Howard Posted April 8, 2005 Posted April 8, 2005 The Cat/Ketch (CK) rig has really got me intrigued. Would love to sail one. In the meantime, I've got some questions about them. When rigged with a sprit, where does the sail go when you reef or drop the sail? Do you rig a sort of Jackline basket below the sprit? Is the clew of the sail/sprit suspended with a topping lift? How do you use a sail cover or what suspends it when it's not in use, such as at the dock or at anchor? My reference is flaking the main on a boom with the boom supported by a topping lift or boom crutch. Does the luff of the sail attach to the mast with slugs or rings? (Wondering how the sail can be let forward of the beam unless rings are used). If rings are used, do they not skin up the mast? If you do let the sail out forward of the beam, does this just require a really long sheet? I am imagining a main sheet, fixed to the end of a boom and how long that would have to be to let it out past 90 degrees. And with nothing to hold it down, also seems like the sail would need to be vanged down. Again, my reference for either the main or jib is to have a sheet to pull down on the clew. The sprit may eliminate this. When you reef, do you move the sprit and sheet at the clew or how does this work? Perhaps someone could walk me through the reeefing process, assuming you are rigged to do that from the cockpit. What would be the total sail inventory for a cruising boat? Has anyone ever rigged sheet to tiller self-steering. If so, which sheet did you usel? Main or mizzen? Like I said....just a few questions!!! (and I'm just getting warmed up....so this could be a long weekend for you if this bores you!) Howard Quote
Howard Posted April 8, 2005 Author Posted April 8, 2005 Ooops. Brain cramp. Jackline should have been Lazy Jack. Mistake like that could get a fella flogged if his skipper was an anal retentive type. Howard Quote
Designer Posted April 8, 2005 Posted April 8, 2005 Howard, Some of the answers to your questions change with the size of boat and rigging choices so I will assume you are talking about a larger boat such as a Princess. I attach the sheet to the end of the sprit. The sail needs slides with a track on the mast. Hoops / rings won't pass by the snotter. The sail can be eased way forward of the beam when slides are used but it is necessary to ease the snotter as it will tighten. Because the sheet loads are much lower than a boomed sail you don't need as much sheet purchase so the sheet would not be any longer than a boomed sail and still allow you to ease the sail way forward. A topping lift can be rigged similar to a sloop. Unless the boat is very large I drop the sail to the deck or cabin top, then release the clew from the sprit and stuff the sail into its bag while leaving the slides on the sail track. On a larger boat I would use a wishbone and make a cradle out of lines slung under wishbone. A sail cover could be made to fit. That is how the Nonsuch boats are rigged. Reefing is just like on any boomed sail with the exception that the snotter is the outhaul. First ease the halyard then the sheet if you are close hauled, take in the clew reefing line, take in the tack reefing line and adjust the sheet and snotter and tidy up the foot of the sail if necessary. It could be rigged with single line reefing. I would be happy with a well made main and mizzen with three reefs in each sail and a mizzen staysail for light air. You could carry a storm trysail if you felt the need. I long ago gave up on sheet to tiller self steering as being too tedious and temperamental. A good wind vane is not that hard to build. As a point of interest If you look at page 11 of the current West Marine master catalog you will see that the president of West Marine has just sailed his 60' Wylie designed cat ketch to Polynesia. Quote
Bruce Leonard Posted June 14, 2005 Posted June 14, 2005 Graham, A few questions regarding sails for the CS 20: How much sail area does the staysail add? Regarding the storm trisail, how big is it and how, where is it rigged and hoisted? Quote
Travis Votaw Posted June 14, 2005 Posted June 14, 2005 Howard, the best way to get some of your questions answered is to whiz over to OKC and take a spin with me on Pilgrim Quote
Guest Posted June 14, 2005 Posted June 14, 2005 1476.4 miles, 22 hours 42 mins Be right there. :wink: Quote
Designer Posted June 14, 2005 Posted June 14, 2005 Bruce, The mizzen staysail for the CS20 is 92 square feet. We have never felt the need for a storm trysail on a CS20. On larger boats, a storm trysail is usually one step smaller than the reefed mainsail and often has a reef built into it. It usually has it's own sail track beside the normal track so that the main can be stowed and the trysail can be hoisted without removing the main. With a combination of reefs and the two masts you should be able to find a sail combination for whatever weather you would be out sailing in. The only threat that I can think of is if you got caught out in a wicked thunder squall. I would douse the sails and heave-to or put out the anchor and wait it out and then sail on after it passes. Quote
Scott Dunsworth Posted June 14, 2005 Posted June 14, 2005 Travis, I would like to do that one day 697 miles Scott Quote
Travis Votaw Posted June 14, 2005 Posted June 14, 2005 Rides are available, folks. Just give me a call, or an email . Quote
Guest Posted June 14, 2005 Posted June 14, 2005 You may not like me on your boat. I get sea sick. Oh thats right, you are on a lake. Quote
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