering pool noodles with canvas to use for sponsons. I intend to use a lee board.
    I might mention that I am eighty years old and not as nimble as of yore, but I don't mind a swim now and then, and the area will need to reflect that.
    I will be very grateful for any advice, and I will reply to all , and let you know how she turns out.
    Best wishes, Bobbo.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Eustis, FL, USA
    Posts
    2,270

    Default

    Without a fair bit more information, it's tough to say how much area you'll need, but given what you've said, you'll want a low aspect ratio and relatively modest area. A 6' dinghy is barely a boat, so you'll need a single bed sheet, maybe less. I'd go leg 'o mutton cat rig, to keep the area low, compaired to other rigs and the spars can stow within the boat. This means you'll have 18' - 20' (1.7 - 1.9 m) of area, if the spars are 6' long. Compared to say an Optimist, this is about 1/2. If you boat is pretty fat, you can consider increasing this area, maybe even using an Optimist rig.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    mackay. qld
    Posts
    30

    Default

    Thank you for the reply. Yes it is a bit on the small side. I was going to christen her 'Leviathan' But you have punctured my pride and she will probably get called '
    Tiddles'.

    I will follow your advice and start off with something like 3 Sq M.
    Thank you, Bobbo.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Eustis, FL, USA
    Posts
    2,270

    Default

    3 sq. meters seems way over the top, but if you have to learn (read get wet), you can always cut it down.

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