Norwegian built Kombi Jolle dinghy with lug sail

[Grant KInnaird]

Hi CT249,

Many thanks, You have given me some very useful information

The information in my handy little Dinghy Year Book of 1962 shows that the Kombi originally had;

1- a rather shallow fixed rudder; yours looks better IMHO.

2- loops to hold the sail to the boom and the yard. The plan I has shows a series of individual loops rather than the lacing. A sail that is secured to the boom can have deep curvature if the sailmaker has chosen the curve in the relevant cloth seams and in the foot of the sail.

3- the boom going through a slot as in your boat and in the original versions of the Finn and OK dinghies. Finns (and I assume OKs) used to have a wedge that went inside the mast slot to hold the boom down.

4 - short battens in the plan, but long battens as in your boat in the photograph. Long battens were very unusual in European boats at the time and when I first saw your pics I assumed someone had designed a new sail. So apart from the rudder your boat looks original, which is nice.

As Seasquirt says, lug sails require lots of downhaul tension to keep the luff tight. On my 7'6" lugger I am going to rig up a 4:1 using roller-bearing blocks and non-stretch line because otherwise that can develop a nasty crease from the front of the boom to the back of the yard.

The creases in the bottom pic look to me to be mainly caused by the battens being too short; they should be a squeeze to get in. The two full battens would normally have light lines that go around the back of the batten and allow you to tighten the batten to take out the creases.

I'm not sure which rudder you are referring to. I think you may be looking at the rudder from my twelve foot Tideway. I had shown that in a separate picture with it lying on the Tideway sail. The picture I have just sent shows my Peanut (Kombi) rudder lying in the boat.

Many thanks for all the information. I'm hoping to sail her tomorrow if there are sufficient northerly or southerly winds. We sail on the river Thames with trees on both sides. Do you have any photos available por that you can point me to? By the way the chap looking from under the sail is my brother-law visiting from Melbourne.

Best wishes,

Grant

Grant

 

[CT249]

Yep, the rudder in that last pic is the same as the one in the plans. Looks like you have a complete original unit - nice stuff!

 

[Grant KInnaird]

Great thanks. I've ordered a copy of the 1962 Dinghy Handbook, hopefully, it's the same as the one you have.
I sailed the boat yesterday and discovered that it is impossible to sail her from the aft thwart. It is impossible to use the tiller and my weight 80k kilos, lifts the bow out of the water. If seated on the mid thwart it is only just possible to reach the tiller. Kneeling between thwarts was the only way to sail. I'll be making a tiller extension as my first modification. If that does not work I'll add a removable thwart between the existing ones.

There were very light south westerly winds of about 5kts blowing up river, but I managed to sail her from the club up river and then back down river to the club without too much trouble. The wrinkles in the sail all disappeared and she handled not too badly. All in all, it was a good first sail.

Best wishes,

Grant

 

[messabout]

Add a hiking stick of appropriate length to the inboard end of the tiller. You can then position your weight wherever you need to be. You will need to build or buy the swivel attachment that connects the two parts.

 

[C. Dog]

Neat Grant, that little boat is why people fall in love with the wooden ones.

 

[Grant KInnaird]

Neat Grant, that little boat is why people fall in love with the wooden ones.

Hi C.Dog,
I certainly fell in love with this one. She is 62 years old and after a minimum of sanding and varnishing near the bow, she looks new.

Grant

 

[Grant KInnaird]

Add a hiking stick of appropriate length to the inboard end of the tiller. You can then position your weight wherever you need to be. You will need to build or buy the swivel attachment that connects the two parts.

Hi messabout,
Tiller extension already acquired. I'll try it out tomorrow.
Grant

 

[C. Dog]

She is 62 years old and after a minimum of sanding and varnishing near the bow, she looks new

That is because she was built with love and maintained in the same fashion since my friend, I think you found a hand-me-down.

 

[Grant KInnaird]

That is because she was built with love and maintained in the same fashion since my friend, I think you found a hand-me-down.

I. think you are absolutely correct in every thing you say. I intend to keep all the features which make her what she is. Any alterations will be made with care and will not detract from her character.

Regards,
Grant

 

[C. Dog]

I wish you all the best with it Grant, and must confess to a tad of envy, she is a beautiful little tub and it is not going to be difficult to have her perfect again. If I make it to the UK I will be lining up behind the Mexican for a ride.

 

[Grant KInnaird]

I wish you all the best with it Grant, and must confess to a tad of envy, she is a beautiful little tub and it is not going to be difficult to have her perfect again. If I make it to the UK I will be lining up behind the Mexican for a ride.

If you make it to, the UK you'll be welcome at any time.

Regards,
Grant
BTW who is the Mexican?

 

[C. Dog]

Aussie joke, best to ask the Melburnian.

 

[Grant KInnaird]

Aussie joke, best to ask the Melburnian.

DUH! He will be here tomorrow, I'll be sure to ask
Grant

 

[C. Dog]

Best, he may want to murder me.

 

[Grant KInnaird]

Best, he may want to murder me.

LOL