Trailer Sailor

[LP]

Here is a trailer sailor project I've been toying with for a while. It's about as big as I'd like to haul around and about as small as I'd like to go for spending any time on her. She's a shallow draft coastal cruiser with about 2000 lbs. of lead in her keel. Traditional looks and modern sails. The masts hinge aft to derig and then the mizzen flips back forward to trailer. The trailer winch will attach to the forstay to bring the whole rig up for launching.

I'd be curious to hear comments on basic design, looks, rig, etc.

Speaking of rig, I've only put shrouds on the mizzen because I'd like to main to be free of rigging so I can open the main sail for running before the wind. I'm not a rig designer so I'm open to input here. I figure the mizzen is more for balance on the wind and when things start to blow. Before the wind, if the mizzen is hampered by the additional shrouds, the loss is not as significant as it would be for the main. The forstay and topstay(?):o radius of motion at the main masthead is not colinear with the radius of motion of the masthead, so I can see the masthead being stabilized through these two stays only. I hope that all made sense. I'm looking for the simplest rig possible that is also condusive to easy setup and takedown.

[sharpii2]

Here is a trailer sailor project I've been toying with for a while. It's about as big as I'd like to haul around and about as small as I'd like to go for spending any time on her. She's a shallow draft coastal cruiser with about 2000 lbs. of lead in her keel. Traditional looks and modern sails. The masts hinge aft to derig and then the mizzen flips back forward to trailer. The trailer winch will attach to the forstay to bring the whole rig up for launching.

I'd be curious to hear comments on basic design, looks, rig, etc.

Speaking of rig, I've only put shrouds on the mizzen because I'd like to main to be free of rigging so I can open the main sail for running before the wind. I'm not a rig designer so I'm open to input here. I figure the mizzen is more for balance on the wind and when things start to blow. Before the wind, if the mizzen is hampered by the additional shrouds, the loss is not as significant as it would be for the main. The forstay and topstay(?):o radius of motion at the main masthead is not colinear with the radius of motion of the masthead, so I can see the masthead being stabilized through these two stays only. I hope that all made sense. I'm looking for the simplest rig possible that is also condusive to easy setup and takedown.


Without shrouds on the main, the conventional jib has to go. There is no way you will get enough luff tension with only the backstay for support for the jib to stand properly. I see three possible choices if you wish to go without main shrouds.

1.) Move the mast forward and make it a cat ketch,
2.) go with a flat cut ballanced jib, or
3.) go with running back stays

With the cat ketch arrangement, an asymetrical spinmaker can be used for light air close reaching to running. You nay find that you won't have to move the mast forward and lengthen the boom that much to make up for sail area lost by eliminating the jib.

The ballance jib, since it is cut with no fore and aft shape, it can sag as the mast inevitebly bends without bagging. Another advantage of the ballance jib is it makes a nuch better down wind sail than its conventional cousin, because there is no need to boom out the clew.

As for running back stays. They can go unused during light to moderate winds, then be put into play as the wind freshens. Only the windward one is used and they are usually set up after the the tack is changed. A snatch block with a multipart purchase may be all you need for a boat the size you're thinking of.

Below is a thumbnail of an extreme example of a ballance jib, so you will know what I mean by the term.

Hope this helps.

Bob

[LP]

Bob,

Thanks for the input.

First, I buy books and I buy books, but I still can't find the terms I want.:( What would you call the stay that runs from the mizzen masthead to the main masthead? Anyway, we can call it a backstay for now. I see the forestay tensioning through the "backstay" through the mizzen shrouds as the mast bends (falls off to leaward), unless we are getting some compression bowing where the height of the mast head is reduced. I see a possible mechanical advantage by running the backstay over the mizzen to the chainplates at the mizzen, much like the a dolphin striker on a bobstay. Maybe, I'm just failing the see the fluid nature of the standing rigging.

I'm not entirely opposed to shrouds on the main mast, but thought this might be a unique and simple solution to my needs. The balanced jib looks like an interesting alternative. I can't say that I've seen one before. (and known what I was looking at anyways)

[sharpii2]

Bob,

Thanks for the input.

First, I buy books and I buy books, but I still can't find the terms I want.:( What would you call the stay that runs from the mizzen masthead to the main masthead? Anyway, we can call it a backstay for now. I see the forestay tensioning through the "backstay" through the mizzen shrouds as the mast bends (falls off to leaward), unless we are getting some compression bowing where the height of the mast head is reduced. I see a possible mechanical advantage by running the backstay over the mizzen to the chainplates at the mizzen, much like the a dolphin striker on a bobstay. Maybe, I'm just failing the see the fluid nature of the standing rigging.

I'm not entirely opposed to shrouds on the main mast, but thought this might be a unique and simple solution to my needs. The balanced jib looks like an interesting alternative. I can't say that I've seen one before. (and known what I was looking at anyways)


As for the name of the stay connecting the main mast to the mizzen mast, you've got me. I've seen this arrangement used only a few times. I think that in your case, the results will be disappointing. The reason is stretch. The mizzen back stays are not at a very good angle for jib tension and the long 'bridge stay' (for lack of better terms) can stretch as well. That and the fact that there is no latteral support for the main mast top seems likely that the jib will sag. The 'bridge stay' will probably not earn its keep.

If your heart is still set on keeping the jib and not using stays or shrouds at all on the main, you can have the jib cut with a hollow luff. (with the luff having a 'J' like back curve to it rather than a straight line which is often visible with the naked eye) The one on my week ender was cut that way because the main shrouds had so little backwards drift. The sail set reasonably well in moderate winds and was usually struck as soon as the wind freshened. The jib on your design can be treated similarely.

Bob

[CT 249]

The word you're looking for is "triatic stay".

Is the mainmast a free-standing mast in a tabernacle? Interesting.

[LP]

I suppose you would call it tabernacled. The mast pivots longitudinally about a lateral axis that is roughly 3' above the deck. It has uprights on either side of the mast that capture the mast laterally and is sercured with two bolts, one at deck level through the base of the mast and one near the top of the uprights. The uprights(tabernacle) will either extend through the deck to the keel or be supported by a system of hanging knees, strong beams and the forward end of the deck house.

[LP]

Bob,

You're answers are very insightful. It's not very often a person is running directly before the wind, so my desire to open the main up will only have limited usefulness. It won't be a big sacrifice to add the shrouds.

One of my original sailplan ideas was for it to be a cat-ketch with possible the same sail from both masts, but that put the mizzen at the companion and a boom over most of the cockpit. I'm trying to keep the cocpit clear for the most part for improved visibility and fewer bumped heads.