Multiple leeboars or one enough?

My dad, brother and I did something similar back in the 60s, We fitted out an old 14 foot boat that we picked up for pocket change, with sails, leeboards and a rudder. It sailed like a barge, but it sailed. It was fun. The photos are old and faded but you can see the leeboards in the second one. It wasn't an International 14, but it was a way to learn to sail and it was cheap. We used an aluminum pipe for the mast, made the sails out of some old cotton sheets Mom had laying around. They were crap as sails go, but they worked. Have fun.

 

Make a light slightly flexible yard for the top of the sail, and a stiff boom, lace the sail to the yard and pull the sail tight across the top. Tie the uphaul to the yard about 1/4 to 1/3 back from the luff. Make the sail's foot adjustable from the rear to get a nice shape, (not just flat), make the mast a bit taller than you think you'll need, with uphaul pulley aligned cross ways, not fore and aft. To the rear of the front seat looks like an OK position for the mast, and secure it well so it doesn't flop about or pull out easily. You need a good downhaul on the boom near its front end to keep the luff tight, and a slightly loose parrell on both yard and boom. Don't make the main sheet too short, so the boom can swing a bit past athwart ship. Be prepared to re-do some things which aren't quite right, and have fun doing it. Include some buoyancy secured well, because you will likely capsize at some time, and metal doesn't float. Secure your OB and battery well, you will probably need them. Enjoy!

 

Yes! Great advice. I'm working out the downhaul right now and wondering where to anchor it. I know I'm pulling the boom down and in turn the mast to the block of wood at the hull. I'm thinking to the block of wood (mast seat?) As the seat at the front is not as sturdy as id like.
Also can you explain why the uphaul pulley needs to be oriented port starboard? Does it make the yard closer to the mast?
Also on a balanced lug can I adjust the 1/3 1/4 mount point to move the coe (adjusting leeboards as well)? I have no idea how to tune a sailboat as most boats have these points layed out for you. And we all know this wasn't meant to be one but I'm determined

 

"I'm working out the downhaul right now and wondering where to anchor it."
In the 'going up wind' setting, with the boom pulled rearward so the bottom of the luff is level with or closest to the mast, you can pull it down to a simple horn cleat on the back side of the mast, through a 2:1 or 3:1 pulley setup, (make sure the mast doesn't rotate); in the 'going downwind' setting, with the boom forward as seen in most illustrations and pics, you may need an anchor point (saddle) for a pulley, to give a direct vertical down pull on the luff, with the cord then leading rearward to a cleat easily accessible, on or close to the mast. Alternatively, a strong rope slung under the boom and strung tight can be used with a moveable downhaul cord to always pull down near the mast, and adjusted according to where your boom is set; see my info on BD threads I'll mention later.

"(mast seat?)"
The mast's bottom support block is called the 'mast footing' , and the mast's bottom is the mast's foot, not sure what the mast's top support is called.

"As the seat at the front is not as sturdy as id like."
You may need to make a framework to keep the mast rigid and upright so it doesn't move sideways, or fore and aft, and consider the strength of gusts, and the strength of your hull and the old rivets. The top mast support will need to be about a foot up from the bottom, or more, to cope with the leverage of the masts height trying to wrench the mast about.

"Also can you explain why the uphaul pulley needs to be oriented port starboard? Does it make the yard closer to the mast?"
The yard and boom are both on one side of the mast, usually the port side from what I've seen, so when the yard is pulled up to max height, the uphaul cord doesn't induce an unnecessary twist in the yard, and it hangs naturally fore and aft, and doesn't create any extra strain when set abeam to port or starboard. Bermudan sails hang centrally directly behind the mast, so have their pulleys set fore/aft, so not inducing twist in the sail's peak.

"Also on a balanced lug can I adjust the 1/3 1/4 mount point to move the coe (adjusting leeboards as well)?"
You can infinitely adjust where and how the yard hangs from the uphaul, and how much 'balance' the top of sail is, forward of the mast. Tying off further forward on the yard gives sail angle stability on rough water, and less 'sail balance' forward; too far forward and the yard won't stay sticking up; too far rearward can allow the yard to swing wildly over eg. boat wakes and waves. Its a 'try it and see' type of thing. For a beginner I'd set the uphaul tie off on the yard about 1/4 - 1/5 back from the luff, and see how it hangs, then experiment from there.

I have a couple of threads on here (at BD) that will inform you, and give you extra tips.
One is: Jack Holt Heron re-imagined Pt.5 where I converted a Bermudan sail dinghy to a balanced lug, and made a sail. This is where info on the 'adjustable under the boom downhaul' info is; see the thick red rope under the boom allowing easy adjustment of the boom's position, using one cord attached to it with a sliding/gripping knot on the red rope. There are many pics.

Another is: DIY Sailmaking, detailing making a sail at home, and some rigging info.

Don't put anything on the mast (like cleats etc.), except below where the boom will be at its lowest, or there will be conflicts on some tacks. Having uphaul and downhaul going to cleats on the mast avoids pulling the mast down into the hull, reducing stress on the hull. Find a way to locate or pin the mast so it will not rotate or pull out of the footing. Do an I'net search on balanced lug rigging, there are several good sites; a year or so ago I knew nothing about them, until I made one, then another. It's all pretty simple really, lots of trial and adjustment, and see.

They are good to about 10 knots of wind in a small dinghy, then can be not so much fun; my 10 foot dinghy will not like 15 kn with a balanced lug, but with the Bermudan rig will be good to 25 kn, before being a handful to sail. You will be on a steep learning curve with learning to sail, handling lee boards, and understanding a new balanced lug. Persevere, and wear a life jacket. Leave out your electric toys until you have got the hang of it, or they may suffer early water damage from capsize. Good luck, and remember: Keep It Simple Stupid - KISS.

 

Thank you so much for all of your advice and knowledge! Can't wait for fall sailing. If I'm ever in Australia I'll buy you a pint for sure!