Sailing a pontoon boat

Discussion in 'Sailboats' started by pontoonsail, Nov 10, 2015.

  1. upchurchmr
    Joined: Feb 2011
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    PAR,

    Are you getting a little frustrated?
    While I believe what you just said, most days you are a little less "pointed" :p about your comments.

    You know this will be discussed for a little while, they will never complete a full sized boat, and it will disappear into the "Popular Science" waste land of wishful thinking.
    At best they will complete the boat, it will be so bad it won't sail anywhere and no one will take them up on it. (Well, perhaps one poor soul, for a little while)

    Advertising, this is just Advertising, not a real report. Otherwise we would see a picture and a GPS speed.
     
  2. gggGuest
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    gggGuest ...

    The High performance wording is kinda odd. Doesn't seem like that sort of thing can ever be remotely high performance.

    What would be wrong with "This kit will enable you to experience the tranquillity of sailing and enable you to take your pontoon boat round suitable waterways in silence to enjoy the scenery and the wildlife (and do a bit of fishing too if you wish)."
     
  3. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    It's one thing to be wishful thinking and another to have a patent (application?) and consider this bolt on upgrade to JimBob's old 'toon boat a high performance option. I was out this morning in 10 knots of wind, scooting along on a leisurely sail, pumping 13 to 16 knots in the gusts. Just an average daysail, as I was playing hookie, because I finished up a client's boat yesterday and was just taking it easy for the day. I can get more out of this boat, but again I was just having fun. I can imagine this upgraded pontoon lumbering about and me literally sailing around it in circles, as it stumbles along, at the Fr numbers we all know it can muster.

    We have plenty of party barges here, but I can't think of a good time with several drunken friends trying to work sheets, short tacking up through a crowded marina finger pier set or anchorage. I guess this is when they'll use the trusty old outboard, that JoeLarry just rebuilt with a butter knife and a matchbook cover.

    You know, they could consider making this 'toon into a sailing submersible, possible with some train tracks involved too, for better course keeping. Now, if they could incorporate some ground effects, maybe some fold out wings, built from cut up plastic 55 gallon drums - then they'd have something . . .
     
  4. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    I can see drifting downwind while you have a drink.
     
  5. Doug Lord
    Joined: May 2009
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Geez, Ct-did you really need that big a picture?!! It blows the forum spacing all to hell........
     
  6. CT249
    Joined: May 2003
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    CT249 Senior Member

    Sorry, I thought I had deleted the post earlier for that reason. I'll get rid of it.
     
  7. upchurchmr
    Joined: Feb 2011
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    PAR,

    I don't know what Doug said cause he's on my ignore list, BUT you missed the possibility of foils for increased speed and stability.
    Then the immersed transom will not matter.
    But they will need a long outboard to keep it foiling in the lulls.
     
  8. Doug Lord
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: Cocoa, Florida

    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    =============
    I didn't mean for you to delete it-on my computer its really simple to just resize a picture.
     
  9. CT249
    Joined: May 2003
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    Location: Sydney Australia

    CT249 Senior Member

    Na, it's OK; it was just an attempt at humour.
     
  10. Marmoset
    Joined: Aug 2014
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    Marmoset Senior Member

    I think if your gonna add contraption to your pontoon to go slow, why not ditch sail and mast, for canopy and solar. Then your going slow for efficiency, not inefficiently just for kicks.


    Barry
     
  11. Alumination
    Joined: Oct 2013
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    Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

    Alumination Junior Member

    That approach would miss out on the pirate aspect of a sail.
     
  12. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Pirates sailed fast vessels, which was an occupational need, as you might expect of those involved with an illicit trade. Being a wanted man in a slow boat, made for a short career, plus made it exceedingly difficult to overtake a potential prize.

    A novel sailing rig on a pontoon boat, seems reasonable on the surface, unless you actually have some sailing experience, at which point you'll just wish you had a real sailboat.
     
  13. Marmoset
    Joined: Aug 2014
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    Marmoset Senior Member

    but in my plan you have electricity at the ready for what pontoons were really meant for, and that a blender! then i can get drunk and swear like a pirate at least!


    Barry
     
  14. pontoonsail
    Joined: Nov 2015
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    Location: maryville tn

    pontoonsail Junior Member

    Pontoon Sail

    I would like to correct a misunderstanding. This sail kit will never convert a pontoon boat into a high performance sailing machine!! All types of sailing cruising/racing is fun and a challenge. This kit will allow a pontoon boat to sail at an acceptable leisure rate.

    I'm having trouble attaching the photos of the prototype and model. Suggestions are welcome!

    The sails on the prototype are made from a blue plastic tarp. The mast is 2 inch steel conduit. The speed was 5 knots, The motor is off!

    The frame on the model supports the mast and allows it to lay flat approx 8 ft above the deck. The frame's design allows it to straddle the pontoon boat's sun roof. The comfort of the pontoon boat is preserved.

    Thank you for all comments

    Pictures are coming!!
     

  15. pontoonsail
    Joined: Nov 2015
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    Location: maryville tn

    pontoonsail Junior Member

    DSC00027.JPG

    DSC00034.JPG

    Prototype
     
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