Anyone know how to make a cheap sail rig for a small boat?

Question

I am looking to make a drop-in or attachable sail rig for an aluminum 12' boat. I dont have much money and know basically about polytarp sails ect....

I need to know how to attach a mast... like how to step it and clamp a thwart and things to it. I dont want to drill into the boat I want it to be removable. I also wonder what is the cheapest easiest thing to make mast, spars and boom from. I have looked on many sites for information and in different yahooo groups , but I dont have hundreds to spend on something I need to be cheap.

Anyway, if anyone can help me out, I would really appreciate it. I have an aluminum fishing boat, and also might be purchasing a canoe. I am kind of leaning torwards trying to outfit the fishing boat because my wife and small dog will be with me from time to time. Thanx for any info!

Answer 1

You will need something for leeward resistance - leeboards if you don't want to cut the boat up - and a rudder. Any sail generates considerable forces at the base of the mast and requires significant structure there.  The location of the mast has to be balanced in relation to the sail's size and proportions, as well as the leeboards and rudder. You will either need to learn about center of effort and design it yourself or do a whole lot of trial & error.

If you're handy you may want to consider building yourself a small plywood boat, cheap to build, designed to sail, overall much more satisfactory than trying to make a boat intended to do one thing do something else entirely. Also check out craigslist for cheap sailboats people are getting rid of.

For starters, here's a link to a cheap boat that requires minimal tools and woodworking skill, requires two sheets of plywood to build, and can use either housewrap material or blue tarp for the sail:

http://www.storerboatplans.com/Pdr/pdr.h...

The plans cost $20 and they say the boat can be built for less than $350. Probably well worth it in time and trouble. Plus you'll have a new sailboat and will still have your 12 ft aluminum. A two boat owner!

Answer 2

Here is what you do:

Get two pieces of 2x3. cut one to use as a base and it will need to go from seat to seat, and be clamped to the seats with a large C clamp. The second piece is to be used as a mast. Cut 2 triangles of 3/4" plywood so that they will be on both sides of the mast where it joins the base. (This replaces a keelson on a sailboat.) Use screws, not nails, to join these boards. You will need to go up the mast about a foot, and so make the triangle about 12" high and 24" at the base. Use wood screws. It does not need to be too sturdy in construction as it will not see violet winds or storms. This boat will need to stay on shore if the wind exceeds 10 mph.

Cut another piece of plywood for a lee-board. It will need to be about a foot deeper in the water than your boat's bottom. Make a top for it that will allow the top to rest on the top of the boat's side, and can be C-clamped to the side of the boat. It is not necessary for the lee-board to be vertical.

Rig a tiller.

I think I would rig the boat like a junk or a dhow. It depends on what the water is like where you plan to sail. (Don't go into big water, as a sudden gust of wind will put you IN the water.)

For you to tack or to wear ship, you will need to lower the sails in all but the most gentle of winds. You will probably need to have a tiller that is much larger than necessary for a real sailboat.

Experiment with this several times before you have your wife or dog accompany you in the boat.

My personal opinion is that it is impractical and dangerous. Make certain that you WEAR your life jacket when operating this boat.

CANOES ARE TOTALLY UNSUITABLE TO USE WITH ANY KIND OF SAIL!!!!

Have fun with this.

Regards,

Dan