Re: [Paddlewise] Down Wind Sails and Drogues

From: <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Sat, 09 Oct 1999 11:17:29 -0700
Peter Osman wrote:
> 
> G'Day,
> 
> Can anyone recommend a down wind sail for use with a Klepper Aerius 1. I'm
> going up the coast for a few days in December with friends who have downwind
> sails and need something which can be stored on deck and easily assembled at
> sea.

The jib portion of the traditional Klepper sail (S-4) works very well as
a downwind sail and can also be used for beam reaching, i.e. going 90
degrees to the direction of the wind.  It can be left lying on the front
deck until you need it.  You have to setup a special line for this.  I
have done it but forget at the moment how you do it; it is in the
Complete Folding Kayaker.  You would however have to leave the mast in
place.

If you can get your hands on the Balogh Twins sail (which is no longer
made) or even the Folbot imitation of it, you would also have a good
downwind sail and you could deploy it all while underway on the water.

> Also am fitting a Boulter of Earth drogue to the Klepper - any
> recommendations on how best to fit it?

When I used one on my Aerius I, I worked the back attachment end under
the front of the spray cover and into the cockpit to tie off to a loop
connected to the crossrib in front of me.  BUT I would not recommend
that.  It seemed sensible at the time ane worked BUT the movement of the
cord back and forth eventually wore a hole in the deck seam in that
area.  The suggestion from Balogh for folding kayaks is that you create
a line that runs around the entire circumferance of your coaming and use
that to secure the inboard end of the sea anchor.  I never tried that.

Whatever you do, try to minimize how much the inboard cord might rub
across deck material or re-enforce the area with a sacrificial patch to
to take the punishment.

Another possiblility is to mount it as I did through the front of the
coaming and out under the spraycover ONLY use a line loop that has a
RUBBER or PLASTIC coating on it so that it doesn't abrade the deck
material where it touches the deck.

I have not used my Drift Stopper in a long time because I have not felt
a need for it...no long crossing where I need to take a break and avoid
lossing any progress I have made against wind.  If I were, I now have a
Nautiraid Raid 1 that has a beefy huge D-ring in front of the cockpit
that is well mounted and has a hypalon protective patch between it and
the deck.  The D-rings (there is also one at the back of the cockpit)
are meant to attach hoisting lines to lift the Raid 1 on to a mother
ship (or lower from a helicopter...as the military does with the
Nautiraid doubles)...so it can take a big load.

ralph diaz
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
Received on Sat Oct 09 1999 - 08:23:40 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:14 PDT