Rigs for dinghies

  • 06 Dec 2022 16:40
    Reply # 13015704 on 7250717
    Anonymous wrote:

    ..snip..
    If and when I make a sail for a boat this size again I will make the individual sail panels much larger and have a smaller number of them. I think "Mo's Junk Rig" from the JRA magazine issue 78, page 18, captures this idea. I like 5 large-ish panels for a sail this size.

    ..snip..

    Scott.

    Doing some research for a trip planned for early next year (ideally), I was looking for dinghy/daysailer specific information, and came across this thread. The above answer intrigued me (Thank you, Scott!), so I set out to find the information mentioned. I'm posting this just to point out that Ive found that the drawing mentioned by Scott above is in fact on page 18 of Issue #79, not #78 as quoted.

    Posting this because I hope this may help someone else in the future who runs across this in a similar fashion. :)


  • 08 Apr 2019 18:12
    Reply # 7271844 on 7246942

    Hi Scott,

    No - my current boat doesn't have a YHP. I do have a Throat Hauling Parrel but this is largely optional. It just takes the creases out of the sail making it look nicer (and slightly more efficient). This means that controlling reefing just requires the halyard and sheet which is handy as I tend to reef and unreef for each gust as it comes through.

    I'm not sure whether a YHP would be needed in stronger winds - I tend to be a light-wind sailor (since I sail with two small children).

    I like the idea of reducing the length of the sheet - there tends to be a lot of it lying around inside the boat. I might try David's arrangement someday.

    The parrels are just tape with plastic rucksack-type clips. This works very well and is very fast to rig. One luff-hauling parrel at the tack.

    I haven't got very far with the running lines for the Wanderer's split junk rig. However the focus will be on minimal attention when reefing and unreefing. I'll probably try a YHP to see if it makes any difference - it is easy to lash something up and take it off again if necessary.

  • 04 Apr 2019 19:24
    Reply # 7260534 on 7246942

    Hi Scott, I have a Split Junk on a 16' Wayfarer.

    I copied Ah sups sheeting system which has the mainsheet running from the helm, through a turning block on the transom to a triple block. This triple block substitutes for the blocks normally used on the transom of larger boats through which the mainsheet normally runs and creates a mechanical advantage to ease sheeting in larger sails.

    Because the smaller sails of a dinghy aren't as strenuous to sheet, I can get away with just that single sheet in the cockpit.

    Another separate line is run through the triple block and the sheetlet's attached to the battens. On Ahsup, when a reef is put in, this line will need to be shortened, which Ahsups owner does by tying off the line at the end of the boom.  I took his idea one step further and brought the loose end (bitter end?) in board along the bottom of the boom to a turning block on the boom at the mast. I can then cleat the line off when the excess line is pulled in. ( This is the same as pulling in the excess mainsheet on a normal junk sheeting system when reefing)

    The advantage on a small boat is only a single line down in the cockpit. The separate sheetlet line controls the twist, (and when  I get more familiar with it, will only need to be adjusted at the same time as the reefing/unreefing takes place at the mast).

    The Split Rig reduces the work needed for running parrels as it remains in the same fore/aft position regardless of sailing direction. The battens parrels/ downhauls are only adjusted when reefing/unreefing.

    Hope this is of some use.

    David D.


  • 04 Apr 2019 18:06
    Reply # 7260409 on 7252108
    Martin wrote:

    [...] Pics here. [...]

    Hi Martin,

    I am interested how much of the running rigging can be simplified or eliminated on a dinghy sized boat. In PJR, H&M seem to suggest that running tack and luff parrels are not necessary in the smallest of rigs. On my puddle duck I rigged a line to cant the sail back and forth and I really enjoyed being able to adjust the sail this way. So I guess I do not agree with PJR on this. (!)

    In your photo it looks like you might not have a Yard Hauling Parrel. Is this correct? If so I would like to know if you are satisfied with this arrangement.

    More generally I would be interested in anyone who cares to comment on what running lines they have setup on a boat this size. I am curious about the trade offs that may exist when deciding to add a running line or not. I expect the impact may be different on an 8' boat compared to a 38' boat.

    Last modified: 04 Apr 2019 18:27 | Anonymous member
  • 01 Apr 2019 02:26
    Reply # 7254027 on 7246942

    Thank you Martin and Scott.

  • 30 Mar 2019 07:18
    Reply # 7252108 on 7246942

    My current dinghy junk rig is based on Arne's sail plans. I did reduce the number of battens to keep the weight and complexity down.I chose this plan because the mast on the boat is well forward while the centreboard is well aft so a broad sail is required to get the boat to balance.

    Pics here: https://www.junkrigassociation.org/Sys/PublicProfile/29417059/Photo/53655816/86929272/0?dh=37&cppr=3

    My current project will be based on Slieve's Poppy plan. This is a Wanderer dinghy hull so the mast is a long way aft for a junk rig and the split rig is possibly better suited to this. I'm currently making the mast and partners - I haven't finalised the sail details yet.

  • 29 Mar 2019 14:40
    Reply # 7250717 on 7246942

    Hi Gary,

    My only on the water experience with a junk rig is the flat sail I made for my puddle duck. The boat is sort of a smaller Bolger Car Topper but with any and all 'styling' removed. It is a big box with some rocker on the bottom.

    If and when I make a sail for a boat this size again I will make the individual sail panels much larger and have a smaller number of them. I think "Mo's Junk Rig" from the JRA magazine issue 78, page 18, captures this idea. I like 5 large-ish panels for a sail this size.

    Making a 7 panel sail scaled down to dingy sizes means that you will be cutting cloth more than necessary. I would size the panels so that most of the width of the raw fabric is used. For example if you have 59" fabric then 5 panels with a height of about about 55" so might be better than 7 shorter panels.

    This is just guess work from me. Mo's rig on a dinghy looks, to me, more practical than a 7 panel sail.

    Scott.

    Edit: The drawing is on page 18 of Issue #79, not #78. Sorry!

    Last modified: 07 Dec 2022 19:36 | Anonymous member
  • 27 Mar 2019 02:47
    Message # 7246942

    I have a Bolger Cartopper stored away, these boats usually sport a lug or leg O mutton rig which in a good breeze can well and truly over power the boat in a gybe and drop you in the drink. Not so bad except these boats carry no floatation and can be a right bugger to get upright and bailed out.

    I have been thinking for sometime that given the mast position it would lend itself to a JR very nicely and the articles in the last JRA mag has had me thinking about it some more. There is mention of sail plans on here somewhere but a search has failed to point me at them.

    So anyone want to talk about small rigs or even share sail plans?

       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

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