Kayak Sailing

[DISTELTK]

I have a Birder II and would like to add a sailing rig.

I can find all sorts of ideas/plans for making the sail.

I only found 1 site (CLC) that has plans for the outriggers.

Does anyone kow of a site(s) that I can look for information.

Thankx Tom D> Birder II

[Doug Cameron]

Mark Balog at Balog Sail Designs (http://www.baloghsaildesigns.com/) makes fully battened sprit rigs that have been successful in WaterTribe events (We won with a set). He uses blow-up amas, wooden leeboard and aluminum akas that are easy to store and very effective.

Most of the wooden amas I have seen are home-made, some using the CLC design and some original. Prijon/Wildwasser has an interesting rig. watertribe.com is a good source of information and answers to questions, and Bill Herman (Snorebringgator) has posted a link to a sailing video with his new Prijon rig.

Good luck. It's a fun, wet ride, and you won't point as high as a purpose-designed sailboat, but you can put it all in or on top of your car.

[ebenton99]

Some other possibilities:

Spirit Sails: http://www.spiritsails.com/home.shtml

Pacific Action Sails main web site: http://www.pacificaction.co.nz/index.htm

Pacific Action Sails USA Dealers: http://www.pacificaction.com/usdist2.htm

[Doug Cameron]

Yes, I forgot. These are downwind sails. A careful sailor can ise the Spirit Sail or the Pacific Action Sail without outriggers or leeboards, but you c an't get much closer than a broad reach. The advantage is that they are easier to stow when the wind gets too high or stops altogether and the prudent kayaker decides to paddle. One of these had problems with dousing when there was serious wind pressure, but I forget which one. Again, the watertribe.com discussion group is a source of much experience on this topic.

[edt]

I also have a birder II and would Love to add sails. My thoughs so far are something like Tom Macnaughton Lake Sailer. It would be very nice if adding a small keel could get rid of the need for a leeboard...

I would not mind paying a reasonable fee for a design that would have a good chance of working well.

Thanks

Ed Tomlinson

[dstgean]

Most of the relevant options have been covered, but I think you will need to decide if you want a boost when getting somewhere, or you want a sailboat. If you are looking to harness some of the wind on a paddle, get the PA sail or similar. If you are looking to sail, get the Balogh or Wildwasser. Most folks in canoes and kayaks can make better vmg by paddling if their destination is directly to windward.

How do you plan to sail?

Dan :?:

[dstgean]

Most of the relevant options have been covered, but I think you will need to decide if you want a boost when getting somewhere, or you want a sailboat. If you are looking to harness some of the wind on a paddle, get the PA sail or similar. If you are looking to sail, get the Balogh or Wildwasser. Most folks in canoes and kayaks can make better vmg by paddling if their destination is directly to windward.

How do you plan to sail?

Dan :?:

[dstgean]

Most of the relevant options have been covered, but I think you will need to decide if you want a boost when getting somewhere, or you want a sailboat. If you are looking to harness some of the wind on a paddle, get the PA sail or similar. If you are looking to sail, get the Balogh or Wildwasser. Most folks in canoes and kayaks can make better vmg by paddling if their destination is directly to windward.

How do you plan to sail?

Dan :?:

[rosglo]

Hello folks,

I have been using a home-made downwind sail on my Diva for some time now and absolutely love it. Adds another dimension to the kayaking experience. Cheap to make and plenty of thrills on a windy day. See:

http://home.iprimus.com.au/rebyl_kayak/

http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/36/osdgl.html

for details on how it operates and how to put it together.

Ross.

[rosglo]

Hello folks,

Some pics of my Diva with downwind sail:

http://users.tpg.com.au/torglo/DSCN7065.JPG

http://users.tpg.com.au/torglo/DSCN7066.JPG

Ross.