Paul Coster wrote:

Hi all. I am looking at converting a boat and have looked at Roger Taylor and Ming Ming. I realise this is a mid life crisis but feel its time to challenge myself. Now I am drawn to a junk rig as it appears to be the best option for making sails at reasonable cost and what seems to be a fairly simple mast rejig. (that said I know its likely to be a more complex update)

Now could I ask if there is a blog/website dedicated to the process. I don't think the wheel needs to be reinvented.......... thus using exiting experience is the way forward. Corribee or Achilles 24 as Roger used are my preferred options. Did he strip boat and reinforce the hull with frames? or is the standard hull suitable? Is there a sail plan?, rigging plan? info on centre of effect and mast step? an all in one build manual?

I thought asking may save some time? Thanks in advance

Bonjour

I'm the owner of Mingming and I translated Roger's books to French.

The transformation of Mingming to an ocean cruiser was very minimalist and short (see third part of Roger's first book). The main actions were to get a boat waterproof and unsinkable and to add a powerfull self steering device. Additionally the cockpit was reduced in volume to limit the charge of a cockpit full of water (Mingming bailing system is the Corribee standard which is very poor). Mingming rigging and sail is standard basic Hasler. (Flat sails and semi-rigid battens out of PVC pipes reenforced with internal softwood).

If you have specific questions I'm pleased to answer on or off line.

I bought Minming to conduct wingsails trials (flexible wingsail with lambda sheeting) but life has turned me out of that projet for the last year. Mingming is grounded near Le Mans in France on her trower. I experienced  lambda sheeting with flexible battens for a few days last year. She is ready to sail....

Eric

Did he strip boat and reinforce the hull with frames?

No, not on either boat for the sake of the rig. (He did put in collision bulkheads and extra buoyancy.)

Is there a sail plan?, rigging plan?

Roger used the "Hasler-McLeod" sailplan for both Mingmings. In the case of Mingming2 he used a unique "hybrid hinge" method to get some camber in the sail. There's some info in his videos.

info on centre of effect and mast step?

I expect Roger himself might be the best person to ask for measurements for the Achilles. You can find him in the membership directory.

an all in one build manual? I thought asking may save some time?

"Practical Junk Rig" remains an excellent book for details, especially of the Hasler-McLeod rig. I'm not an expert on conversions, so I'll leave that to others. However, if you want to come and take a look at my Coromandel, do get in touch. She's around the Solent this summer. She has a traditional Hasler-McLeod sailplan, straight out of the book. That doesn't mean you should just copy it, but you can certainly learn something by looking at it!

Richard (called, but not yet chosen)

Besides Roger Taylor's Youtube videos, which are very informative, have you read his books?  If not, they are well worth the modest investment, packed with practical advice on both the outfitting of his boats and the voyages.  They are also entertaining and evocative.  There was also a PBO article about the creation of Mingming 11.

Paul Coster wrote:

Hi all. I am looking at converting a boat and have looked at Roger Taylor and Ming Ming. I realise this is a mid life crisis but feel its time to challenge myself. Now I am drawn to a junk rig as it appears to be the best option for making sails at reasonable cost and what seems to be a fairly simple mast rejig. (that said I know its likely to be a more complex update)

Now could I ask if there is a blog/website dedicated to the process. I don't think the wheel needs to be reinvented.......... thus using exiting experience is the way forward. Corribee or Achilles 24 as Roger used are my preferred options. Did he strip boat and reinforce the hull with frames? or is the standard hull suitable? Is there a sail plan?, rigging plan? info on centre of effect and mast step? an all in one build manual?

I thought asking may save some time? Thanks in advance

You've found the website.  If you work through it, read the fora, follow the links, you will find all the information that you need.  If you are looking for a boat of this size, I recommend you look for one that is already junk-rigged, such as a Kinfisher 20+ or 26, or a Coromandel, or any of the boats of similar size listed in the JRA that might possibly be for sale.  (The saying goes that all boats are for sale!) 

I see you are based in St Ives - there a a few junk-rigged boats in the West Country.  If you look here, you will see some suggestions I made to another member as to how to find out where your local junkies might be. You never know - one of them may be ready to sell their boat. I would also suggest that you make an offshore passage in such a boat, before going to all the work and effort required to "Mingming" a boat.  When it comes to sailing long distances in small boats it's a case of 'many are called, but few are chosen.' Buy a small, JR boat, sail to Brittany and Ireland and having done that, decide whether you really want to go for a bullet-proof, unsinkable boat to take you to Greenland.