Crab claw sails evolving to rectangular shape

gggG, I agree. Am not a math dodger, just a dig to Gonzo...that I still think me sail is a gaffer, is all.

But, that is me.

 

Sure.

The title is:

OUTRIGGER CANOES OF BALI AND MADURA, INDONESIA by
Adrian Horridge.

 

Ahh, Horridge, no have, but will look him up...must be interesting.

I have a few texts...not that one...

Hey Gonzo...still a gaff rig...low, a bit low, but really me thinks gaff.

 

A gaff is a Western rig that has a sail in which the luff is approximately 60 to 80 % of the leech. The luff is attached to the mast traditionally by hoops or laced. The gaff (top spar) has gaff jaws or other similar attachment to the mast. The foot of the sail has a more or less horizontal boom. A triangular sail will never be a gaff.

 

Gaff may be later West rig but your last sentence is not so sure...I have one ref, that seems to say gaff is signaled when spar has crthch to mast.
Imagine a lofty schooner or dinghy (gaff) crutched spar dropped to boom or lower spar. Seems the above triangle remains...
here as in avatar (other computer still down) and triangle sail of my rig...

 

You can find a single reference to probably anything. However, the vast majority of references define a gaff as I describe it. Marconi rigs can have a spar with a crutch (of do you mean jaw?) and does not make them a gaff. Furthermore, gaff rigs do not need to have jaws, they can have any kind of hardware or lacing.

 

Gonzo, as you noted...was one reference that ascribed the jaws...of the two or three I have...not disagreeing, but habit and different view of my own rig...and I might add, with no sail up, just the spar up and boom, up. mucho pressure...must exceed 1000 just to raise spar...more to bend sail...basically a top sail. o..lowered to use with stubby...or single schooner top sail gaff...which is what my answer is to inquiries...who rarely go farther or even recall how the rig is confiured.
If I have pic of it on this computer will try to pose to library later. Spendy little custom job...two-inch block of SS forms universal for sail, with long SS tangs...

 

Gonzo, Not disagreeing, but must lance your triangle limit position...which is really not much different than using jaws as one ref did...books are across room...and am lazy...so I lower a schooner top to use on rig and it is not a gaff. I suppose. But some might see it as I have for some time...if I can will post spendy SS block-universal used and SS tangs, if on this machine...main machine is messed at moment.

I just recalled, where I originally got Gaff reference...the original plans and magazine story on rig --Popular Mechanics or similar.

If asked I say gaff rig, and even if remembered (never know), no one says much...of course most would not bat a lash if I said, Marconi either...
Not really a biggie...

 

It is not really hard. A marconi sail is triangular. A gaff is always quadrangular.

 

Whatever!!!

 

I might add, paranthetically, I think scows, chines and soft wings are on the mend.

 

I don't know what I would call it. Gaff works for me. It's not a sprit or a yard or a boom and it does exactly what a gaff does. It contributes to the dynamic trim of the sail, just as a gaff does. What do you call the spar used in a sliding gunter? Is it a gunter?

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

Will, a gaff it is...and so named by designer and here-just under the box...no matter I have long thought this bastardo to be a gaff, even if it hovers a three sided sail...BTW that gaff is a 26' loa spar. lower section is 6061T upper is 100" carbon, with wood/carbon ferrule (joiner). Sucker goes fine, but "goes" is so relative to as I think all rigs all "go!" Some faster; some not.

 

A top spar that is almost vertical, slides on the mast and has a sail that is almost triangular is called a sliding gunter. It is another very traditional sail type.

 

Whatever, and so you know, MO Gnarly's spar does not move from its position at stubbyl