ALternate sail plans?

Should you wish for information my progress it is being posted at http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/small-sailboat-design-advice-requested-26169.html. I don't know how high an Element is but I plan to car-top my boat on my minivan. I plan to rest the foredeck on the van roof then lift the transom and slide her forward. I chose a slightly longer design in the end so it would lean on the van at a lower angle, since a shorter boat require me to lift a greater percentage of its weight.

My boat is 10' x 4.5', I am also using 4mm/6 mm ply, and based on material calculations I expected it to come in around 60 lb. I have a lot of built-in buoyancy as well, so your smaller boat should be lighter than mine. Mine may be heavier than I expect, but I'll be able to weigh the complete hull in a day ot two, when her weight, good or bad, will be revealed.

 

What ever you choose, please ask a sail maker to do your sails. They are aproximatly $10 (and less) the square feet, and worth every penny.
My two cent
Cheers
Daniel

 

The mast size sounds large. my plans for a 10' sailboat call for a 2.5" dia Al mast; I am actually building a 2.5" dia hollow spruce mast tapering to 1.7", with thiicker walls but about the same weight. For a 12' boat a 3.5' dia mast might look rather chunky.

I will also use polytarp for the first few sails so I can try out different designs. I will start with a spritsail, which has the advatage that it can be cut flat. However, when I decide on the sail size and design I will get a pro one made.

 

65 square feet in a gaff sail, on a free standing rig is a 2.5" aluminum tube, with T-6 and a .083" wall. Or you could use a tapered birdsmouth spar with the same base but a straight taper to 1.5". Increase mast top dimension to 1.75" if using a jib. Decrease the heel dimension to 2.125" and mast head to 1.375" if low aspect Bermudan cat. Increase mast head diameter to 1.625" if a Bermudan sloop.

These all have healthy margins and assumes a 20% stave wall on the birdsmouth.

I completely concur with Daniel, in that I've made sails once (which was enough to teach me) and sail makers earn every dime that ask for.