> I simply slip my mast with sail attached into the mast step when I want to > sail, and de-mount it when I don't. Rigging and de-rigging this set-up takes > seconds. It gives me the ability to convert from sailed kayak to paddled kayak > in mere seconds. I have a 'wardrobe' of three sized sails, fair weather, > moderate weather, and what I laughably call my Force Eight... and I take one > or two, or whatever I think will suit the weather on the day, or trip. > My mast is made of ... wait for it... bamboo!!!!.... cut down in a secret > location not far from where I live... and carefully trimmed and fitted. > Bamboo gives me an ultra-light wooden mast with built-in watertight > compartments!, with great flex, ... and if the going gets too tough, the > ability to break without breaking other gear. I looked at slip-in Tasmanian designs and one hinged design. There is a commercial line http://www.vision.net.au/~jennings/sail/sail.html , would cost about half of small BSD rig without floats, even after costly delivery to Canada from over there. They are relatively small - up to 1.5 sq.m, and with high CE, - not really lug sails. There are short videoclips on their website , including capsize :-). 1.5 sq.m. is probably be the largest size that hardshell kayak can carry witout an outrigger. I think its upwind capabilities are not too good, and low boom VS a need to have a mast within your reach seems to be hard to combine. Hinged design is better, 'cause can be installed farther fore, and easier to rid and de-rig in a narrow boat. I might still cobb something similar to Tasmanian sail, 20-24 sq.ft. (1.8-2.2 sq.m), to supplement my aft 32 sq.ft BSD instead of buying another BSD (USD 500 for 24 sq.ft sail + mast + deck fitting). Jeez, I've bought a whole kayak once (old Folbot Aleut) for that price. With a Klepper you sure can use larger sail without floats. I'm curious what is the largest of sails that you have, what is the mast diameter, and what is the smallest that still provides for some upwind sailing. My impression was that both Tassie rigs and hinged designs ranged from 1 to 1.5 sq.m. allow beam reach sailing at the very best. Just don't have any detailed info on that, no intention to critisize. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jul 21 2004 - 12:33:10 PDT
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