Morgan Ohlson ) writes:
How should the sail "power center" (excuse vocabulary) be located compared
to the keel center. In front of, or behind?

To be able to sail high against the wind... what is most important?

On a dingy the centre of effort should be above the centre of lateral
resistance. I'd get some books on designing and building small sailboats
out of the public library and read up on the subject. You might also
seaarch the Internet on "dingy cruising".

There is a dingy cruising association in the UK with a website. I have a
an old copy a book on dingy cruising by one of the members (Eric Coleman).
Like any cruising sailboat heavier dingys with high sides are better
suited to cruising and camping than light responsive racing dingys.

There are a few US designers of simple utilitarian plywood boats for
amateur construction, Glenn L Witt, Phil Bolger, ? Michalak(?), the
Stevensons, and a fellow on the west coast whose name escapes me. Bolger
does not have a website but Michalak(?) who is a disciple does as do the
other two. Michalak(?)'s designs can also bee seen at
www.duckworksmagazine.com. I know he has small plywood camping cruisers.
Some of Bolgers designs can be seen at www.instantboats.com.

In reference to your other posting ... The "fock" is French for the jib
sail and means "seal" in French because the jib sail looks like a seal
sitting out on a rock.

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