what is wrong with a gaff rigged small boat?

Discussion in 'Sailboats' started by bean surchwell, Dec 6, 2010.

  1. BATAAN
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    BATAAN Senior Member

    Cool. Nice to hear from someone who's sailed one. Thames barges are one of the most highly evolved and interesting sailing craft ever.
     
  2. bryngwylan
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    bryngwylan New Member

    Thames Barges

    I sailed as mate and later skipper on several sailing barges when they were still carrying cargo back in the 1950's. Also motor barges, but that's another story.Always had a 'thing' about leeboards though. The last boat I designed and built for myself was a 43ft sharpie with leeboards and a standing lug schooner rig. That was in the 80's. Now I sail a Tideway 10 dinghy, 10ft with a standing lug.
     
  3. ancient kayaker
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    ancient kayaker aka Terry Haines

    Absolutely nothing. Depends what you are looking for. That could be performance, simplicity, ability to store mast and booms on board, heavy weather/light weather use, pass under low bridges, etc.

    You probably need to refine your requirements to get the advice you need, unless it was just a discussion that you wanted.
     
  4. HELLICONIA54
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    HELLICONIA54 HELLICONIA54

    Ray Aldridge,uses a reefable Sprit rig on his slider.He also has a very interesting rig comparisson on his site try this link to his site and rig comparrison. http://slidercat.com/blog/wordpress/?page_id=57
     
  5. HELLICONIA54
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    HELLICONIA54 HELLICONIA54

    Whilst canoeing on the Glenelg river at Nelson,Vic.AU We saw this very strange boat.Looks like a motor to sail conversion.What do you think of its Leeboards?Judging by its short mast it may also have been gaff rigged too.[​IMG]
     
  6. Howlandwoodworks
    Joined: Sep 2018
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    Howlandwoodworks Member

    Nothing wrong with a gaff rigging but they are more work and extra tack. One thing a spar would do is kind of help keep the sail shape as it stretches .
    Some early sails were made of Flax "stretchy", then change over to cotton around 1850, Nylon was invented 1939, Dacron 1950, Kevlar 1971 etc...
    You can see sails shapes and rigging change as different materials became available.



    Late to the party!
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2022
  7. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    Sprit sails are not hard to reef. Also, they can use brails to reduce area.
     
  8. BobBill
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    BobBill Senior Member

    Gonzo, you sail out of MYC, know that crew...BTW...some rigs, to me, must be gaffed, like my MO...BTW, me from Winona, MN about 4 hour drive...
     
  9. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    I sail out of SSYC, but sometimes race with MYC friends.
     

  10. BobBill
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    Location: Minnesotan wakes up daily, in SE MN, a good start,

    BobBill Senior Member

    Thanks...have reason for inq... BTW. might add spritter after i alter outrigger and add cockpit, I live that long...
     
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