Mini CS17 Mizzen For My Canoe Main?

[ricknriver]

Have to delay my CS17 281 build a bit due some medical stuff, but want to get a little frostbite sailing in.  Could I create a 1/2 or 2/3 scale CS17 mizzen from my plans as a main for my 15'x36" 63# Dagger tandem canoe? Would help me learn that rig. Have scrap around for leeboards, mast step, etc.  Anyone tried it? Could I just scale it down % wise?  Would another simple small rig be better. Nothing "exciting", just want to get out and play easy & safe with some upwind capability.  Maybe use it in a Moccasin2 or Birder2 some day.  Canoe Sailing guys have suggested balance lug , lanteen, and some others. Still learning. Thanks, Rick

[Rod Thompson]

Graham will have to speak to scaling down the mizzen.  Does not take much sail to move a canoe along.  I have used lateen. the BDS batwing, and various tarps for canoes and kayaks.  In a canoe the key is to keep the center of effort as low as possible and be able to reef quickly and easily.  Helps if the spars fit within the canoe.  Outriggers add a lot of stability.  Along with the mast step, partner, and lee board, a rudder makes for easier steering.

[Ken_Potts]

  There's no reason you shouldn't be able to scale the mizzen down for use as a canoe sail, but 1/2 scale seems a bit large to me (how many 10 foot masts have you seen on canoes?).  The canoe guys who are suggesting lug and lateen rigs may be doing so because they're lookig for sails with a low center of effort (lug) or short spars (lateen).  I think the best bet is to go with what the canoe sailors use.  I can't remember seeing a sprit-boom rig on a canoe.  It will work just fine but there might be other rigs that will work better.