Had an opportunity to use the new Spirit Sail on the Chesapeake this weekend and it works perfectly. I have it mounted to a deck board and positioned it amidships just behind the front paddler. I wanted to use it myself before I asked anyone else to give it a try. It is extremely easy to set or take down and with the stability of the Long Haul, we were able to do it in 5 seconds without any drama what so ever. A rudder was totally unnecessary. Course corrections were occasional only required a dip of the paddle. Sometimes being a big guy in the rear seat has it's charms. We were able to sail off the wind at up a 45 degree angle in 1 to 3 foot seas in a 10 to 15 knot breeze. (Estimated) Occasional white caps. Most waves were in the one to two foot variety with the extra height coming from power boat wakes. I have the medium size sail which is ideal, because we were able to get the benefit of the extra push without having it over power the kayak. We motored along nicely at paddle speed. I found that we were paddling a bit differently in that we were sometimes paddling for an angle depending on the wind direction and then popping the chute for the downhill slide. Lots of fun. I'll post a couple of pictures when I get a chance. John MacKechnie *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I too enjoy the spirit sail and use a medium one with my CD Sirocco single and a large one with my Seaward Passat double. I like the hands free aspect and that I can still paddle if I wish and get a boost from the wind. I have pretty much the same experience with sailing off the wind. I use the skeg and paddle on my sirocco and the rudder with the pasat. My only beef is that the times when a good wind is behind me in the direction I want to go are too few! I also use the sail mount bracket for a fishing rod sometimes as well as for navigation lights at night. At 04:42 AM 6/21/2005, you wrote: >We were able to sail off the wind at up a 45 degree angle in 1 to 3 foot >seas in a 10 to 15 knot breeze. (Estimated) Occasional white caps. Most >waves were in the one to two foot variety with the extra height coming >from power boat wakes. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The mounting bracket is used on a number of rod holders, light holders etc. I wonder who manufactures them. We had perfect wind this weekend and were able to sail home both days. We were also able to sail into the vintage boat show at the St. Michaels Maritime Museum which was a hoot. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
<bigmac1_at_enter.net> wrote: >The mounting bracket is used on a number of rod holders, light holders etc. >I wonder who manufactures them. Scotty fishing products (www.scotty.com). I think it was pretty smart of Spirit Sails to base (yuk, yuk) their sail supports around a rugged, field-proven, and off-the-shelf product. No point in re-inventing the wheel. Philip *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Scotty fishing products (www.scotty.com). I think it was pretty smart of Spirit Sails to base (yuk, yuk) their sail supports around a rugged, field-proven, and off-the-shelf product. No point in re-inventing the wheel. Great lead. The base part of the scotty fishing pole base is only 4 bucks on kayakfishingstuff.com Lot's of other kayak goodies at good prices there as well. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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