[bolger] Re: Building and Sailing Windsprint
I haven't had to many problems with the sail on my Windsprint as most of
my sailing here in Connecticut and Massachusetts is during the summer
and in protected waters where the large sail is definitely needed. The
boat still moves when there is no wind in sight. When the wind has been
strong I reef before launching and leave it alone due to the time
required to reef underway.
I haven't added floatation either although I know I should. Without it,
I know my only hope if I capsize is to be towed to shore to bail it
out. I believe the best place to install floatation is in the ends
under the decks you installed. The floatation should extend close to
the bottom.
As far as the rudder goes, I am mindful not to move it too far when
tacking. Ive also installed a short piece of 1/4" doweling through the
rudder cheek just below the tiller to hold it up. This has been an
improvement where the rudder doesn't drop as far if it does go to much
to the side.
Teakdeck@...wrote:
my sailing here in Connecticut and Massachusetts is during the summer
and in protected waters where the large sail is definitely needed. The
boat still moves when there is no wind in sight. When the wind has been
strong I reef before launching and leave it alone due to the time
required to reef underway.
I haven't added floatation either although I know I should. Without it,
I know my only hope if I capsize is to be towed to shore to bail it
out. I believe the best place to install floatation is in the ends
under the decks you installed. The floatation should extend close to
the bottom.
As far as the rudder goes, I am mindful not to move it too far when
tacking. Ive also installed a short piece of 1/4" doweling through the
rudder cheek just below the tiller to hold it up. This has been an
improvement where the rudder doesn't drop as far if it does go to much
to the side.
Teakdeck@...wrote:
>
> Hello to builders and sailors of Bolder boats everywhere,
>
> I recently completed a Bolder Windsprint, although I modified it slightly by
> decking it fore, aft and sides. It's a beautiful boat, pleasant to look at,
> big enough for two, goes pretty fast in a little bit of breeze. But all is
> not well:
>
> There is the issue of the sail plan. The Windsprint calls for a balanced lug
> sail of 119 sq. ft. Many are of the opinion its too much sail for the size of
> the boat. Many who sail her do so with a reef in the sail in all but the
> "lightest air."
>
> Moreover, I find it impossible to manage the sail while in the boat. I raise
> it, lower it and reef it on shore. This means the sail and the sheet are
> flying about while I'm trying to row away from or toward shore. Naturally,
> the sheet eventually hangs up on something and suddenly I'm on a point of
> sail except I'm not very far from shore, the dagger board is still lying on
> the bottom of the boat and the rudder is in the raised and tied off position.
>
> What I think would be ideal is a furling main like those on the Escape boats.
> I could row out with the main all wrapped up nicely on the mast, get set up
> and then roll out as much main as the wind conditions call for. Do the
> reverse when it comes time to row in to shore. This would call for a main
> sail with a sleeve and a mast with some kind of furling spool on it and a
> free standing boom. Perhaps the boom could loosely attach to the mast by a
> hoop which would rest on the furling spool? Any ideas, please?
>
> Another issue for me is flotation. How much, what kind, where do I put it in
> the boat and how? I have not dumped the boat yet, but I have sailed very
> conservatively and not far from shore. John Bell, who many of you know from
> this group, has capsized his and it was a struggle to bail out the boat which
> took on water up to within an inch of its gunwales. Since I live in the great
> Northwest on Puget Sound, I want to sail on the Sound, but that is cold
> water. If I go in, I want to recover quickly.
>
> I also have trouble with the tiller. Windsprint is double ended and if I
> leave the tiller for a moment, it can literally fall off the side. Jumping up
> and reaching down over the aft end of the boat to recover the tiller is real
> slapstick comedy. I got a tiller tamer but so far I find its use restricts
> the angle of the rudder. Any ideas how to make this better?
>
> Some of you experienced sailors are probably saying that most of the trouble
> I'm having is due to poor sailing skills. I would not dispute that. But I
> need help with making my sailing experience something not suited for
> "America's Funniest Home Videos."
>
> Thanks in advance for your thoughts and I look forward to participating in
> this group.
>
> Mike Masten
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> eGroups.com home:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger
>http://www.egroups.com- Simplifying group communications
Dear Mike,
You might want to take a look at the the way the Sea Pearl is rigged.
The masts rotate freely in what the builder confided to me is PVC Sewer
Pipe. The sail has a sleave along the luff which slides down over the
top of the mast. The sail is loose footed ie only attached to the mast
and outboard end of the boom. The boom is a gooseneck fixture which can
be bought. To reef and unreef you let off the boom vang and furl or
unfurl the sail by rotating the mast. There is an outhaul that tightens
and untightens the furled sail. This is going to be hard from a small
open boat also.
You can sail away from the shore in surprisingly little water with your
board up and rudder let down just barely into the water. You can even
steer most of these small boats by moving around in the boat. Scooch
forward and aft along the center line and see what happens. You can
steer in shallow water with an oar let over the side. Some small boats
have a cut out in the transom to take a steering oar. When you get to
deeper water take in the oar and let the rudder down. I think you
should give your self a chance to get used to the rig before taking
drastic action. I learned that to launch one of my boats from the
landing available to us I needed to row out to another beach where the
prevailing winds were more favorable and launch from there.Saved a lot
of hassle. I think each boat wants to do some things and doesn't want
to do others. Trying to make it do what it doesn't want to do hasn't
worked very well for me. I think in the boat skipper relatonship, the
skipper needs to do most of the getting along. Boats just don't seem to
have very flexible personalities in my experience.
You might also experiment with using a small block to run the
halyard back to within easy reach of your normal steering position. You
could also tie up your sail with some yarn and pull out the stops with
a piece of line when you are ready.
I think you will find that you will become very handy with this boat in
no time.
Good Sailing,
Leander
teakdec-@...wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger/?start=337
You might want to take a look at the the way the Sea Pearl is rigged.
The masts rotate freely in what the builder confided to me is PVC Sewer
Pipe. The sail has a sleave along the luff which slides down over the
top of the mast. The sail is loose footed ie only attached to the mast
and outboard end of the boom. The boom is a gooseneck fixture which can
be bought. To reef and unreef you let off the boom vang and furl or
unfurl the sail by rotating the mast. There is an outhaul that tightens
and untightens the furled sail. This is going to be hard from a small
open boat also.
You can sail away from the shore in surprisingly little water with your
board up and rudder let down just barely into the water. You can even
steer most of these small boats by moving around in the boat. Scooch
forward and aft along the center line and see what happens. You can
steer in shallow water with an oar let over the side. Some small boats
have a cut out in the transom to take a steering oar. When you get to
deeper water take in the oar and let the rudder down. I think you
should give your self a chance to get used to the rig before taking
drastic action. I learned that to launch one of my boats from the
landing available to us I needed to row out to another beach where the
prevailing winds were more favorable and launch from there.Saved a lot
of hassle. I think each boat wants to do some things and doesn't want
to do others. Trying to make it do what it doesn't want to do hasn't
worked very well for me. I think in the boat skipper relatonship, the
skipper needs to do most of the getting along. Boats just don't seem to
have very flexible personalities in my experience.
You might also experiment with using a small block to run the
halyard back to within easy reach of your normal steering position. You
could also tie up your sail with some yarn and pull out the stops with
a piece of line when you are ready.
I think you will find that you will become very handy with this boat in
no time.
Good Sailing,
Leander
teakdec-@...wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger/?start=337
> Hello to builders and sailors of Bolder boats everywhere,slightly by
>
> I recently completed a Bolder Windsprint, although I modified it
> decking it fore, aft and sides. It's a beautiful boat, pleasant tolook at,
> big enough for two, goes pretty fast in a little bit of breeze. Butall is
> not well:balanced lug
>
> There is the issue of the sail plan. The Windsprint calls for a
> sail of 119 sq. ft. Many are of the opinion its too much sail for thesize of
> the boat. Many who sail her do so with a reef in the sail in all butthe
> "lightest air."I raise
>
> Moreover, I find it impossible to manage the sail while in the boat.
> it, lower it and reef it on shore. This means the sail and the sheetare
> flying about while I'm trying to row away from or toward shore.Naturally,
> the sheet eventually hangs up on something and suddenly I'm on apoint of
> sail except I'm not very far from shore, the dagger board is stilllying on
> the bottom of the boat and the rudder is in the raised and tied offposition.
>Escape boats.
> What I think would be ideal is a furling main like those on the
> I could row out with the main all wrapped up nicely on the mast, getset up
> and then roll out as much main as the wind conditions call for. Dothe
> reverse when it comes time to row in to shore. This would call for amain
> sail with a sleeve and a mast with some kind of furling spool on itand a
> free standing boom. Perhaps the boom could loosely attach to the mastby a
> hoop which would rest on the furling spool? Any ideas, please?put it in
>
> Another issue for me is flotation. How much, what kind, where do I
> the boat and how? I have not dumped the boat yet, but I have sailedvery
> conservatively and not far from shore. John Bell, who many of youknow from
> this group, has capsized his and it was a struggle to bail out theboat which
> took on water up to within an inch of its gunwales. Since I live inthe great
> Northwest on Puget Sound, I want to sail on the Sound, but that iscold
> water. If I go in, I want to recover quickly.if I
>
> I also have trouble with the tiller. Windsprint is double ended and
> leave the tiller for a moment, it can literally fall off the side.Jumping up
> and reaching down over the aft end of the boat to recover the tilleris real
> slapstick comedy. I got a tiller tamer but so far I find its userestricts
> the angle of the rudder. Any ideas how to make this better?trouble
>
> Some of you experienced sailors are probably saying that most of the
> I'm having is due to poor sailing skills. I would not dispute that.But I
> need help with making my sailing experience something not suited forparticipating in
> "America's Funniest Home Videos."
>
> Thanks in advance for your thoughts and I look forward to
> this group.
>
> Mike Masten
Hello to builders and sailors of Bolder boats everywhere,
I recently completed a Bolder Windsprint, although I modified it slightly by
decking it fore, aft and sides. It's a beautiful boat, pleasant to look at,
big enough for two, goes pretty fast in a little bit of breeze. But all is
not well:
There is the issue of the sail plan. The Windsprint calls for a balanced lug
sail of 119 sq. ft. Many are of the opinion its too much sail for the size of
the boat. Many who sail her do so with a reef in the sail in all but the
"lightest air."
Moreover, I find it impossible to manage the sail while in the boat. I raise
it, lower it and reef it on shore. This means the sail and the sheet are
flying about while I'm trying to row away from or toward shore. Naturally,
the sheet eventually hangs up on something and suddenly I'm on a point of
sail except I'm not very far from shore, the dagger board is still lying on
the bottom of the boat and the rudder is in the raised and tied off position.
What I think would be ideal is a furling main like those on the Escape boats.
I could row out with the main all wrapped up nicely on the mast, get set up
and then roll out as much main as the wind conditions call for. Do the
reverse when it comes time to row in to shore. This would call for a main
sail with a sleeve and a mast with some kind of furling spool on it and a
free standing boom. Perhaps the boom could loosely attach to the mast by a
hoop which would rest on the furling spool? Any ideas, please?
Another issue for me is flotation. How much, what kind, where do I put it in
the boat and how? I have not dumped the boat yet, but I have sailed very
conservatively and not far from shore. John Bell, who many of you know from
this group, has capsized his and it was a struggle to bail out the boat which
took on water up to within an inch of its gunwales. Since I live in the great
Northwest on Puget Sound, I want to sail on the Sound, but that is cold
water. If I go in, I want to recover quickly.
I also have trouble with the tiller. Windsprint is double ended and if I
leave the tiller for a moment, it can literally fall off the side. Jumping up
and reaching down over the aft end of the boat to recover the tiller is real
slapstick comedy. I got a tiller tamer but so far I find its use restricts
the angle of the rudder. Any ideas how to make this better?
Some of you experienced sailors are probably saying that most of the trouble
I'm having is due to poor sailing skills. I would not dispute that. But I
need help with making my sailing experience something not suited for
"America's Funniest Home Videos."
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and I look forward to participating in
this group.
Mike Masten
I recently completed a Bolder Windsprint, although I modified it slightly by
decking it fore, aft and sides. It's a beautiful boat, pleasant to look at,
big enough for two, goes pretty fast in a little bit of breeze. But all is
not well:
There is the issue of the sail plan. The Windsprint calls for a balanced lug
sail of 119 sq. ft. Many are of the opinion its too much sail for the size of
the boat. Many who sail her do so with a reef in the sail in all but the
"lightest air."
Moreover, I find it impossible to manage the sail while in the boat. I raise
it, lower it and reef it on shore. This means the sail and the sheet are
flying about while I'm trying to row away from or toward shore. Naturally,
the sheet eventually hangs up on something and suddenly I'm on a point of
sail except I'm not very far from shore, the dagger board is still lying on
the bottom of the boat and the rudder is in the raised and tied off position.
What I think would be ideal is a furling main like those on the Escape boats.
I could row out with the main all wrapped up nicely on the mast, get set up
and then roll out as much main as the wind conditions call for. Do the
reverse when it comes time to row in to shore. This would call for a main
sail with a sleeve and a mast with some kind of furling spool on it and a
free standing boom. Perhaps the boom could loosely attach to the mast by a
hoop which would rest on the furling spool? Any ideas, please?
Another issue for me is flotation. How much, what kind, where do I put it in
the boat and how? I have not dumped the boat yet, but I have sailed very
conservatively and not far from shore. John Bell, who many of you know from
this group, has capsized his and it was a struggle to bail out the boat which
took on water up to within an inch of its gunwales. Since I live in the great
Northwest on Puget Sound, I want to sail on the Sound, but that is cold
water. If I go in, I want to recover quickly.
I also have trouble with the tiller. Windsprint is double ended and if I
leave the tiller for a moment, it can literally fall off the side. Jumping up
and reaching down over the aft end of the boat to recover the tiller is real
slapstick comedy. I got a tiller tamer but so far I find its use restricts
the angle of the rudder. Any ideas how to make this better?
Some of you experienced sailors are probably saying that most of the trouble
I'm having is due to poor sailing skills. I would not dispute that. But I
need help with making my sailing experience something not suited for
"America's Funniest Home Videos."
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and I look forward to participating in
this group.
Mike Masten