If the bottom of the sail is more than 5 ft long you should have a boom.
This advice comes from books by TF Jones who desgins and builds small
sailboats.

You can look at photos of boonmless small sails on my website (see below)
under "Boats". I don't think you can have a boomless sail which extends
aft of your seating position although I'm not certain of this on the spur
of the moment. Mine have mainsheets I hold directly in my hand and to pull
them in close hauled I have to be just aft of the clew (bottom back corner
of the sail).

A sprit boom is cheap and simple. It is tied to the mast so it does not
require hardware. On my website you can see booms tied to the front of the
sail. They have some advantages which are discussed on the website.


"Melandre" ) writes:

that two things were missing and they could no longer find them: the
centerboard and the rudder.

I figured I could probably build these things so I agreed to take the

Suggest plywood, round the front edge and taper the back edge, then seal
edges with 2-3 coats of resin (polyester or epoxy). Another quick and
easy suggestion is discarded aluminum traffic signs (eg No Parking) cut to
shape. I can buy them at a scrap yard near here. The centreboard should
not be too loose in the case or it will vibrate.




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