"JohnD" wrote in message
om...
I am thinking of getting a rowing pram dinghy and adding sail
capability. What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a
windsurfer rig - it would be nice to get a two-fer, if possible. I am
also thinking of a leeboard for lateral stability.

TIA

"Bowgus" wrote in message
e.rogers.com...
About the winsurfer rig ... you cannot raise/lower/reef the sail ... and
....
you would pretty much have to put ashore to rig/derig ... just go watch a
surfer setting up ... you'll quickly see the problem. And ... it's gonna
be
a tad difficult manning the tiller with both hands manning the sail.
Advantages to a windsurfer rig? None.

Ehhhh.... If you're a windsurfer, you don't have a rudder. Granted, they
are standing, but there's no reason I can see that you couldn't do that,
too.

OTOH, there's also nothing to prevent you from doing the equivalent of a
nonsuch rig, if that's what you'd prefer. Windsurf rigs don't *have* to be
complicated, particularly if you're putting it on a base rather than an
hourglass. Ease the outhaul, unclip the boom, roll it up on the mast,
unclip the mast, put the boom across (top to bottom, luff to leech) the
mast, and you're stowed. A simple pin suffices to hold the mast on the post
in the base. An aluminum extension is typical for masts; and the usual
"foot"/Step arrangement on a windsurfer is easy to duplicate in non0flexible
material.

I see no problem. With the bendy mast, you'd likely get a lot of drive from
a pretty small sail, too...

L8R

Skip

--

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig
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"And then again, when you sit at the helm of your little ship on a
clear night, and gaze at the countless stars overhead, and realize
that you are quite alone on a great, wide sea, it is apt to occur to
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insignificant speck on the surface of the ocean; and are not nearly
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an exceedingly wholesome thought, and one that may effect a
permanent change in your deportment that will be greatly appreciated
by your friends." - James S. Pitkin