Steve W Posted September 4, 2012 Report Posted September 4, 2012 I launched the Suzy J, my 11N recently. I'll have pictures soon. I love this boat, and how well it sails. But I intended my kids to sail it and they are a bit frustrated. I built it exactly as designed. I guess I wasn't thinking clearly about the simplicity of the rig. It is tough to row it out and get it rigged and sailed. The sail controls that give its rig all of its performance make it not so handy if you are only 12 and 10 and sail Sunfish, but want a drier boat. Has anyone adapted a simpler rig to one of these boats that would be more appropriate for kids? Lateen? Sprit, etc. Or do you have tips to help my kids and I rig it faster. I'd give up performance for simplicity and a quicker launch. Take Care, Steve Quote
Hirilonde Posted September 4, 2012 Report Posted September 4, 2012 I can see how you might want it to rig easier, but what could be more simple to sail than a sheet and vang? Quote
PinoyPiper Posted September 4, 2012 Report Posted September 4, 2012 I can see how you might want it to rig easier, but what could be more simple to sail than a sheet and vang? that would be.... just a sheet How's about a lug rig like on Amanda or Goat Island skiff? but Dave's right it is a fairly simple rig. Another alternative might be to convert to sail track instead of sleeved ones? (just assuming that's what you have now) as it's definitely easier to pull a halyard then to step a mast on the water. If your kids need to row out prior to rigging where do they stow their oars? I had 7' oars on my S11N and couldn't find a place to put them away when sailing on an 11' boat. Quote
Steve W Posted September 4, 2012 Author Report Posted September 4, 2012 There are a number of things that make it sort of complicated. An optimist it isn't, but it isn't a complaint. I knew whwn I got the sail it was going to get complicated. 1. The sail has a zippered sleave. Great for performance, not so good for a kid who has to pull on a halyard while holding a zipper and can't douse the sail quickly without going forward to unzip. 2. the big sail makes it haul a#$. Unfortunately, it needs to be reefed by my two light kids and the jiffy reefing adds lines and complexity. Again, I'm not complaining. Sailing it myself is a hoot! 3. the big sail means the main sheet is riged 2:1. It's long! We sail up north in fresh water where it is common to need to row out through the vegetation to set sail and then rig. the kids are struggling and not able to do that. When the three of us sail together, they seem pretty excited we built a boat they are actually sailing. I guess the ideal thing to do would be to rig a different, simpler (again, think optimist or sunfish), ower performance rig, and let them sail. Take Care, Steve. Quote
Hirilonde Posted September 5, 2012 Report Posted September 5, 2012 Another alternative might be to convert to sail track instead of sleeved ones? (just assuming that's what you have now) as it's definitely easier to pull a halyard then to step a mast on the water. If I knew what I know now when I built mine I would surely have done this!!!!! As mine is primarily a tender I would like to lower the sail at the dinghy dock, when returning to Hirilonde or going anywhere instead of taking down the mast. If your kids need to row out prior to rigging where do they stow their oars? I had 7' oars on my S11N and couldn't find a place to put them away when sailing on an 11' boat. I like the take apart oars with brackets in the foreward hull pictured on the B&B site. Some day............. Quote
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