Sailing pirogues
We finally got warm weather up here in the mountains -- a weekend in
the 80s. Springtime -- when a man's heart turns to boatbuilding.
So in a flush of joy and a shower of sawdust, I quickly put
together a 14' Jim Michalak Piragua -- something to accommodate my
growing family for little canoe trips on the local rivers and ponds.
It's all set to go except for paint.
It has a nice open cockpit area -- 7' by 30" max beam. Fine to
fit me, my wife, our 3-year-old daughter, and the newest addition,
Rose, now almost 4 months. Designed displacement is 430 lbs, and our
combined weights plus the boat weight come in far enough below it to
allow a lot of gear as well. I should just stop there and be happy to
have a lovely, functional paddling boat.
But, dang, I started thinking (always dangerous) -- How hard
would it be to put a wee little mast step on it, and a leeboard, and
a kick-up rudder? Cut a six-foot lugsail or something. Then I'd have
a paddling boat for the family and a light sailer for myself (I
wouldn't risk the capsize with the whole family aboard).
So I checked out the Bolger Sailing Pirogue on Craig O'Donnell's
Cheap Pages (thank you, Craig!). That's an 11.5' boat, same general
lines. The mast step is 4'6" back from the bow, so adapting to the
longer boat, maybe my mast step would need to be 5'8" back from the
bow to keep the same balance of effort/resistance, assuming leeboard
goes at point of max beam, at 7' back.
I don't want to clutter up all that glorious open cockpit with a
permanent thwart/mast-step at 5'8" back. Too cramping and awkward for
the envisioned cozy family paddles. So -- maybe I'll make a clamp-
on/bolt-on removable mast-step. Anyone ever tried such a thing?
And I guess my other question to those with experience with
sailing pirogues is: does the balance of CE and CLR really matter as
much on these boats? Could I get away with just stepping a mast up
front and sailing off the wind a lot? I've seen Adirondack guide
canoes with the mast all the way up in the bows -- though I'm
guessing they only sail downwind. Silly question, I guess. But if
anyone has any experience or insight, I'd be grateful.
All best,
Garth
(happy at last -- green grass, daffodils coming up, and a new boat in
the yard)
the 80s. Springtime -- when a man's heart turns to boatbuilding.
So in a flush of joy and a shower of sawdust, I quickly put
together a 14' Jim Michalak Piragua -- something to accommodate my
growing family for little canoe trips on the local rivers and ponds.
It's all set to go except for paint.
It has a nice open cockpit area -- 7' by 30" max beam. Fine to
fit me, my wife, our 3-year-old daughter, and the newest addition,
Rose, now almost 4 months. Designed displacement is 430 lbs, and our
combined weights plus the boat weight come in far enough below it to
allow a lot of gear as well. I should just stop there and be happy to
have a lovely, functional paddling boat.
But, dang, I started thinking (always dangerous) -- How hard
would it be to put a wee little mast step on it, and a leeboard, and
a kick-up rudder? Cut a six-foot lugsail or something. Then I'd have
a paddling boat for the family and a light sailer for myself (I
wouldn't risk the capsize with the whole family aboard).
So I checked out the Bolger Sailing Pirogue on Craig O'Donnell's
Cheap Pages (thank you, Craig!). That's an 11.5' boat, same general
lines. The mast step is 4'6" back from the bow, so adapting to the
longer boat, maybe my mast step would need to be 5'8" back from the
bow to keep the same balance of effort/resistance, assuming leeboard
goes at point of max beam, at 7' back.
I don't want to clutter up all that glorious open cockpit with a
permanent thwart/mast-step at 5'8" back. Too cramping and awkward for
the envisioned cozy family paddles. So -- maybe I'll make a clamp-
on/bolt-on removable mast-step. Anyone ever tried such a thing?
And I guess my other question to those with experience with
sailing pirogues is: does the balance of CE and CLR really matter as
much on these boats? Could I get away with just stepping a mast up
front and sailing off the wind a lot? I've seen Adirondack guide
canoes with the mast all the way up in the bows -- though I'm
guessing they only sail downwind. Silly question, I guess. But if
anyone has any experience or insight, I'd be grateful.
All best,
Garth
(happy at last -- green grass, daffodils coming up, and a new boat in
the yard)