April 30, 2006
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Duckworks
What a great little online magazine for amateur boatbuilders. Lots of helpful tips from people who’ve “been there, done that.” (And Matt says the Internet is only good for porn. . . . hah!)
One of the biggest problems with my current sailboat is that it is difficult to rig in windy weather because of the loose-foot-design. The second problem is I cannot reef the sail in stormy weather, which can crop up very quickly in our area. (For some reason, our canyon attracts tornadoes and other quickly-arising storm fronts.) The two-part mast design requires that I tip the boat sideways in order to get the mast in. This is inconvenient for any number of reasons. Last problem, and the least of my concerns, Matt, even hunched over in the cockpit, is always a prime candidate for getting hit with the boom before we’ve fully hoisted the mainsail. The last problem is easily solved by installing a topping lift.
However, the rest of my gripes can only be solved by making a new rig altogether.
The website I mention above has some interesting tips from others.
