Re: Birdwatcher Junk Rig

Hi John,
Sorry, I don't check my mailbox very often as I rarely get mail
there. I have replied to your email. I think Jim Michalak has tried
to make his plans so just about anyone who can pick up a saw can
build them.
Mike

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "mannthree" <johnmann@i...> wrote:
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Mulcahy" <kakwariver@y...>
wrote:
> > Mike,
>
> I tried to contact you by email but the message must not have been
> delivered. Your Philsboat (modified) looks great and appears to
sail
> well. I read your tales re sailing in 18 knots on the Michalak
group
> and she handled it well. I have been interested in building another
> boat for some time now and your effort pretty much fits my
requirement
> for length, simplicity of rig, self righting ability etc. At $32.50
> for the plans (Philsboat) appears to be a bargain. A couple of
questions:
>
> 1: Are Jim Michalaks plans comprehensive enough for mug home
builders
> like me?
>
> 2: What were the modifications you made to the plans?
>
> Regards,
>
> John Mann (Sydney Australia)
>
>
> I'm a little late on this thread but I've been busy. I built a
> > modified
> > Jim Michalak birdwatcher design (Phils boat) with a junk rig.
> > Pictures
> > athttp://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kakwariver/album?.dir=/a6a6
Both
> > the boat and rig are pure joy!
> > One advantage that I don't think anyone mentioned is that if you
are
> > sailing with the center slot covered in bad weather you can
raise,
> > lower, and reef the sail from inside the boat with a junk rig.
Works
> > slick!
> > One other thing. Various methods of adding camber to
> > junk sails have been devised and many junk-rigged boats have
> > excellant
> > upwind sailing ability. Anyone interested in this should check out
> > the
> > files and past messages at the junk rig yahoo group.
> > Mike

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Mulcahy" <kakwariver@y...> wrote:

> Mike,

I tried to contact you by email but the message must not have been
delivered. Your Philsboat (modified) looks great and appears to sail
well. I read your tales re sailing in 18 knots on the Michalak group
and she handled it well. I have been interested in building another
boat for some time now and your effort pretty much fits my requirement
for length, simplicity of rig, self righting ability etc. At $32.50
for the plans (Philsboat) appears to be a bargain. A couple of questions:

1: Are Jim Michalaks plans comprehensive enough for mug home builders
like me?

2: What were the modifications you made to the plans?

Regards,

John Mann (Sydney Australia)

I'm a little late on this thread but I've been busy. I built a

> modified
> Jim Michalak birdwatcher design (Phils boat) with a junk rig.
> Pictures
> athttp://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kakwariver/album?.dir=/a6a6Both
> the boat and rig are pure joy!
> One advantage that I don't think anyone mentioned is that if you are
> sailing with the center slot covered in bad weather you can raise,
> lower, and reef the sail from inside the boat with a junk rig. Works
> slick!
> One other thing. Various methods of adding camber to
> junk sails have been devised and many junk-rigged boats have
> excellant
> upwind sailing ability. Anyone interested in this should check out
> the
> files and past messages at the junk rig yahoo group.
> Mike

David,

Although the Solent rig uses only one halliard, I reckon that you could use
two. A throat halliard, and rig the peak halliard onto a wire span (hauled
tight) on the yard. Then reefing is made simple, by easing the throat to
the required depth, with the peak held up by the shackle sliding along the
wire span.

This is how I rigged my high-peaked gunter, and it worked well.

Alvan.

I think there's a variation on this, where the "peak halyard" is not
actually used until reefing is desired, so the span is set to accommodate
the height of the yard when reefed. Hope this makes sense... then the "peak
halyard" or "reef halyard" is not actually taut when full sail is up. I
have seena drawing of this recently in an old canoeing book or yachting
book. Not sure where.
--
Craig O'Donnell
Sinepuxent Ancestors & Boats
<http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fassitt/>
The Proa FAQ <http://boat-links.com/proafaq.html>
The Cheap Pages <http://www.friend.ly.net/~dadadata/>
Sailing Canoes, Polytarp Sails, Bamboo, Chinese Junks,
American Proas, the Bolger Boat Honor Roll,
Plywood Boats, Bamboo Rafts, &c.
_________________________________

-- Professor of Boatology -- Junkomologist
-- Macintosh kinda guy
Friend of Wanda the Wonder Cat, 1991-1997.
_________________________________

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Interesting. From my reading, I got the impression that one would usually
go to a 10% to 15% larger sail when converting to a junk rig, the theory
being that it was so easy to reef that you could take advantage of the
improved light air performance without the risks.

I wonder why Michalak went the other way.

Jim did not rig the boat with a junk rig. He rigged it with a balanced lug
sail.

It may have been the same sail he tried on his 16-ft "Jinni" which would
help explain the size. Pic of his Jinni is on the Cheap Pages.

Otherwise, you might select a smaller lugsail for singlehanding reasons.

Can a junk-rigged BW cat-yawl be far behind?
--
Craig O'Donnell
Sinepuxent Ancestors & Boats
<http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fassitt/>
The Proa FAQ <http://boat-links.com/proafaq.html>
The Cheap Pages <http://www.friend.ly.net/~dadadata/>
Sailing Canoes, Polytarp Sails, Bamboo, Chinese Junks,
American Proas, the Bolger Boat Honor Roll,
Plywood Boats, Bamboo Rafts, &c.
_________________________________

-- Professor of Boatology -- Junkomologist
-- Macintosh kinda guy
Friend of Wanda the Wonder Cat, 1991-1997.
_________________________________

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Jim's balanced lug rig is not the same as a junk rig although they
are similar. It was a sail he had from another boat.
Mike

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Roger Derby" <derbyrm@e...> wrote:
> Interesting. From my reading, I got the impression that one would
usually
> go to a 10% to 15% larger sail when converting to a junk rig, the
theory
> being that it was so easy to reef that you could take advantage of
the
> improved light air performance without the risks.
>
> I wonder why Michalak went the other way.
>
> Roger
> derbyrm@N...
>http://home.earthlink.net/~derbyrm
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "wwwind2002" <datenmull@g...>
>
>
> > as has been mentioned before, jim michalak has fitted his bw with
a
> > balanced lug sail somewhat smaller than the original.
> >
> > he felt it was an improvement mainly because it needs a
considerably
> > shorter mast. it is also easier to reef. jim also mentioned that
one
> > shortcoming of the original rig was that, after reefing-to-the-
mast,
> > it would be difficult to impossible to get the reef out again
higher up.
> >
> > appearently performance with the lug rig was not degraded. while
> > thinking it an overall improvement, he keeps the original rig
around,
> > in case he changes his mind.

Hi Hannes,
Alas, pounding is its one fault. It can be lessened by sailing well
heeled over but it sails better when it's upright. For me the
advantages of shallow draft, easy beaching, being able to enter and
leave the boat on shore without getting your feet wet is a fair trade-
off.
I sail solo lots but it can easily handle 6 adults (I stretched the
plan out about 10%). It sails along very easy and comfortably, I
regularly hand the tiller to complete beginners in fairly strong
winds. (This practice has led to several knockdowns, each time the
boat rolled right up when we shifted our weight without a drop of
water inside).
I changed the stern from the plans and use an external motor mount.
Three to four foot waves is about the biggest water I've been in and
it handled that fine, less pounding in those big waves than in
smalller ones as it would tend to just ride up and down the bigger
stuff.
Mike

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "wwwind2002" <datenmull@g...> wrote:
> congratulations, mike!
>
> your boat looks excelent! seems to sail very upright - any pounding?
> how did the motor mount work out?
>
> i am *very* tempted to build one myself. bw would be just a tad to
> big. to long for my workshop, plus, realisticly, i would be sailing
> solo much of the time.
>
> if you could give us some more info on performance i'd be very
grateful!
>
> hannes

Hi David,
I used information from Hasler-McLeod, "the Chinese Sail Rig" by Van
Loan and I gleaned lots of stuff from the yahoo junk rig group messages
and files, especially info on creating camber.
I used plexiglass (it was cheap). So far no problems with it. Heat
buildup (from the clear windows) is NOT a problem. The wind really
blows through the cabin via the slot. I've had more problems keeping
warm, I find I need to dress as warmly as if I were out in an open
boat. Keep in mind, I live in northern Canada and we don't get much hot
weather.
Glad you like the boat. It has been just about everything I hoped it
would be.
Mike
-- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Lipsey" <saillips@c...> wrote:

> Hi Mike, I'm building a Birdwatcher2, and though I'm not on to the

rig building stage yet, I have been trying to imagine how I will reef,
etc. the solent sprit rig drawn by Mr Bolger. I have also been playing
with the idea of using a junk rig on it for all the reasons you
mentioned. I figure I can build the rig as drawn, then experiment with
a junk version later, with poly tarps, etc. Did you design yours from
the Hasler?McLeod book?

> Also I noticed that you used clear windows. Did you use plexi or

Lexan? And would you consider the tinted type in the future or if you
did it over?

> Finally, thanks for sharing a beautiful , well crafted boat. Very

inspirational to me.

> David Lipsey
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

----- Original Message -----
From: "wwwind2002" <datenmull@...>

> as has been mentioned before, jim michalak has fitted his bw with a
> balanced lug sail somewhat smaller than the original.
>
> he felt it was an improvement mainly because it needs a considerably
> shorter mast. it is also easier to reef. jim also mentioned that one
> shortcoming of the original rig was that, after reefing-to-the-mast,
> it would be difficult to impossible to get the reef out again higher up.
>
> appearently performance with the lug rig was not degraded. while
> thinking it an overall improvement, he keeps the original rig around,
> in case he changes his mind.

congratulations, mike!

your boat looks excelent! seems to sail very upright - any pounding?
how did the motor mount work out?

i am *very* tempted to build one myself. bw would be just a tad to
big. to long for my workshop, plus, realisticly, i would be sailing
solo much of the time.

if you could give us some more info on performance i'd be very grateful!

hannes

as has been mentioned before, jim michalak has fitted his bw with a
balanced lug sail somewhat smaller than the original.

he felt it was an improvement mainly because it needs a considerably
shorter mast. it is also easier to reef. jim also mentioned that one
shortcoming of the original rig was that, after reefing-to-the-mast,
it would be difficult to impossible to get the reef out again higher up.

appearently performance with the lug rig was not degraded. while
thinking it an overall improvement, he keeps the original rig around,
in case he changes his mind.

hannes

> I have been trying to imagine how I will reef, etc.

In my most recent issue of MAIB, Bolger addresses the subject of the
Solent rig. He has used it in quite a number of boats, up to at least
30' (Wolf Trap).

From a design point of view, the length of the yard is limited by two
factors: the halyard attachment for full sail must be above the center
of gravity, and the distance from the heel of the yard to the boom
must be great enough to allow for the reef.

From a use point of view, he says that to reef the rig is lowered
right to the deck with the yard horizontal. The halyard is shifted
from the regular point to one higher on the yard (so the top of the
yard will not go as high when hoisted). The bunt of the reef is tied
down to the boom is the usual way.

Peter

Hi Mike, I'm building a Birdwatcher2, and though I'm not on to the rig building stage yet, I have been trying to imagine how I will reef, etc. the solent sprit rig drawn by Mr Bolger. I have also been playing with the idea of using a junk rig on it for all the reasons you mentioned. I figure I can build the rig as drawn, then experiment with a junk version later, with poly tarps, etc. Did you design yours from the Hasler?McLeod book?
Also I noticed that you used clear windows. Did you use plexi or Lexan? And would you consider the tinted type in the future or if you did it over?
Finally, thanks for sharing a beautiful , well crafted boat. Very inspirational to me.
David Lipsey

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Your boat is absolutely awesome! I love the junk rig! Did you make it

yourself, or who might have made it? Anyone who hasn't checked out the
link

> to Mike's pictures should take a moment to do so! Thanks, Mike!
>
>
> I'm a little late on this thread but I've been busy. I built a
> modified
> Jim Michalak birdwatcher design (Phils boat) with a junk rig.
> Pictures
> athttp://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kakwariver/album?.dir=/a6a6
> Both the boat and rig are pure joy!
> One advantage that I don't think anyone mentioned is that if you are
> sailing with the center slot covered in bad weather you can raise,
> lower, and reef the sail from inside the boat with a junk rig. Works
> slick!
> One other thing. Various methods of adding camber to
> junk sails have been devised and many junk-rigged boats have
> excellant
> upwind sailing ability. Anyone interested in this should check out the
> files and past messages at the junk rig yahoo group.
> Mike
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses -
> stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts -
> Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away -
> Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
> (978) 282-1349 - Unsubscribe: bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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I really enjoyed the excellent pictures and the workmanship on the boat
is excellent. I think that my appreciation of junk rigs is growing. I
am totally ignorant of the sail and it looks like I am going to have to
construct one to be able to sail one. Nice job. Thank you for the
pictures.

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 00:52:40 -0000 "Mike Mulcahy" <kakwariver@...>
writes:
I'm a little late on this thread but I've been busy. I built a
modified
Jim Michalak birdwatcher design (Phils boat) with a junk rig.
Pictures
athttp://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kakwariver/album?.dir=/a6a6Both
the boat and rig are pure joy!
One advantage that I don't think anyone mentioned is that if you are
sailing with the center slot covered in bad weather you can raise,
lower, and reef the sail from inside the boat with a junk rig. Works
slick!
One other thing. Various methods of adding camber to
junk sails have been devised and many junk-rigged boats have
excellant
upwind sailing ability. Anyone interested in this should check out
the
files and past messages at the junk rig yahoo group.
Mike

Bolger rules!!!
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- stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts
- Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away
- Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
(978) 282-1349
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm a little late on this thread but I've been busy. I built a
modified
Jim Michalak birdwatcher design (Phils boat) with a junk rig.
Pictures
athttp://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kakwariver/album?.dir=/a6a6Both
the boat and rig are pure joy!
One advantage that I don't think anyone mentioned is that if you are
sailing with the center slot covered in bad weather you can raise,
lower, and reef the sail from inside the boat with a junk rig. Works
slick!
One other thing. Various methods of adding camber to
junk sails have been devised and many junk-rigged boats have
excellant
upwind sailing ability. Anyone interested in this should check out
the
files and past messages at the junk rig yahoo group.
Mike

On 9/6/05,dwknoedler@...<dwknoedler@...> wrote:

> Again, my motivation comes from experience reefing (and frequently trying
> to reef) a sprit rig in the real-world conditions of a snapping wind, a
> bouncing boat, and either being solo or being in a boat with non-sailors.
> It simply is not easy, and the lack of being able to reef is potentially
> catastrophic.

Your experience is different than what PCB predicted about Birdwatcher's
sprit rig. A snippet from his SBJ article is cut and paste quoted below.

The braille line reefing of the sprit rig, handled from the waist high slot
sure *looks* simple to reef.

http://hallman.org/bolger/Birdwatcher/BWsprit.gif

Bolger calls the rig: "the most docile and foolproof there is".

Also, note that the mast is slender at the top. Tall 'needle' masts
with no halyards are much easier to handle and step versus
conventional masts.

========== PCB quoted below =========
[Birdwatcher's] Docile Rig

The rig, disregarding the ballooner shown, is the most docile and
foolproof there is. There's no halyard, allowing the mast to be
slender at the top and eliminating expensive track or messy lacing.
The sail is rolled from the clew toward the mast, keeping the leech
tight inside the roll. Despite a little trick of angle and tension to
avoid leaving a loose flap at the top, this arrangement reduces the
temptation of leaving the mast standing under oars or at anchor.
Except when actually sailing, mast and sail are supposed to lie in the
racks on deck, as shown, except that I drew it with the wrong end to —
the heel ought to be forward. To sail, drop the heel into the step and
walk it upright —no feat, given the secure footing and waist-high
coamings.

The sail could be reefed by shifting the head lashing before putting
the mast up, but I don't think reefing will be necessary. The size of
the sail is modest. By swaying on the snotter, the sprit boom will
flatten this sail out all the way up, so the sheet can be eased
without letting the head of the sail flog. The pull of the snotter
will bow the mast forward to take draft out of the sail. With such
effective feathering, in a hull that can heel any amount without
problems, she can "lug what she can't. carry."

Off the wind, the sprit-boomed sail swings out without twisting
forward at the top, so she won't roll much, let alone threaten
goose-winging. Since such a sail is very light to sheet in all points,
the single-part sheet shown is perfectly adequate, saving tangles as
well as expense. And the self-righting boat allows it to be cleated
without qualms.

I doubt the balloon jib is worth the cost or space. Set from the
offset mast, it would work noticeably better on port tack. It would
set best tacked on a pole, spinnaker-fashion, but that involves the
extra spar and two guys to control it. I'd rather relax and look at
the scenery.
===============

> I always thought that a (the?) major advantage of a Birdwatcher type

hull is

> that it is more or less immune from wind induced capsize and can

operate in

> heavy winds with full sail and high angles of heel.

I would phrase it that they are more or less immune to catastrophe and
swamping due to wind induced capsize. This type doesn't have any
special power to carry sail; in fact, I suspect it has an upper wind
range where it quickly because unable to make much progress without a
reef.

This OPINION is not based on experience.

Peter

Was that a real sprit, or a sprit boom? For a real sprit, one can
scandalize in a hurry by removing the sprit and letting the top flog. That
assumes you have a masthead-clew-tack triangle left to sail on.

Roger
derbyrm@...
http://home.earthlink.net/~derbyrm

----- Original Message -----
From: <dwknoedler@...>

> Hey, all - thanks for the many comments, and the link to the directions!
> Again, my motivation comes from experience reefing (and frequently trying
> to reef) a sprit rig in the real-world conditions of a snapping wind, a
> bouncing boat, and either being solo or being in a boat with non-sailors.
> It simply is not easy, and the lack of being able to reef is potentially
> catastrophic. I frequently reflected on the huge interior volume of the
> Dovekies I owned, and thought how wonderful to have the room - and how
> much water it would hold! Dan

Hey, all - thanks for the many comments, and the link to the directions!
Again, my motivation comes from experience reefing (and frequently trying
to reef) a sprit rig in the real-world conditions of a snapping wind, a
bouncing boat, and either being solo or being in a boat with non-sailors.
It simply is not easy, and the lack of being able to reef is potentially
catastrophic. I frequently reflected on the huge interior volume of the
Dovekies I owned, and thought how wonderful to have the room - and how
much water it would hold! Dan

>
>
>
>
> ps - thanks to the person who referred me to the Duckworks article - I
> found it quite easily by searching the Duckworks archive, and I think I
> will be putting together a chinese junk sail for my Bobcat for next
> season - very interesting! Dan
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > yes - on the other hand, Judge Jochem was apparently given
> the > options of schooner rig vs. junk rig and centerboard vs.
> leeboards, > making me think that the rig may not be an essential
> part of the > boat.  Having reefed (and tried to reef)
> dovekies, a Shearwater, > and my current Bobcat in the real-world
> conditions when a reef is > needed, I'm quite compelled by the ease
> of reefing described for the > junk rig in "Voyaging on a
> Small Income".  Thoughts, > anyone?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > &lt;big smile&gt;
> > > Considering that Phil Bolger has said that he considers
> > > Birdwatcher to be the greatest achievement of his
> > > [I believe, great] lifetime of designing boats, I consider
> > > that it would be a slim chance to hope that changing the
> > > sail rig from that designed might be an improvement. >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Bolger rules!!!
> > > - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging
> dead horses > - > stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no
> 'Ed, thanks, Fred' > posts  - > Pls add your comments
> at the TOP, SIGN your posts, > and snip away - > Plans: Mr.
> Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, > Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
> > (978) 282-1349 - Unsubscribe:&nbsp; >
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> Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax: > (978) 282-1349 - Unsubscribe: 
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> Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away -
> Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
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Hi Dan,

I think I saw some coverage of the junk rigged birdwatcher in the Junk
Rig yahoo group. You might find the owner over there.

Reed

I always thought that a (the?) major advantage of a Birdwatcher type hull is
that it is more or less immune from wind induced capsize and can operate in
heavy winds with full sail and high angles of heel. If reefing is a
consideration, the center of effort moves less on reefed quadrilateral sails
than on triangular sails.

One of the goals behind Birdwatcher and Dovekie was to have a boat which
could be towed to a cruising ground, rigged, and launched quickly. It is
also desirable to lower the rig for rowing or passing under obstacles. A
frequent frustration in the stepping/lowering/rigging process is the
potential to tangle lines. This requires raising or lowering the rig a
couple of times and occassional bad language. In my opinion, of the
available quadrilateral sails, the balanced lug rig is the least likely to
entangle itself and a junk rig the most likely to cause problems.

Lots of things to consider when you change rigs.

John T

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Hallman" <bruce@...>
To: <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 6:42 PM
Subject: Re: [bolger] Re: Birdwatcher Junk Rig

>> Annie Hill sure made a great case for the junk rig in her "Voyaging...>
>> Roger "Gentlemen don't go to windward."
>
> Certainly there is a long history and pattern of
> us backyard boatbuilders (& designers) choosing
> to tinker with existing designs.
>
> I agree that designs are, by their nature, intended
> to meet a purpose.
>
> I think that one of Bolger's purposes with Birdwatcher
> was to make pretty good progress to windward,
> and that no doubt has a lot to do with his choice
> of rig.
>
> Annie Hill makes compelling arguments for avoiding
> windward sail work. Also, two-handed ocean crossing
> sailing, like with Badger, certainly calls for long shifts
> which work better if they can be 'single handed', and
> a junk rig does this well.
>
> Birdwatcher and Badger have very different purposes.
>
>
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
> - stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts
> - Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away
> - Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
> (978) 282-1349
> - Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> - Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> Yahoo! Groups Links
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>
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>
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>
> --
> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.16/83 - Release Date: 8/26/2005
>

> Annie Hill sure made a great case for the junk rig in her "Voyaging...> Roger "Gentlemen don't go to windward."

Certainly there is a long history and pattern of
us backyard boatbuilders (& designers) choosing
to tinker with existing designs.

I agree that designs are, by their nature, intended
to meet a purpose.

I think that one of Bolger's purposes with Birdwatcher
was to make pretty good progress to windward,
and that no doubt has a lot to do with his choice
of rig.

Annie Hill makes compelling arguments for avoiding
windward sail work. Also, two-handed ocean crossing
sailing, like with Badger, certainly calls for long shifts
which work better if they can be 'single handed', and
a junk rig does this well.

Birdwatcher and Badger have very different purposes.

Before you decide if it's an "improvement," you have to decide which
direction is "best."

Annie Hill sure made a great case for the junk rig in her "Voyaging on a
Small Income."

I don't remember all her points, but "being able to make sail in moments
from a moored/furled state," "getting by with rags instead of high tech
fabric for sail cloth," "being able to reef or scram the rig in moments from
the cockpit," and "no foredeck work" were some of them.

Roger "Gentlemen don't go to windward."
derbyrm@...
http://home.earthlink.net/~derbyrm

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Hallman" <bruce@...>

> <big smile>
> Considering that Phil Bolger has said that he considers
> Birdwatcher to be the greatest achievement of his
> [I believe, great] lifetime of designing boats, I consider
> that it would be a slim chance to hope that changing the
> sail rig from that designed might be an improvement.

Somewhere on Jim Michalak's pages is his article on how he put a
balanced lug on his Birdwatcher, although I think it was smaller than
150 square feet. If you can do it for a balanced lug, you can do if
for a Chinese . . .

Gary Blankenship
Tallahassee, FL

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "John Bell" <smallboatdesigner@m...>
wrote:

> I beg to disagree! I think the mast (23.5') is too long. Even the

revised

> solent lug still has a 20' stick. I wouldn't go with chinese lug,

however.

> Instead, I'd go with a balanced lug of 150 square feet on about 17'

mast.

> Back when I was thinking of building a BW, I even drew such a sail

plan.

> It's still sitting here in my files waiting for me to come back to

it. In my

> dotage, perhaps...
>
> Also, if you've seen the BW1 plans, have you ever seen a more

difficult way

> of a building a hollow tapered mast than what Bolger has drawn?
>
> JB
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bruce Hallman" <bruce@h...>
> To: <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 2:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [bolger] Re: Birdwatcher Junk Rig
>
>
> | <big smile>
> | Considering that Phil Bolger has said that he considers
> | Birdwatcher to be the greatest achievement of his
> | [I believe, great] lifetime of designing boats, I consider
> | that it would be a slim chance to hope that changing the
> | sail rig from that designed might be an improvement.
> |
> |
> |
> | Bolger rules!!!
> | - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
> | - stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred'

posts

> | - Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away
> | - Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA,

01930, Fax:

> (978) 282-1349
> | - Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> | - Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> | Yahoo! Groups Links
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |

I have John Craig's directions on my web page here:

http://www.geocities.com/kayaker37/JunkRig.html

Paul

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, <dwknoedler@p...> wrote:
> ps - thanks to the person who referred me to the Duckworks article - I
> found it quite easily by searching the Duckworks archive, and I think
I
> will be putting together a chinese junk sail for my Bobcat for next
season
> - very interesting! Dan

ps - thanks to the person who referred me to the Duckworks article - I
found it quite easily by searching the Duckworks archive, and I think I
will be putting together a chinese junk sail for my Bobcat for next season
- very interesting! Dan

>
>
>
>
>
>
> > yes - on the other hand, Judge Jochem was apparently given the
> options of schooner rig vs. junk rig and centerboard vs. leeboards,
> making me think that the rig may not be an essential part of the
> boat. Having reefed (and tried to reef) dovekies, a Shearwater,
> and my current Bobcat in the real-world conditions when a reef is
> needed, I'm quite compelled by the ease of reefing described for the
> junk rig in "Voyaging on a Small Income". Thoughts,
> anyone?
> >
> >
> >
> > <big smile>
> > Considering that Phil Bolger has said that he considers
> > Birdwatcher to be the greatest achievement of his
> > [I believe, great] lifetime of designing boats, I consider
> > that it would be a slim chance to hope that changing the
> > sail rig from that designed might be an improvement.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Bolger rules!!!
> > - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
> - > stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred'
> posts - > Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts,
> and snip away - > Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209,
> Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax: > (978) 282-1349 - Unsubscribe: 
>bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com> - Open discussion:
>bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >   YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
> >
> >
> >
> >    Visit your group "bolger" on the
> web.  >    To unsubscribe from this
> group, send an email >
> to: bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com   Your
> use of > Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses -
> stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts -
> Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away -
> Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
> (978) 282-1349 - Unsubscribe: bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> - Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
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>
> SPONSORED LINKS
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> Boating safety
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> The great outdoors
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
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>
>
> Visit your group "bolger" on the web.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email
> to: bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of
> Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
>
>

> yes - on the other hand, Judge Jochem was apparently given the options

of schooner rig vs. junk rig and centerboard vs. leeboards, making me
think that the rig may not be an essential part of the boat. Having
reefed (and tried to reef) dovekies, a Shearwater, and my current Bobcat
in the real-world conditions when a reef is needed, I'm quite compelled
by the ease of reefing described for the junk rig in "Voyaging on a
Small Income". Thoughts, anyone?

>
>
>
> <big smile>
> Considering that Phil Bolger has said that he considers
> Birdwatcher to be the greatest achievement of his
> [I believe, great] lifetime of designing boats, I consider
> that it would be a slim chance to hope that changing the
> sail rig from that designed might be an improvement.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses -
> stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts -
> Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away -
> Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
> (978) 282-1349 - Unsubscribe: bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> - Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>
>
> Visit your group "bolger" on the web.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email
> to: bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of
> Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
>
>

I beg to disagree! I think the mast (23.5') is too long. Even the revised
solent lug still has a 20' stick. I wouldn't go with chinese lug, however.
Instead, I'd go with a balanced lug of 150 square feet on about 17' mast.
Back when I was thinking of building a BW, I even drew such a sail plan.
It's still sitting here in my files waiting for me to come back to it. In my
dotage, perhaps...

Also, if you've seen the BW1 plans, have you ever seen a more difficult way
of a building a hollow tapered mast than what Bolger has drawn?

JB

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Hallman" <bruce@...>
To: <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: [bolger] Re: Birdwatcher Junk Rig

| <big smile>
| Considering that Phil Bolger has said that he considers
| Birdwatcher to be the greatest achievement of his
| [I believe, great] lifetime of designing boats, I consider
| that it would be a slim chance to hope that changing the
| sail rig from that designed might be an improvement.
|
|
|
| Bolger rules!!!
| - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
| - stay on topic, stay on thread, punctuate, no 'Ed, thanks, Fred' posts
| - Pls add your comments at the TOP, SIGN your posts, and snip away
| - Plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA, 01930, Fax:
(978) 282-1349
| - Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
| - Open discussion:bolger_coffee_lounge-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
| Yahoo! Groups Links
|
|
|
|
|
|

<big smile>
Considering that Phil Bolger has said that he considers
Birdwatcher to be the greatest achievement of his
[I believe, great] lifetime of designing boats, I consider
that it would be a slim chance to hope that changing the
sail rig from that designed might be an improvement.

There was an article in Duckworks. If none of the experts here have
details you could ask that site direct but from memory this was a
fairly cheap exercise and the owner was well satisfied.

--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "bhilpholger" <dwknoedler@p...> wrote:
> In "Bolger2", there is a picture of a Birdwatcher I with a
> freestanding mast and a chinese junk rig. I'm hoping eventually to
> get into a Birdwatcher II with a freestanding chinese junk rig or a
> chinese lug rig. Does anyone know if plans for this have been drawn
> up, or who owns the birdwatcher with the chinese junk rig? I would be
> interested in knowing how it sails. Dan

In "Bolger2", there is a picture of a Birdwatcher I with a
freestanding mast and a chinese junk rig. I'm hoping eventually to
get into a Birdwatcher II with a freestanding chinese junk rig or a
chinese lug rig. Does anyone know if plans for this have been drawn
up, or who owns the birdwatcher with the chinese junk rig? I would be
interested in knowing how it sails. Dan