Question on mast materials for small sailing boat.

LOL, going through Robert Peel's site, I stumbled upon this – although off-topic:

http://www.robertpeel.dk/barry.htm

 

I have to say I never liked the look of boats that narrow at both ends (dory?), but these little boat look great, maybe it's the rig?

Another dumb newbie question - what is a 'smack' boat?

 

Yeah, Sprit stay rigs are one of the availables, but the sprit does not usually come from the boom gooseneck.
Interesting. Ta.

 

Thanks again. I see our Maine peapod in the lines of the Megin. Perhaps you've got a bit more hollow in the bows, but it's likely I could find a peapod model with some hollow like that. And of course the peapod is an amazingly seaworthy boat, as I'm sure the Megin would be.

 

This is the sort of smack one usually refers to when speaking smack ... speaking english, I meant ;–)

http://www.alberta-ck318.freeserve.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smack_(ship)


However, there's also this type (still fishing vessel-type thingies, though):

http://images.google.com/images?cli...ke site:dk&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi


In danish · I have no idea how that works in english, but a "smakke" has it's name after the square main sail, called a "smakke" in the aulden days. Today we basically use it for any type that has the sprit stay rig.
.

Also, much similar is the type "sjægte". It's so close, that I can't even tell the difference - unless it has to do with "sjægter" are a smakke, only with a topsail.

 

Thanks once again, some good links there, interesting articles.

I once read that a Dullard is someone who opens a dictionary (or encyclopedia), goes straight to the reference they want, reads it, then closes the book.

The inference being that anyone with any imagination will then read further entries based on what they read in the first.

Not being a dullard myself I followed DanishBagger's wikipedia link, wandered around there a while looking at other releated entries, and could find no entry for a Lug Sail.

I roughly know what one looks like, but not the technical minutae that make it a lug sail and not something else, sooo..

Does anyone (qualified to) feel like adding an entry there, for the next non-dullard to find?

 

..and continuing the theory of not being a dullard (and not being very busy at work today ),
I found this [http://home.att.net/~ShipmodelFAQ/smf-qFraming.html]

Example of horizontal keel, sloping waterlines. From Chapman's Architectura Navalis Mercatoria, Pl LIX #3: English smack for flatfish (Fishing Vessels).


...so now you can build one?

 

There are diffent kinds of lug rigs, PP.

There's this:



This:


I believe the chinese junk is a lug rig too.

And my favourite – Roxane:

http://www.vanveenjachtbouw.nl/

P.S. I wouldn't want that smack you linked to, franckly. Too much of a carrier. Way too wide in the front, imo.

 

Come to think of it, I don't think I answered your question. But as far as I know, the lug is a predecessor to the gaff. And you might define a lug rig as a rig where the yard goes forward of the mast. Unless that is only the case with the balanced lug. Heck, why not just "define" a lug rig as a rig with a "yard" ;-) (circular definition, lol).

 

Tasmanian Oak is a generic name for any one of a dozen types of eucalypt. If you are lucky, you have very clear, lightweight piece, or you may have heavy pieces with knots and all that bad stuff. Some species are easy to work, some will be tough and 'cranky ' to plane.
If you get a light piece, it will be very strong, and able to weather really well if varnished or painted.
Clear Tassie Oak is expensive if it has been cut into small sections and finished for interior use, but will be good quality.
If you are getting structural size timber, you would be well advised to cut it into smaller sections and laminate it, because hidden defects are common these days (low quality trees being felled)
Most hardware stores that stock Tassie Oak, also stock Oregon or Western red cedar, which would be sure to be lighter, but you may need to search for a 'clear' sections. Failing getting one decent 'clear' piece, laminating several small lengths would be even better. Laminating with epoxy or good quality waterproof glue adds a lot of strength.
Based on my experience with Mirror dinghys, 6-7 cm diameter would be plenty if it were solid or laminated.
Poly pipe stuffed with wood would probably work ok, poly pipe would just be to get a smooth finish, adding bugger all strength.
If you wanted a robust finish and added strength to a timber mast, a layer of fibreglass cloth and epoxy would be hard to beat.

 

Tassie Oak is the "new" name for Alpine Ash.

 

Tassie Oak has been the marketing name of any eucalyptus considered to be structurally strong enough for building, tough enough for weatherproofing since I was a boy 40 years ago. Most sawmillers can only define 5 or 6 major species of eucalypt because boat builders and/or farmers put a premium on some species (like spotted and swamp gum) because of specialist characteristics.
Alpine Ash is just another species that fits under that umbrella. Especially if they dont want to arouse environmentalists with specific information.

 

Yes, lug predates gaff, but gaff rig is most probably developed from the sprit rig, not from the lug.

(Dipping) lug rig is actually the best performing of all traditional rigs built from natural, low teach materials. It's very powerful and weatherly for the given mast height (big sail area with a low centre of effort and sharp, tight luff in the clear air undisturbed by the mast). It was favourite rig of many British and French fisherman, smugglers and privateers. It was used well into the XX century.

There are three variations:
- dipping lug - the most powerful, but difficult handling. To tack, yard mast be muscled to the other side of the mast. There is no boom. Tack of sail is belayed forward of the mast.
- standing lug - Fitted with a boom. Tack of sail at gooseneck. Used on dinghies, and sometimes on the mizzen sail of larger luggers. Yard always stays on the same side of the mast.
- balanced lug - Fitted with a boom, which extends past the mast, and is held to it with a parrel. Used on small craft on sheltered waters. Yard always stays on the same side of the mast.

Cesar Orsini drew some nice luggers:
http://www.dmnet.be/wanda/index.html

 

I believe there to be several predecessors to the gaff, and the lugger to be one of them. That the gaff were developed several places and from several rigs.
Also, the Roanne – Roxanes bigger sister - has a balanced lug rig:

http://www.nigelirens.demon.co.uk/FRAMEcruising.htm

Although modern carbon-interpretations, it's not just wee boats that can use it (anymore). Btw, the reeing arrangement/set up on the Nigel Irens/Ed Burnett luggers are quite interesting, and I think that is the reason they can go so big (no wildly swinging yard or sail when easing the yard).

Edit: Also, the balanced lug doesn't necessarily need a boom.

 

Careful using Eucalyptus for anything

The legend is it goes through several powerful twisting motions over a few years.

This is way it is not used in any building(in CA, USA), even though we have quite a bit of it.

It grows fast, is quite strong(makes great 'y' for slingshot), keeps fleas off dogs, but I hear it will keep warping....and rewarping.

It remember an unsuccessful product for patio decks called "Sunwood" which I think was Eucalyptus treated with a red/orange 'dip' of some sort.

The stuff ripped itself-off about every deck it was attached to in less than one year.

"Tasmanian Oak"=Eucalyptus? LOL.