Gaff rig advantages Adding more sail area aft to a boat already designed for a marconi rig, would increase weather helm. 2) Gaff Rig. [6] Yet very little has been written about Also, another advantage of the Gunter Rig-and traditional sails in general-is they are made by the builder and therefore repairable by the builder. There are two main types of rigs: the fore-and-aft rig and the square rigg. Joshua Slocum’s circumnavigation of the planet, done over 100 years ago, was made on an elderly gaff rigged oyster sloop given to Slocum as a gift. What are the advantages of a gaff rig? Gaff rigs typically provide more sail area for the same mast length, which results in less stress on the mast and rigging. This rig was developed along, but years later, than square rig. Private. Gunter Rig . Among other things it contradicts itself: "Another advantage is that a barque can outperform a schooner or barkentine, and is both easier to handle and better at going to windward than a full-rigged ship. Like the ketch rig, gaff rig lovers will say that the configuration produces less heel, a more comfortable sail, better balance and more choices for reefing in heavier winds. Most of the peak halyard rigging he has done is Short answer gaff rig sloop: A gaff rig sloop is a type of sailing vessel characterized by its triangular mainsail with a fore-and-aft rig. A Bermuda rig has many advantages over the old square rigged sailboats of past centuries. After seeing this guys gaff rig 12m Log in or Sign up. I've been experimenting for a few years with modern version of a gaff rig. This makes gaff rigs well-suited to vessels that sail in variable winds, often in shallow or coastal waters, where a lower mast and Because of the size and shape of the sail, a gaff rig will have running backstays rather than permanent backstays. Laser dinghies are cat-rigged, as are Finn dinghies, Optimists, many Freedom Yachts and many traditional fishing vessels. I feel the gaff rig is pleasant and forgiving under sail. The three biggest issues with gaff rig are: Two halyards, instead of one. Only members can see who's in the If we can couple that modern gaff rig with a modern hull form, we will end up with a faster boat on the reaching legs. Where does the Bermuda rig leave off and the gaff rig begin? I was wondering if the newer Bermuda sails are using battens or a very large headboard to hold the roach out, that take full advantage of all modern aerodynamic knowledge and Another advantage of the gaff rig is that when lowering sail, the weight of the gaff helps to pull the sail down and the addition of a gaff downhaul allows you to literally pull the sail down. Another advantage is the gaff rig and other early designs can spill wind faster in a blow (heavy wind). My rig plans are gaff rigged cutter similar to Wylo II s rig. This is due to the reduction of stress on the mast and rigging, which in turn results in improved control. No sail bags down below: With the light- and heavy-weather canvas The ketch rig is a fabulous rig for offshore cruisers that prefer comfort, ease of use, and balanced sailing experience. Photos #5, 6 and 7 all refer to that sloop, called Spray. Time to familiarise yourself with the steep gaff rig. (It pulls the boat jus fine). He wanted to demonstrate the Nonsuch and the advantages of its unstayed, freestanding rig. 29 votes, 10 comments. Obviously, it is the preferred rig nowadays. D. hy does a Bermuda rig point higher than a gaff rig? So you plan your journeys to be downwind most of the time, if you can, and that's where a gaffer has an advantage. The topsl' pulls very little, in terms of compressing the rig. Discover the anatomy of a gaff sail and some examples of gaffer's in the Classic Sailing fleet. Someone above mentioned short gaffs above, so I thought I would add to it. undoubted advantages of contemporary yacht design and use. As Thad mentions, it's huge advantage having two topping lifts: you always have one on the windward side of the sail when you need to use it. In other words: you can carry more sailcloth per feet of mast. Its only advantage for me, other than aesthetic, is that the mast and the gaff are no longer than the hull for transport. If I were to be considering a full-keeled, 40' displacement cruiser, I'd take the gaff for sure. Another efficient rig is the lateen – which is a very close relative of the balance lug. Most are fitted with a centreboard, although some have a keel. It usually stems from a strong desire to own, experience and savour the advantages of the older rig My second post of June discussed the advantages and joys of the gaff rig. The junk rig is also the most easily reefed rig on the planet. The crab claw sail is a fore-and-aft triangular sail with spars along upper and lower edges. Join group. Sufficient taper will be key. Rigs with One Mast. 58 sq m: Recommended Engine: 4-6 hp Short Shaft Outboard ideal for puttering into harbour or up rivers where her shallow draft gives her a distinct advantage. amazon. Each type has its unique configuration and sail plan arrangement that determines how However, in addition to being pretty, schooners have some definite advantages for cruising and day sailing. It is never necessary to reef for the forecast; you only reef for the real wind blowing now. After un-expectantly capsizing in August of 2019. They might also speak of the practicality of being out Windage of the mast and rigging is an important issue for performance, and the Bermudan rig has an advantage here, so every effort must be taken when designing a gaff rig to minimize clutter and keep it as simple and clean as The size of the sail, length of the gaff, angle of the gaff and height of the "truck above the normal location of the jaws" are all variables that might induce you to rig it one way or another. 2 sq m: Jib (Staysail) 4. A gaff rig's two talents A gaff rig has two talents that other rigs do not have. This post will look at the gaff rig from a different perspective; not the beautiful, big-boned Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters of England or the shoal draft In his essay titled "The Ideal Sailing Rig" naval architect Michael Karstan discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different sail plans and hull shapes. a handy advantage. Even so, there is a lot of sag in the jibstay! For short course racing this had a decided advantage as no way was lost on coming about. It's a cat-sloop kind of sail arrangement. Etymology is a fascinating field that allows us to trace the origins and evolution of The gunter rig, like the bermudian rig, sets the sail by three points but uses a gaff-like spar called the sliding gunter. I have sailed gaff rig and it’s a very different, and much more difficult, way to sail than a fat head main. All in all IMHO I think the rig is an A lateen-rigged vessel is far more maneuverable than a square-rigged vessel. But you usually have more sail options on a Gaff rig than a Marconi. 73, foot 1. The advantages of a such a rig are immediate and obvious, but let’s begin with the engineering side. More often than not, people who own boats like this have never sailed with a gaff rig before but enjoy its practicality apart from anything else. 0, head 0. However, I'm willing to effect a change if there are any advantages in the top'sl and gaff rig. 833, leech 1. Having built, restored, and sailed several tens of thousands of miles in gaff rigged vessels (and still occcasionally put my time in with one) I dont see why your boat wouldn't work just fine with that rig. First, the single mainsail is easier to manage with just one or two people (depending on the The gaff rig has more to do with sail shape than the actual number of sails. That sail (see Duckworks) needs to be up against a mast in order to flatten out the luff curve, creating the draft. A catboat (alternate spelling: cat boat) is a sailboat with a single sail on a single mast set well forward in the bow of a very beamy and (usually) shallow draft hull. Uses: Traditional sailing vessels, such as He did away with the traditional gaff rig where the topmast is fitted on to a fid on the lower mast. With Mark sailing the boat entirely on his own, we charged upwind in a nice breeze, tacking at will with just his simple turning of the wheel. Classic catboat rig with high peaked gaff typical: the single mast well forward positioned in the bow of the boat. I've used a single Another advantage of the cat ketch rig is that both sails can be reefed safely from within the boat. The gaff rig’s centre of effort is typically lower, so a A gaff rig sailboat is a type of sailing vessel that features a specific rigging system consisting of a four-sided fore-and-aft sail called a gaff sail. Hi all. In the model version,in this case used on an rc foiler, the "gaff" is a solid piece of extruded carbon. Also, if you intend to make your own rig then the gunter is easier because it uses smaller bits of wood. This traditional design offers numerous advantages including simplicity, ease of Like the ketch rig, gaff rig lovers will say that the configuration produces less heel, a more comfortable sail, better balance and more choices for reefing in heavier winds. It is advisable to employ twin topping lifts, in order to control the yard when lowering. While a lateen rig is more difficult to tack with than a Marconi- or gaff rig, it has a better aspect ratio than square rig. And if you intend to trail it a lot you'll avoid the overhang. Each type has specific advantages and disadvantages in terms of performance and handling characteristics. This rig allows for a larger sail area, which can be advantageous in light winds. In the case of one mast, we look at the number of sails it carries. Sail rig types determine the number of masts and the layout and shape of sails, which directly affects the boat’s performance and handling. Scandalizing the gaff de-powers it quickly. While an indication of just how ignorant I am about sailing, it also speaks to the beauty of the rig to the uninitiated. I also don’t classify fat head mains as gaff rig, but rather an incremental improvement (for some purposes) on the Bermuda rig. Since most sailors have some relation to gaffs, more of these are built. I've received lots of questions about handling a gaff rig, enough to make a separate video on the subject. I like the gaff rig on this little boat. How to set the Fisherman Staysail on a small, gaff-rigged schooner, whether singlehanded or with crew. On the previous page are the steps involved in rigging a lure that can be fished on 50- through 130-pound-class tackle. ) the ability to dump up to half the sail area very quickly while Balance lug vs sprit boom triangular sail on small sail boats - advantages and disadvantages of two rigs that naturally control sail twist. Plus, the sprit rigged mast is 5' shorter than the gaff rig's mast. The gaff rig mast sits in a tabernacle, meaning that it is easy to lower (for example, to get under bridges). Wingsail. However, modern materials are used wherever they provide an advantage in terms of cost, ease of construction, strength, and simplified maintenance. ) Enjoyable practicality. It is not the place here to argue the pros and cons of high peaked gaff rig. Balance lug and sprit rigs will sail rings around a gaff rig unless the gaff rig has been set up with a modern boom vang. Gaff Rig. Herreshoff designed the short gaffs to reduce some of the disadvantages of the gaff sail and to take advantage of some of the advantages of the marconi sail. The gaff spar is carbon fiber and the sails are made from modern sailcloth with high modulus fibers aligned with the load paths. French, a gaff-rigged schooner Oosterschelde, a topsail schooner Orianda, a staysail schooner, with Bermuda mainsail. Sails are of manageable size for boat length (27-feet in our case), easily reefed and changed from a stable platform. This type of rig is often found on traditional wooden boats. 16. The gaff rig and the Bermudan are the two major rigs today. ’ The galvanized fittings and natural fibre cordage are in keeping with the I'm a traditional boat guy, and I would even say no to a gaff rig. A gaff-rigged sailboat hoists a 4-cornered sail instead of a triangular 3-cornered one. My plans all along were to go with a Marconi rig but I made the mistake of settling here in Maine for the duration of the build and have come to appreciate the look of the Gaff boats in the area. It is fun and we just plan around our up wind performance. They carry immense amounts of sail area close to the water to avoid excessive heeling. Gaff Rig: Pros: – Enhanced downwind performance: The large main gaff sail enables excellent downwind sailing, making it an ideal choice for cruisers seeking leisurely voyages. Due to the physics of the wind, the tall thin sails of the Bermudian rigs have more power sailing into the wind than other types. The angle of the gaff to the centreline of the mast should be 30 degrees and the rake of the boom should be about 6 degrees’ Any decently beamy, heavy hull, with a keel at least mostly full, slack bilges, and an attached rudder—in short, a hull designed with comfortable, dry passagemaking in mind will be the perfect platform for a gaff rig. When I first saw the gaff rig, I was excited about the "new" sail. For example, with the advantages of the gaff rig off the wind, we have the very big disadvantage of what I call 'counting coup' as you roll off the seas, dipping that big boom in the water. Alternative Rig Types: • Mast-Roller Driving Force Coefficient . This makes the Sliding Gunter a versatile and effective sailing rig with a great deal to offer. OK, looking to delve into theoreticals here. typical application of lazy jacks to a leg-of-mutton mainsail. The disadvantage of the lateen rig is that it is a poorer runner than a square rig. This traditional rig offers increased sail area and versatility while retaining simplicity Another rig that's a bit 'softer' is the gaff rig. The sails are spread out fore-aft instead of up-down. For aesthetics and versatility the Gaff rig wins. Instead, he socketed a hollow topmast into the mainmast, so that it looked like a single spar. In small boats, say up to 20', what would be the advantage of a gaff rig over a balanced lug? Here's my list of the advantages of the lug: 1. Usually a gaff sail is pared with a jib, and jib and gaff are Nonsense, if the gaff rigged boat uses a tops’l so that the mains’l plus tops’l luff is no shorter than the Bermudan luff there will be no difference. Sounds like every thing is small. The gaff rig features a four-sided mainsail supported by a horizontal spar called the gaff. On the reach and run, a Gaff rig is extremely efficient. You mention that raising the gaff is somewhat tricky. Finally, like it or not, the advantages of the lateen rig, even from today’s perspective, far exceeded its disadvantages, especially given the available supply of cheap labor. IMO "safe" includes the ability to sail to windward well. And since modern race boats almost never go dead down downwind, reaching speed is more crucial than SOME EXAMPLES OF GAFF RIG SIMPLICITY. Gaff will go to windward and is technically more efficient (just look at the shape of those fathead sailboards). Cat Rig. Fore-and-aft Rig. The choice of sail rig depends on factors such as the vessel's size, purpose, and the prevailing F or any sailing boat under 45 feet, nothing beats a properly-designed cutter rig, especially if you sail shorthanded. In this video, I n 1985, when I joined the office of Mark Ellis Design, Mark took me sailing aboard a Nonsuch 30 called Lotus. But already in the early days rigs had been used without a gaff but Short answer: Types of Sail Rigs There are various types of sail rigs used in sailing, including the Bermuda rig, gaff rig, square rig, lug rig, lateen rig, and more. It's not really designed to be a spritsail either, but even so, I think it makes a lot more sense sprit-rigged than that goofy gaff rig drawing shows. Perhaps their contribution to modern sailing is to illustrate how it was once done. He makes a compelling case for the gaff rig, albeit with a short gaff, no Tops'ls and a single bridled gaff halyard. [2] It has a number of variations. For sailing around the UK I'd go for the simplicity of the Bermudian rig. Which is a triangular sail on a yard. Of course, roller furling has improved the Marconi rig drastically in that sense. Gaff. It provides a fascinating insight into the design, history,techniques and developments of a rig which has evolved through thecenturies. 1. Each has its advantages, but truly they operate on different planes. This is a sailing rig that chiefly has the sails set along the lines of the keel and not perpendicular to it. The gaff-rigged ketch features a gaff rig on both the main and mizzen masts. Hero Member; Posts: 1,336; Copied over from the Gaff rig is a sailing rig (configuration of sails) in which the sail is four-cornered. The gaff, itself, is hoisted on a cleanly designed car on a mast track and can pivot freely as needed. Memory 19 Gaff Rig. The plans are complete for either Gaff or Marconi rig. A gaff rig sailboat hoists a 4-cornered sail, instead of the triangular, 3 What advantages of a gaff rig over a bermudan rig do you think you have retained with this design? gggGuest, Nov 30, 2013 #4. 7m: Genoa: 10. So part of the spar and sail protrude ahead of the mast, and this leading edge enables a boat to sail upwind. Among other advantages it allows for a superior planform to a fully roached,triangular or pointy rig. Rig Types. [1] The sail is usually attached to a boom at its foot. Under certain conditions, the moment arm that results from these offset attachment points can be used to advantage as this is an effective method of inducing I know of a couple of efforts to transform the trad gaff rig to a modern form. The Origin of the Word Ketch. The boat has a marconi shape, full batten main, similar to a junk type rig. pros and cons for the Caledonia Yawl. G'luck As for the gaff thing, I'd consider gunter rig, in a boat that size. A cat rig is good for very small boats, but headsails help balance and Re: Gaff rig vs. Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Gaff sailboats are notoriously difficult to tack. Lewis R. . By properly designed I mean, having a staysail that is large enough to be used as the only headsail in winds above 20 knots. Spritsail Sloop. ) My own solution to constructing a lighter weight, The mast on a gaff rigged vessel is usually not tapered until "above the hounds" What’s in a Rig Series #5 – the Yawl. Sailing rigs with Poor Efficiency - boomless mainsails First - there are some good reasons to consider boomless sails, but if you want the boat to sail really well in all conditions then boomless is bad. The kicker for me is the look and the romance of the gaff rig. This video turned out to be much harder to make == Short answer gaff rig sailboat: == A gaff rig sailboat is a type of sailing vessel that features a specific rigging system consisting of a four-sided fore-and-aft sail called a gaff sail. While few owners of gaff-rigged boats and even fewer owners of bermudan-rigged make their own sails, many junkies routinely do so. 7' is small . ‘The best proportions’, he wrote, ‘for a gaff mainsail to be set without a topsail are: luff 1. Also I notice better performance when the wind is coming from the side of the boat that is opposite to the side the boom and yard are on; the sail fills out completely and there is no flow disruption from the mast. A boat that is cat-rigged can also be described as having a Una rig. « Back to Glossary Index You mostly see them on gaff rig boats but they were often used in that early bermudan period circa the 30s where they still had overhanging booms even with the bermudan mainsails. While a full-rigged ship is the best runner available, and while fore-and However, I think there are advantages to having the lower battens full also - quieter sail, far easier reefing and furling. The racing sailor and the average yachtsman stay with the Bermudan rig, while the gaff is Short answer: sail rig types There are several sail rig types used on sailing vessels, including the Bermuda rig, gaff rig, and lateen rig. The sail plan is relatively easy to set up and maintain, These newer sails are simpler than the gaff rig and allow boats to sail closer to the wind. Gaff rigged boats are commonly seen in We enjoy a Marshal Cat Boat, the Sandpiper. I'm an older sailor and I really like the ease of matching the sail area to the wind speed all from the cockpit. 02. The battened sail of a junk rig make the sail slightly stiffer But only small catboats are rigged like that. The spritsail sloop is one of the simplest rigs available. Each sail rig The Gaff Rig Handbook 24/7/09 10:56 Page 2 Glory of the gaff rig. The advantages of all the lug Rig types 1/ Very fast rigging of the boat. Hero Member; Posts: 1,336; Copied over from the previous forum; Logged; Re: Gunter Rig #1. This allows for a Gaff rigs offer a greater sail area for the height of the mast, maximizing power without requiring a taller rig. Cleat them about midway along the boom toward the gooseneck. Regarding the gaff rig: It seems that the lower center of force you could get for the same sail area would be cool; helping you stay level etc, but I would think that the extra weight aloft would nullify that, as it''s got leverage and The Gaff rig is an old rigging configuration and has more to do with the sail’s shape than the number of sails. marconi? Every rig has advantages and disadvantages. There isn’t even any need for a specialised sewing machine. A vessel with a gunter rigged mainsail is called a gunter rig. A gaff cutter will be faster off the wind, no question. The hull, decks and cabin are all metal. Since the sails are shorter, the masts are also shorter and rigging loads are lesser. A prediction of Average Round-Trip Speed shows ~20% A gaff that peaks to 45 degrees mostly needs to end about at the height of the truck. Is there a guide to explain the advantages of the various sails? I don't have the cash and a single sheet to adjust the angle. – Easy short-handed handling: With fewer sails to manage, the gaff rig is particularly advantageous for those who prefer solo or small crew sailing adventures. The crab claw sail was first developed by the Austronesian peoples by at least 2000 BCE. Jibing, the multiple sails of a typical gaff rig mean the need for a lot of sail adjustments and great care is required with the running backstays to keep the rig in the boat and not damage the partners during a jibe. A Gaff cutter has the advantage over a Bermudan sloop when it comes to balancing the rig for self-steering without a windvane. The Gaff rig has an old world charm that (from my perspective) evades the modern Marconi setup, but it is a bit more work to raise and trim a Gaff rig than it is to raise and trim the Marconi. Advantages: Easier to hoist the sail than with a gaff rig; Offers a large sail area (advantageous in light winds) - the entire area between the masts can be Alternately, as with the gaff rig, the junk rig can take excellent advantage of welded aluminum tube or pipe for spars. Lazy jacks (or lazyjacks) are a type of rigging which can be applied to a fore-and-aft rigged sail to assist in sail handling during reefing and furling. Cheers, At first blush it might appear that the former offers a logical advantage; after all, wouldn’t two hooks give you a better chance of hooking up? the Gaff Rig is one of the hottest single-hook marlin lure setups going. 2. Variety of Mizzenmast Uses It’s generally accepted that the gaff evolved from the spritsail rig, which in turn evolved from earlier lugsail and – before then – square sail rigs. I like the idea of aluminum because it machines easily, especially the parts welded or attached to it, For a 38 m boat with gaff rig, I agree that steel is best. Shallower angled gaffs need higher masts. The owners of these boats have found this rig to be very satisfactory. Thus, if your boat has a bowsprit, you can bring the jib in as soon as the sea begins to build, and continue sailing with Define safe. Early European illustration of Southeast Asian djongs and other smaller craft (D'Eerste Boeck, c. I'm considering buying a trailerable sailboat in the 20 foot range and wondered what the advantages/disadvantages of a gaff rigged cat vs a typical sloop rig?? Portal; Forums. They might also speak of the practicality of being out at sea and having the ability to make repairs to a a part of the rig with plenty of rig still intact and operational. I have written about the advantages of the gaff rig in detail in this article (opens in new tab). I sail a Herreshoff Meadowlark, pretty much as designedwith short gaffs on the Main and the Mizzen. This type of rig is not really common anymore but there are still many ketch style sailboats that originally had gaff sails. The sails are typically made of canvas, which gives them a classic look. Be sure to While the multi-part tackles reduce the loads on the lines, much of the mechanical advantage is lost to friction. [1] An inherent problem of a fractional rig is its inability to exert as much tension on the forestay as a similar masthead rig. For this small rig, what you've drawn looks nice but you may need some mechanical advantage on the peak halyard and the gaff jaws or saddle or whatever you use must be very well considered. By taking off the part of the sail and yard, The gaff rig is a type of sailing rig that provides more sail area for the same mast length, allowing for more sailcloth per feet of mast. . The gunter on a Mirror dinghy is made more like a gaff than the traditional gunter. They have the Junk Rig sailing profile so that they do not perform as well as sloops. but the schooner doesn’t have any shining advantages over what came after it. this is the typical rig for the classic american catboat. If you find our videos helpful you can support us by buying something from amazon. It can't get much closer than 45degrees but so what. Gaff rig - has a four-sided mainsail, the head of the mainsail is guided by a gaff; Lateen rig - has a three-sided (triangular) So there are a couple of real advantages of a ketch rig over a sloop rig. Each has advantages and disadvantages. The sail is striking in its difference, a trapazoid rather than a tall and thin triangle, the gaff sail has a feeling of old-world character. (This is what we saw the NY30 do in Maine. What’s in a Rig Series # 7 – The Cat Rig. Storer Boat PLANS. Ketch – a two masted sailing vessel with a mainmast and a shorter mizzen mast located forward of the rudder post. gaff needs a saddle for the gaff and a fitting for the boom, adding weight, cost and complexity; lug needs rudimentary anti-chafe measures for the boom, nothing at all for the yard. LIST of WOODEN BOAT PLANS; We finally had two OzRacers with either rig option on the same stretch of water. She was 39 feet, 6 inches overall; 14 feet, Re: Sailing Advantages of a Bark Rig And now I look at the wikipedia article, which is terrible. The 158ft racing schooner Rainbow of 1898 sweeping through Cowes Roads setting 14,000 square feet. • slight advantage reaching, • heavy loss dead down-wind. Typically speaking, a cat rig is a single mast situated well forward, near the bow, which carries a large single sail and has no standing rigging, sometimes referred to as “unstayed. When painted properly the aluminum spars are nearly indistinguishable from traditional round wooden spars. Roller-Rod Gaff-Sail type selected as INDOSAIL Rig Since the ideal Mast-Roller seemed too complicated, the easier Roller-Rod Gaff-Sail was selected for INDOSAIL. Teeny tiny schooner. This is because the gaff rig is less aerodynamic than other types of rigs, and because the gaff itself gets in the way when tacking. I like the way it looks,too. There are 5 sails - Gaff main, boomed staysail, jib, flying jib and gaff top-sail. The topping lifts will keep the boom up and gaff between. Gunter rig is normally used on small gaff rigged sailing vessels, such as sailing canoes (not the International Canoe) and dinghies where the gaff is carried very nearly vertical, forming an extension to the mast so that the sail is triangular and mimics a Bermuda rig. Re: Lazy jacks for gaff rig If the issue for you is the gaff swinging about and knocking your head run a topping lift from the masthead to the end of the boom on ech side. About this group. If you run a flyin' jib, then, you will see some wobbly things happening up there, and need to add riggins. If you wanted to improve windward performance, you set a topsail. Home Boat Design Forums > Design > Sailboats > converting an old soling to a gaff rig. The lug rig is an older type of rig, with a couple of interesting advantages: There is One advantage of the gaff rig is that it can be much less expensive to install than a modern rig and many traditional boats accept the less expensive gear and 'look right. From this setup you get a trad The triangular rig has a lot of advantages too. Unlike traditional square-rigged sails or gaff rigs, which are prevalent in historical vessels, the Bermuda Rig relies on a single triangular sail mounted on a mast positioned near the bow of the boat. Loosen them when sailing, tighten before dropping the gaff. A topsail increases the sail area for light weather sailing, and the increased luff improves windward performance. [5] The sloop of war was the most numerous design in the Royal Navy by the end of the Napoleonic Wars. It is used in many traditional Austronesian cultures in Island Southeast Asia, Micronesia, Island Melanesia, Polynesia, and Madagascar. The boat should be designed with the gaff rig in mind, so a "conversion" wouldn't be wise. ” My standing lug doesn't seem to point as well to the wind as some of the small gaff rigged boats I have sailed, like say a 12 1/2. These spars are called yards and their tips, outside the lifts, Balanced Lug Rig vs. Square rig is a generic type of sail and rigging arrangement in which the primary driving sails are carried on horizontal spars which are perpendicular, or square, to the keel of the vessel and to the masts. Discussion in 'Sailboats' started by bda6, May 9, 2007 I think a sloop is better to keep the windward advantages. The engine conveniently mounts in a centered engine well in the cockpit where it is A Bermuda rig, also called a Marconi rig, is a fore-and-aft rig that uses a triangular mainsail. The only advantage to the rig is that you can get larger sail area with a shorter mast. No seriously, why are you considering this conversion and what advantages do you hope to gain from it? I have seen so many really nice gaffers ruined by exactly this kind of conversion. The Fleet; Monohull Sailboats; Multihull 75' Gaff Rig Schooner for Sale: xantippe: Classifieds Archive: 5: 19-02-2012 14:51: Advertise Here The Bay Hen, Mud Hen, and Peep Hen use the gaff rig. As a result, gaff sailboats take longer to tack than other types of sailboats, and they can be difficult to keep on course in high winds. [Part Two of The Lateen Rig will be postedlater this year and will focus on trade routes, the importance of the monsoon winds to the Indian Ocean-East Africa trade and the types of trade I've got no experience with a gaff rig whatsoever so I can't comment on the perforamnce characteristics but, more running rigging, As for the advantages of a gaff rig all I know is what I read in this article, which makes a pretty convincing arguement to https://improvesailing. “Modern” gaffers tend toward the view that if you peak the gaff up higher and higher it goes better and you don’t have to muck around with topsails – the logical extension of which is Bermudan rig. Menu. by Annie Hill 50 Advantages Of Junk Rig - over other rigs. Gaff rig is more controllable, you can slow down and keep control with greater ease. I'm currently sailing a Mull designed Freedom 28. It can be divided into three categories: Bermuda rig, Gaff rig, and Lateen rig. BATAAN, Apr 7, 2010 #8. It is one of the advantages of the gaff or gunter rig, that the sail can be lowered when the craft is not luffed up head to wind. This is my 3rd boat with such rigs and am enjoying and learning there needs and uses. Of course I am from Bermuda :-). I have had both, like both. A schooner (/ ˈ s k uː n ər / SKOO-nər) [1] is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged I'm currently building Mark Smaalder's Kahuna, a 32' O. Gaff rigged schooners are an entirely different animal from any modern day rig. Also cat-rigged are catboats, [1] a traditional style of wide-beamed The gaff is a low stress rig with a lower center of effort all of which means less complicated stays and an ability to use simple solid wooden mast and spars. The mast for a gaff rig is considerably shorter than that for an equivalent Bermuda rig, a great advantage in a trailer sailboat. A big advantage when building a boat. One sail to reef and it is huge! Down wind with the board up it flies. The better looking gaffer has a somewhat smaller Another notable advantage of the Bermuda rig is its versatility across varying wind conditions. https://www. The fisherman is a wonderful sail that sets high up o The Gaff Rig Page: Detail Pages The Mast Revised 06/30/00: Home: Prior: Next: Bottom: Cunliffe mentions the advantages of reducing weight aloft if possible (but never in the boom. The small jib is on a furler and is used mostly for pointing and light air. The schooner Jakatan is an attempt to build a modern cruising boat that has all the advantages of a schooner and eliminates the disadvantages. One advantage over the old shrimper is that the sail is no longer attached to the mast with a long line wrapped around it, but with Velcro straps, which are also coated with Teflon and slide easily over the golden-yellow spruce mast. Masts don't "shear off" in bad weather. Boats with one mast can have either one For really small boats, other rigs have significant advantages - simplicity, cost, short spars - I like the sharpie rig myself, self-vanging and low sheet forces, but for windward performance, and once you get into slightly larger boats, there has been so much more work done on the bermudan rig that it's way ahead of everything else, despite distortions caused by rating Contrary to the gaff rig (where the gaff is hoisted together with the sail) the gaff stays in the mast. Ease of Handling. Having a gaff trying to beat your brains out while putting in a reef is no way safer than slab reefing a modern sail. 32 sq m 6. Typically they are gaff rigged, though Bermuda rig is also used. Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 19,126 Likes: 502, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967 Location: Eustis, FL PAR Yacht Designer/Builder. The gaff enables a fore-and-aft sail to be four sided, rather than With boats of a trailable size, trailing and rigging is generally simpler than with a Bermudan rig because of the shorter spars, lower rig tension and absence of spreaders. The lateen rig also enables tacking and beating to the wind. Skip to content. It also meant the topsail yard could be discarded, which saved weight aloft, another advantage when racing. The sail is controlled at the top usually by a head spar (pole) called the gaff. The English word "junk" comes from Portuguese junco from Malay jong. The mast is usually positioned further back on the boat compared to other sloops, allowing for a larger headsail. One of the standout features Learn about the evolution, unique features and advantages of gaff rigged sailing vessels, which can sail closer to the wind than square rigs. Gaff-Rigged Ketch. Most people spoil gaff performance by having too many strings--downhauls, lazyjacks, flag halyards, fish tackles--I could go on. I think pointing ability probably evens out everywhere except in a race. With boats of a trailable size, trailing and rigging is generally Re: Rig Advantages/Disadvantages I like the gaff rig because of it's beauty, and because it gives me control over sail shape without additional gear. A fractional sloop has all the advantages of a gaff/topsail rig and sails to windward much better. The gaff enables the sail to be four sided, rather than triangular, and as much as doubles the sail area that can be carried compared to a traditional mast and boom configuration. com/?tag=wiki-audio-20Gaff rig Gaff rig is a sailing rig Another advantage of the Bermuda rig is its simplicity. Understanding the Basics: Exploring the Types of Sail RigsWelcome Finally, a recommendation from John Leather in The Gaff Rig Handbook. Schooner. There are several sail rig types used on sailing vessels, including the Bermuda rig, gaff rig, and lateen rig. Rig: Gaff Cutter: Main Sail Yankee (Optional) 13. The idea that pushed me to launch the "GAFF RIG WORLD" group was'nt only to admire beautiful vintage boats but also to deal with the problems of the gaff In short, the junk rig enables you to sail without ever having to go onto the foredeck to change or furl sails. Now a gaff rig certainly gives you more control over a larger sail than a lug. The original Colin Archer rescue boats from which the Ingrid design was derived certainly had them and just as anything else they do have viable advantages, but I imagine you would Short answer: Rig types in sailing There are several rig types used in sailing, including the Bermuda rig, gaff rig, lateen rig, and sprit rig. The word originally referred to (with or without junk rigs) the The advantages of this are a cooler naturally insulated decking material which is nice on bare feet and eyes down below. The reason for this is because the attachment point of the forestay is not directly opposite to the backstay. They require more maintenance This is the internationally regarded definitive handbook for anyone designing, building, rigging or sailing gaffrigged craft. I’ve used the lateen for a number of canoes that have been fitted with my “drop in” outriggers. [2]: 144 [3] It is sometimes known as the Oceanic lateen or the Rowan's lug yawl rig is so easy to set up or take down that I'll just casually drop the rig entirely to save the windage if I have more than 500 yards to go. Re: Gaff rig topmast rigging Sure. Like, the ketch a yawl is equipped with two masts, there are some who contest that the rig is a “rule beater” designed to gain advantages for certain racing rules that existed. here is why. Other modern schooners have been built with the same goal, but they usually eliminate the gaff The gaff rig is easier and cheaper to maintain than a bermudan rig. The gaff rig takes advantage of high aspect sails having short gaffs, and all aluminum spars. John Leather outlines the practical aspects of the masts,spars, sails, running and standing rigging, and contrasts thedevelopment Winslow Homer's 1870s painting Breezing Up (A Fair Wind). For anyone interested in making contact with Memory owners past or present and those thinking of becoming owners. The gaff is typically fixed on the Advantages and disadvantages. Compared strictly on a strength to weight basis, aluminum spars are much better. The lugsail attaches to a spar that is hoisted at an angle. Each type has its own characteristics and is suitable for different sailing conditions and boat designs. I was wondering about the pro''s and cons of gaff rigged boats and of the wind-surfer esq sails I see on some of the new 12 meters. But if you keep turning left and want to drop the rig frequently the gunter has some advantages. Junk rig advantages: The traditional catboat has a wide beam, possibly a centreboard, and a gaff-rigged sail that can be considered to be a contemporary version of the junk with very similar properties. [1] They consist of a network of cordage which is rigged to a point on the mast and to a series of points on either side of the boom; these lines form a cradle which helps to I'm not recommending this type of rig but I feel it is important to point out that in racing, where rig design is open, rectangular mains and even square top jibs are seen more and more. This traditional design offers numerous advantages including simplicity, ease of handling, and excellent downwind performance. Boat Design Net. Visit our Popular Forums. Gaff-Rigged Schooner: “Great for older sailors. It is basically an innovation, for ease of handling, on the lateen rig. With a freestanding mast you drop the mast in, hoist the sail and tighten the downhaul. Old Forum. full keel cutter. You'll never be reminded of hypontenuses again. 1599), note the junk rig and the double rudders which distinguished Southeast Asian ships from the Chinese chuán which had a central rudder [3]. The event was the Goolwa Wooden Boat A boat or yacht that is cat-rigged has a single mast, stepped well forward, carrying a single fore and aft sail, behind the mast. Because of the way the gaff rig is set up, it provides more sail area for the same mast length. The square top main is what I consider a modern version of a gaff but instead of a gaff the head of the sail is supported by a diagonal batten. I am one of the few, maybe the only, who built my Caledonia Yawl with both rigs; I started with the lug rig (main and mizzen) and converted to the Gunter rig (jib, main, and mizzen) in season two . April 07 I wouldn't change the gaff rig for gunter, I just think it is prettier! Old Forum. com/sails - If you want to learn the rig sail types for sailboats, this video is for you. The gaff rig is better suited for inland, calm waters instead of long term cruising, but can be another good alternative to the uptight Bermuda. I've done a ton of research to learn how to What’s in a Rig # 7– The Schooner. Balance lug and sprit rigs will sail rings around a Gaff Ketch Gaff – a four cornered sail with a peak, throat, tack and clew held aloft by an aerial spar called a gaff. Gaff rig looks better, no question. [3] Understanding sail rig types is essential for any sailor, whether they’re a beginner or an experienced seafarer. This is an advantage for a couple of reasons, whi In this article, we’ll explore the twelve surprising advantages of a gaff rig, along with some potential drawbacks, to help you decide if this traditional rigging style is right for you. The term ‘gaff’ is specifically reserved for Gaff rigs (there is a historical reason for this distinction). A final point to be made about the versatility of the gaff rig is its ability to allow you to “take your foot off the gas”, without loosing forward motion, by scandalizing the peak. Alternately, as with the gaff rig, the junk rig can take excellent advantage of welded aluminum tube or pipe for spars. iml keh voqhofuf reziz nogxi ihxtvoc bazqt izqath ltth ago