Re: Adding jib to Bobcat
Hi Chris,
I think before doing major alterations to your boat,
you should have a close look at your existing
mainsail. OK catboats don't do quite so well, close
hauled, as bermudian rigged boats - mostly due to the
mast and gaff interfering withe the flow of air across
the sail. BUT she certainly shouldn't feel sluggish.
In my experience, sluggishness in a catboat is very
often due to having a sail that's cut too flat, and
doesn't develop the kind of 'lift' you need to get in
the groove. Flattish sails are OK in stronger winds,
but poor in light airs. Bolger mentions this several
times in Boats with an Open Mind.
If the sail doesn't have a good deep belly, a bit of
unpicking and broadseaming should do the trick.
A jib is good for windward sailing because there's no
mast in front of it. BUT it needs to have the luff
stretched really tight, which is hard to achieve with
an unstayed mast. A sagging luff would do more harm
than good, I guess.
The other problem about adding a jib is that it could
upset the balance of the boat and give her lee helm.
Bill Samson
Chris Flynn wrote:
I just returned from sailing my bobcat, and I have a
problem that I
need some advice on, if I may.
Being a Cat boat "Folly" does not point to the wind
very well and is
very sluggish in light wind, she is GREAT in winds
that are 10+( I
know most of you are going "well DUH!!! It is a gaff
rigged cat boat"
I knew that when I built her.. But in Indiana our
winds are very
fickle( as we say in the heartland) I would like to
add a small jibb
( and bowsprit) to her for winds like we had today (
5-8 from the
north) I would only use it in the winds that were like
today ( which
is quite often latley) what type should I put on her..
should it be
like the one that is on a light scooner? ( one that
has a boom or
clubfoot) or one that is like a bermuda rigg? ( one
that come past the mast)
I am new to all this, and do not know how to figure
the amount of
square footage and how it should be configured..Any
suggestions would
be welcomed!!!thanks Chris FlynnFlynn's Folly _/)~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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I think before doing major alterations to your boat,
you should have a close look at your existing
mainsail. OK catboats don't do quite so well, close
hauled, as bermudian rigged boats - mostly due to the
mast and gaff interfering withe the flow of air across
the sail. BUT she certainly shouldn't feel sluggish.
In my experience, sluggishness in a catboat is very
often due to having a sail that's cut too flat, and
doesn't develop the kind of 'lift' you need to get in
the groove. Flattish sails are OK in stronger winds,
but poor in light airs. Bolger mentions this several
times in Boats with an Open Mind.
If the sail doesn't have a good deep belly, a bit of
unpicking and broadseaming should do the trick.
A jib is good for windward sailing because there's no
mast in front of it. BUT it needs to have the luff
stretched really tight, which is hard to achieve with
an unstayed mast. A sagging luff would do more harm
than good, I guess.
The other problem about adding a jib is that it could
upset the balance of the boat and give her lee helm.
Bill Samson
Chris Flynn wrote:
>>>>>hi All
I just returned from sailing my bobcat, and I have a
problem that I
need some advice on, if I may.
Being a Cat boat "Folly" does not point to the wind
very well and is
very sluggish in light wind, she is GREAT in winds
that are 10+( I
know most of you are going "well DUH!!! It is a gaff
rigged cat boat"
I knew that when I built her.. But in Indiana our
winds are very
fickle( as we say in the heartland) I would like to
add a small jibb
( and bowsprit) to her for winds like we had today (
5-8 from the
north) I would only use it in the winds that were like
today ( which
is quite often latley) what type should I put on her..
should it be
like the one that is on a light scooner? ( one that
has a boom or
clubfoot) or one that is like a bermuda rigg? ( one
that come past the mast)
I am new to all this, and do not know how to figure
the amount of
square footage and how it should be configured..Any
suggestions would
be welcomed!!!thanks Chris FlynnFlynn's Folly _/)~~~~~~~~~~~~~
__________________________________________________
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