New sailplan for a "good old boat" - foolish idea?

Hi all,

I have owned a 36' strip plank mahoghany sloop for 12 years - custom built in the 60s, boat of classic Rhodes/Alberg style, an example of exquisite craftsmanship. 8 tons, sea kindly wineglass/cutaway forefoot, tiller, spruce mast and boom. I've been very conservative about changing it, and have resisted 'modernizing'. But the rig is crazily low aspect - 34'luff, 17' boom - and doesn't point well. The boom is beast and crashes around in light downwind sailing. I am now at the point of customizing or changing boats. While my boat is without doubt a classic and I love it, I know the exchange value of old boats. So I might just mess with it.

The other day I had a (potentially foolish) idea. Convert it to a ketch, use the boom as a mizzen mast. (As a kid I was enamored of the H28). It would be nice to increase windward performance by increasing leading edge, and it would be nice to get that skull-crushing log out of the cockpit. This would leave me with roughly a 3:1 aspect main, and a similar small mizzen, behind the tiller, say 15' luff, 5' foot. (Height and position of mizzen would be designed to leave the existing single backstay in place)

I know that some substantial structural work would be entailed, but its a solidly made boat and my boatbuilding/carpentry skills are equal to the task. I know quite enough about sail balance to understand I could be walking into disaster. So - please tell me why I'm insane, or give me advice

thankyou in advance, oh wise ones.

 

Could you define what you mean by not pointing well? A boat of that design was expected to do about 45 degrees compared to about 35 degrees for modern racers. Also, carbon fiber or kevlar/mylar sails are going to have better performance than if you have sails made of woven fabric.

 

Thanks
I'm getting close to 45 deg. The big rectangular mast can't be helping
You're no doubt right, better sails would help, but its a cruiser, I won't be going with carbon or kevlar. They'd cost more than the boat is worth and don't last...
I wonder if losing 5-6' off the back of the main (with a new(er) dacron sail, would alter performance or balance than much? In strong winds I often sail with a 100% jib and a reef in the main (~30" less luff, and at least than much lost on the foot) and balance is nice.

 

New sails will improve pointing significantly.