Re: [Paddlewise] sail rigs

Matt Broze wrote:
Hey Matt, thanks for the breif.  I'll give it some thought to see how
close one could come but I could use some more info and can maybe see
some problems.  Since some of your parameters are contradictory, I
wonder if you are being entirely serious.  It is not out of the question
that you could have some of these things but you need to be a little
more specific about some details. Whether there is a market out there
for what you describe is another question but if you are serious, answer
me a few more questions please.
> Okay designers out there. Here is the sail rig I want. Simple spinaker
> reefed with a sheath and ring you can pull down the mast. Shock corded 3 or
> 4 section mast for easy storage inside the kayak and to minimize the risk of
> dropping a piece overboard. Ability to double it over around the mast to
> form a main for broad reaches or to use fastened to the bow like a genniker.
> Next I want extra grommets on it and a shape something like a Moss Parawing
> to use with the mast pole and cords in camp as a relatively flap free rain
> or sun tarp. The 30d silicone sealed nylon that Stephenson and others now
> uses in tents might be a good material to keep it light and compact.

Well the spinnaker that probably could have wrapped around the mast,
came with a shock corded mast and reefing sleave was available from
Windspeed Designs for years but I think they may be out of business. 
Maybe you could find a used one somewhere.
 A similar sail could likely be made flatter cut to be used tacked out
to the bow if you wanted to rig a tack outhaul line. We make our masts
multisectional for stowage but decided that filling them with foam made
sense in case you dropped a mast section in the water.  Making shock
corded masts with foam inside poses some problems. Dropping a whole non
foam filled shock corded mast over the side is a problem. Given these
problems, which would your prefer, a non shock corded foam filled
multisection mast or a non foam filled shock corded mast? Some problems
with your other wishes though might be that the parawing shape would be
less desirable as a sail and would be large in overall dimensions for a
given area which could cause control problems and require a tall mast
and complicated rigging to support and trim it.  The idea of using a
sail as an awning would require a fairly large sail which is not a
problem in itself but again might require a fairly tall and strong mast
and step.  Large sails can be troublesome on narrow unstabilized boats. 
George Dyson used some of his sails as tents or shelters if I recall
properly.  I was asked to do some proposals for rigs for some military
organizations using folding kayaks and I figured that we could make them
a TWINS™ sail out of waterproof cloth and set it up as a bivy tent.  The
Navy Seals were unable to understand a reason why someone would want a
shelter.  The NATO guys wanted to know if the mast base could be used as
a weapons mount and we could have no radar reflectivity but all this
stuff is doable at a price.  Which brings me to the last question.  If
we could make you a sail that would power (which size boat?) your kayak
on reaches and runs and it could have a shock corded or foam filled
multisection mast, a reefing sleave, could reach or run with good
manners and could be used as a sun shade,(if what ever size sail it was
was big enough to be useful). If we could make you this sail, how big
can it be folded, how much can it weigh, and how much is it worth to you
retail?

> If some one wants to take this idea and run with it please send me a 
> prototype to
> test. Maybe and A-sail mast would adapt easier to a kayak (than a single
> mast with its need to be stepped) and provide two poles for camp uses too.
> Is that asking too much? If you could figure out how to step it on an
> inflatable even Audrey Sutherland would probably look at it enviously for
> its multi-purposes (and cheapskate that she is--will then go make her
> own;-). I trust Audrey will understand this is a compliment coming from me
> (but I wanted to make that clear to the rest of you).


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