Rig help

[davef]

Hi there,

I have designed and am building a 20 foot day sailer. The hull is basically done and I'm down to the rig. I know, I know, I should have worked this out a while ago.

Anyway, I'm looking for:

a) A source for purchasing a custom mast and boom that has been fitted with hardware... ideally someone who can give me some design help.

b) What are the limits on designing a rig with no back stay. I'd like to stay away from one if possible,

[SailDesign]

Dave,
There are plenty of people (self included) who could help you. The question is, are you looking for _free_ help, or are you willing to pay.
That said (personal plug out of the way ) many spar-builders can and will help with the design of the spar to some extent. You just need to find one that is both handy to you, and not overly expensive, and that will give you a hand. Not being familiar with yourt part of the country, I'm afraid I'm not much help beyond saying "It can be done..."

Steve

[PAR]

The easiest way to get a rig done is to spec it out. You've gone and "designed" this thing, assuming you got the center/dagger board in a close enough position to have some effectiveness, then send a spar builder your spec's and get a quote.

You may be able to use an existing rig, do some leg work and you may find just what you need, but with the wrong class logo sewn into the main.

Building a rig isn't rocket science either, you can have a fine box section, birds mouth, staved, built up or solid spars with the experience of building your 20'er. Designing one isn't real difficult, but some math will get involved.

Staying techniques on the masts of sailing craft all have their merit and bad side, the preference being experience and local goings on. Back stays are handy, but when the wind takes a spike and you're reefed down pretty tight already, it's very comforting to be able to cinch up running back stays or fixed back stay, to take some of the load, clearly visible in the mast. In short, the lack of an aft stay means a bendy rig, which the sail maker will have to know, if a set of sails are to work properly.