I've been following all these threads on sailing, and just can't lurk anymore. I normally paddle hard-shell, but a couple of years ago I bought a used (1987 vintage) Klepper Aerius ll. I bought it for packing along on my annual powerboat (stinkpot to my ragbagging friends) trip to Canada's Desolation Sound area - I just can't fit a hard-shell on my boat and still have the first mate willingly handle lines. Life has been good and the Klepper has allowed me to continue kayaking pretty much all year. But, when I bought the Klepper I also got this mysterious bag containing "the sail". I don't know beans about sailing, and I've never even looked in this bag. All this talk about sailing has made me feel I may be missing something important - again. Basically my question is, can a person who has never sailed -- might not even recognize one when I see it -- teach themselves how to use this thing? Or am I just asking for a major refresher course in swimming and self rescue? Thanks, Rob. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
My book has a couple of pages of specific instruction and tips for sailing with the S-4 Klepper rig. That and a good general sailing book for small boats probably would get you started. This particular sail rig is prone to capsizes if the boat is lightly loaded and if you are in areas where sudden gusts can hit you, such as near cliffs and points of land. When in doubt, let go of all the sheets (lines) if things start going wrong and you feel a capsize coming on. Make certain that the mast has some flotation in it. Otherwise in a capsize you could lose it to the briny deep. ralph Robinson, Rob wrote: > > I've been following all these threads on sailing, and just can't lurk anymore. I normally paddle hard-shell, but a couple of years ago I bought a used (1987 vintage) Klepper Aerius ll. I bought it for packing along on my annual powerboat (stinkpot to my ragbagging friends) trip to Canada's Desolation Sound area - I just can't fit a hard-shell on my boat and still have the first mate willingly handle lines. Life has been good and the Klepper has allowed me to continue kayaking pretty much all year. But, when I bought the Klepper I also got this mysterious bag containing "the sail". I don't know beans about sailing, and I've never even looked in this bag. All this talk about sailing has made me feel I may be missing something important - again. Basically my question is, can a person who has never sailed -- might not even recognize one when I see it -- teach themselves how to use this thing? Or am I just asking for a major refresher course in swimming and self rescue? > Thanks, Rob. > *************************************************************************** > 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/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Ralph comments about the S-4 sailing rig: > This particular sail > rig is prone to capsizes if the boat is lightly loaded and if you are in > areas where sudden gusts can hit you, such as near cliffs and points of > land. When in doubt, let go of all the sheets (lines) if things start > going wrong and you feel a capsize coming on. Slight modification is in order here. If the jib and full S-4 main are set on a stayed mast with the gaff up this is true enough. But the combination of the S-1 main and jib is both efficient and very docile. As Ralph observes elsewhere the jib itself is an entirely suitable working sail. For beginners, leave the leeboards and the big sail at home and use the smaller main and jib for expeditions sailing. Or carry the big main when light winds might be expected and use it only under those conditions. It is a small package. The most critical advice for beginners with the S-4 system is to get a proper control board and label it "jib in" jib out" "mail halyard" "jib halyard". Then invest in quality perlon lines and sailing quality block and tackle. Have an experienced sail-paddler show the beginner how to set up the system and practice in the living room or at the launch until raising and lowering sails is smooth and error free. Then enjoy. A little less sail in the beginning is fun and profitable in terms of effort and is quite predictable. If you don't have the S-1 main then this is a worthwhile investment. Remember the S-4 system has been in use for 40 years or so. It is basic but certainly serviceable. Richard G. Mitchell, Jr. Oregon State University Department of Sociology Corvallis, OR 97331 (541) 752-1323 phone/fax mitchelr_at_ucs.orst.edu *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Richard G. Mitchell, Jr. wrote: > > Slight modification is in order here. If the jib and full S-4 main are set on a stayed mast with the gaff up this is true enough. But the combination of the S-1 main and jib is both efficient and very docile.< The smaller main you are referring to is called the M-1 drift sail and I don't think it necessarily comes with the full S-4 rig but is a separate item. If the fellow has the smaller main (M-1) he should be okay. > As Ralph observes elsewhere the jib itself is an entirely suitable working sail. For beginners, leave the leeboards and the big sail at home and use the smaller main and jib for expeditions sailing. Or carry the big main when light winds might be expected and use it only under those conditions. It is a small package. The most critical advice for beginners with the S-4 system is to get a proper control board and label it "jib in" jib out" "mail halyard" "jib halyard". < That is good advice. I mention the control board in the book but don't have an illustration of one there (it was cut in the editing). But I do have it in an old issue of the newsletter, if the fellow wants it. ralph *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
ralph diaz wrote: snip > That is good advice. I mention the control board in the book but don't > have an illustration of one there (it was cut in the editing). But I do > have it in an old issue of the newsletter, if the fellow wants it. > > ralph In addition to what was mentioned by Ralph and Richard etc., I would mention floatation even though it is normally assumed. Fill up as much as the boat as possible with air bags. The Klepper has a strange stability curve for a wide boat and some people would also like some external stability enhancement device while learning to reduce the ill effects called white knuckles. Mark *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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