Mark: Regarding the "ideal" sail and its features I would ask the following. 1. Keep mast sections separate, not shock corded together. Separate sections can be slid between the deck and ribs on Klepper AIs and AIIs so that all is out of the way and occupies no otherwise useful space. Cording together makes a clumsy bundle. I've experimented with telescoping boat gaffs as masts and they are hardly more compact than the standard Klepper mast and will not take much downhaul pressure before collapsing. Also I use the sections of my mast for other purposes. The topmost section attaches to a Feathercraft-type mast step "post" mounted ot my Pirmex boat cart and through a U bolt on one of the open arms. This makes an extremely sturdy baggage cart for moving loads in airports, to the bush plane and elsewhere my aging bones don't want to heft and haul those heavy boat and gear bags -- works on beaches too. Those familiar with the S-4 rig realize that even complete with the gaff and large main it is still a small package (not so the lee boards but those are unnecessary for long trip sailing). 2. The "best" sail is sitting in my basement about to go to Baja. (There are many, of course.) Unlike some, I enjoy sailing singles, especially folders and most of all the Klepper, using a sail many may not be aware of, a small Batwing of perhaps 15(?) square feet. This is a dream to use because of its stability and good manners as much a efficiency. Non sailors who borrow the boat for a spin rave at the way the mini-Bat accelerate the boat like a big displacement high torque V8, smoothly and wihout any sudden powering and depowering as (other) sails change shape as the wind rises, diminishes or changes direction. This is a *very* simple system but one I'm comfortable using for weeks. It has one reef which reduces to an even more docile assist. The advantage of this sail is its simplicy and stored size. It fits on a standard Klepper mast and is used unstayed. The whole package with blocks, halyard and sheet is 3.5 ft long, 3.5 inches in diameter and weighs 4.8 pounds when stored together. Stored separately it goes under deck and is never touched until desired, though traditionally I paddle with it in place. Some may want more power but for my purposes the predictability and ease of use of this system is unbeatable. The standard Klepper mast is easy to come by, but alas, that wonderful small sail is one of three on earth. Make some more some day? Lot's of Feathercraft K1 and Folbot Kodiak paddlers will thank you. 3. Don't mix genre. While it is possible to make a sail into an awning or saw a hard-shell boat apart to make it serve as hard luggage or a living room table the gains are not worth the loss. Awnings can be low quality tarp material; sails require sophisticated design and quality construction to achieve their maximum efficiency. Making sails is not easy (you know this). Klepper has refined their basic S-4 system for many years. A local seamstress and I set out to duplicate a Klepper jib using the best sailcloth we could buy. We found that the jib had subtle curves and was sewn in directions relative to the fabric weave that were more demanding to duplicate than was apparent. Sails are not sheets on a stick. So keep the sails and bivy awnings and sunshades separate. I want my awing up in camp and my sail mounted most of the time on long trips (always on a double folder) so no gain is achieved by duplicating items that serve different functions and pose radically different design challenges. Excellent tarps and awnings are now available from inexpensive sources such as LL Bean and Campmor. We need sails. 4. Now what I want from Santa... Let's imagine the best of all worlds where you could develop new products and keep up with the demands for existing ones. Santa would bring me a catalogue listing the following BSD items. a. The small Batwing such as I now have, with a 1.25 standard Klepper size mast and proper rigging in a sail bag and with brief and simple illustrated instructions. No wishbone necessary in my experience. Don't want a 20 square foot Bat reefed down. This is by comparison a much larger package than needed or convenient to store on a single. Cost under $300. b. (Hang on to your hat) A BSD tuned S-4 system of sails and rigging including one of Mark Eckart's line control boards (the one in his present catalogue is on my Klepper and is great). The venerable S-4 is perhaps one of the most versatile of all sailing systems for those who know how to use it effectively. When considering long flights with a folder were space an weight count the S-4 is much to be recommended. In places like the Bahamas with predictable winds day after day it is suitable even for beginners. Elsewhere, as Ralph notes, simple jib sailing will get you buy easily and safely. But imagine the best of all worlds -- an S-4 made by Mark and Sam with the best fabrics and hardware and maximized for efficiency. Sold including hardware and control board for under $500 complete. Special request: make the mast 1 3/8 inch in diameter so we can use it unstayed. This is a great safety advantage I believe. You asked what we wanted so there is one answer. I'll be good from now on, just on the chance. Rich Mitchell *************************************************************************** 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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