I guess, maybe, you could call that a Gaff but Doug, that is a
"Connecticut Rig" and quite different in theory. Sail Theory.

It's to have a higher hoist with a short Mast. It was a Rule buster.

Jack Kennedy's Star had that rig.


http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ILLDRINKTOTHAT

Capt. JG wrote:
Yes, I see what you mean. I was just curious, since the gaff rig is a lot
like a huge roach.

You can smoke it?

Capt. JG wrote:
Yes, I see what you mean. I was just curious, since the gaff rig is a
lot like a huge roach.


katysails wrote:
You can smoke it?


heh my first thought was... time to put on those pointy-toed
cowboy boots!

DSK

Jon,

That Roach,as you say, is also a problem on a beam reach or a run. It
puts the center of effort pretty far outboard of the hull. This produces
a lot of weather helm which created those big "Barn Door" rudders. This
also created the bow sprit and Jib to reduce the tendency to :Round Up
and created the Friendship Sloop. A thing of Beauty to these Ole eyes of
mine. I can't think of a prettier sight than a Friendship Sloop,
carrying a Top sail, scudding across the water.

Ah, memories of an Old Man.


http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ILLDRINKTOTHAT

Capt. JG wrote:
Thanks Peter... I'll check it out... I have a friend who is really
interested in this sort of setup.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Peter" wrote in message
oups.com...

Thom Stewart wrote:
Jon,

My major objection, after weight aloft is maintenance. Jon, In all my
years of sailing, I can't remember a Gaff rig without Gaff boom Jaws,

.... which shows that, despite your years of sailing experience, it's
relatively narrowly based. Otherwise you'd know about saddles -
basically a leathered metal section that closely fits the mast off of
which the gaff pivots. Quite a neat arrangement.

which means a greased main and a absence of a sail track which means
sail hoops on the Luff of the sail, which also increases the chance of
jamming, which also increases the need for a slippery mast, which is a
PITA.

Also untrue. You can lace the sail to the mast. The absence of
sailtrack also means the absence of track jams when trying to lower the
sail.

In its defence though, on a cruising
rig the sail shape is closer to the shape of the Max. area of the effort
of the sail.

There's an excellent book on all things related to the gaff rig by John
Leather IIRC. Called 'The Gaff Rig Handbook' I think.

Jon, I think it's fair to say that the gaff rig isn't going to point as
high as a marconi rig. Nobody really disputes that, tho the difference
might depend on a lot of other factors than the rig itself. OTOH you
get to set a lot of sail on relatively short sticks which makes staying
a lot easier & stronger, reducing the cost of the rig itself.

As a racing rig for round the buoys, its day has gone. As a cruising
rig - got a lot going for it still.

PDW

"Peter" wrote in message ups.com...
|
| Capt. JG wrote:
| Thanks Peter... I'll check it out... I have a friend who is really
| interested in this sort of setup.
|
| --
| "j" ganz @@
| www.sailnow.com
|
| "Peter" wrote in message
| oups.com...
|
| Thom Stewart wrote:
| Jon,
|
| My major objection, after weight aloft is maintenance. Jon, In all my
| years of sailing, I can't remember a Gaff rig without Gaff boom Jaws,
|
| .... which shows that, despite your years of sailing experience, it's
| relatively narrowly based. Otherwise you'd know about saddles -
| basically a leathered metal section that closely fits the mast off of
| which the gaff pivots. Quite a neat arrangement.
|
| which means a greased main and a absence of a sail track which means
| sail hoops on the Luff of the sail, which also increases the chance of
| jamming, which also increases the need for a slippery mast, which is a
| PITA.
|
| Also untrue. You can lace the sail to the mast. The absence of
| sailtrack also means the absence of track jams when trying to lower the
| sail.
|
| In its defence though, on a cruising
| rig the sail shape is closer to the shape of the Max. area of the effort
| of the sail.
|
| There's an excellent book on all things related to the gaff rig by John
| Leather IIRC. Called 'The Gaff Rig Handbook' I think.
|
| Jon, I think it's fair to say that the gaff rig isn't going to point as
| high as a marconi rig. Nobody really disputes that, tho the difference
| might depend on a lot of other factors than the rig itself. OTOH you
| get to set a lot of sail on relatively short sticks which makes staying
| a lot easier & stronger, reducing the cost of the rig itself.
|
| As a racing rig for round the buoys, its day has gone. As a cruising
| rig - got a lot going for it still.
|
| PDW
|

It is antiquated. It is too heavy aloft. It has too much weather helm when the wind gets up. It is
much harder to reef. It requires more running rigging. Only stupid people would go gaff instead
of Marconi.

Paladin
(Have Blue Water Yacht - Marconi Rigged - Will Travel)

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Peter,

I've heard of "Saddles" but I've never seen it use. Have You? If you
have Where have you seen it use and on what vessel ?

After the Marconi Rig came into being, designers just added height to
the Mast and used higher narrower sails to reduce weather helm and the
need for larger rudders and weather helm, with the slowing of the boat
with rudder holding course.

No Peter, I can't ever remembering seeing a "Saddle" used but there are
many things I hasn't seen.


http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ILLDRINKTOTHAT

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:25:57 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

So, what are the downsides to gaff rigs? I know about weight aloft and
possible handling issues with the gaff, but anything else?


Unless you're planning to drop a trawl and run down wind to catch
shrimp, what possible need would you have for it?

Frank

"Thom Stewart" wrote
| No Peter, I can't ever remembering seeing a "Saddle" used but there are
| many things I hasn't seen.


And many more you can't remember seeing. Too much hard liquor kills the ole memory.

The saddle is the thing on the business end of the gaff and the boom that straddles
the mast. It's usually made of wood and takes the place of the gooseneck.

Paladin
(Have Blue Water Yacht - Will Travel)



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Nostalgia?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Frank Boettcher" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:25:57 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

So, what are the downsides to gaff rigs? I know about weight aloft and
possible handling issues with the gaff, but anything else?


Unless you're planning to drop a trawl and run down wind to catch
shrimp, what possible need would you have for it?

Frank