lowe210 wrote in news:156201
:

I know this is an out-of-the box type question, but has anyone had any
experience with or have any ideas or comments on the thought of taking
a standard aluminum pontoon boat and rigging sails on it? I know it
would be slow, but sort of looking for that old Spanish Gallion effect
(slow, steady, using no fuel). Any thoughts on how to rig it, connect
masts, and how it might sail? Thoughts on a keel(s) or other method of
allowing it to tack properly against the wind? Is this even a
possibility given the physics? Boat would be used on a large lake in
Texas.


I don't know nuthin bout this, but it seems to me a crab claw rig might be
the ticket.. e.g.http://www.triloboats.com/Cruising_T16.pdf
or http://www.simplicityboats.com/crabclaw.html

relatively low stress, no stays, low heeling moment, doubles as a canopy.
Like I said, I know nothing about this, and have next to no experience, but
if I had a pontoon boat, I'd sure be tempted to get a blue tarp and some
PVC and see if I could rig one.. or maybe two, depending on available
crew.