Peter Wiley wrote:
Built in 1971. Rust in the bottom plates, been repaired by welding new
plate over the old rather than trashing the interior and cutting out
the old plate. This isn't a good technique IMO as it doesn't address
*why* the plate rusted in the first place, which was probably from
trapped water inside the hull.
And it gives more space to trap water in. But it does add weight down
low, and it's relatively cheap... if it gives the boat enough life span
to last out your likely tenure of ownership, why not?
Doug, there's nothing wrong with the junk rig on that hull and I don't
understand why you think there is. It was designed for the rig.
I just don't like junks. They have a lot of windage, proportionately
more weight aloft, they're usually underpowered (this one less so than
others), they don't point very well. As a matter of personal taste, I
don't like the way they look.
But other than that, there's nothing wrong with the junk rig
In fact, I think it'd make a great rig for low-budget passagemaking.
Effective & easy to control, easily reefable (a big big plus). But it's
dependent on the cutting edge of 17th century technology. With just a
teensy bit more budget, you could have a full batten Marconi rig with
lazyjacks & a solid vang... easier to control & would sail rings around
any junk. This type equipment has been off-the-shelf for twenty years
now and is quite scroungable.
One of Colvin's junk-rigged schooners entered the Chesapeake Bay Great
Schooner Race some years ago, and dropped out because she fell far far
behind the fleet.
DSK