Well the life of a work’n man is pretty good. I really enjoy the people around me and the environment is great. We are going to light up the marina with WIFI, KEWL!
I’m already doing some shopping in my head. The biggest and most important item on the hit list is a down wind sail. I’d like to hear some suggestions. I had a drifter on Namaste and used it all the time. A drifter isn’t like a traditional spinnaker as it has a wire in the luff (from head to tack) and is more of a light-air jib. It had plenty of UMPH for Namaste and kept her going in 4 to 12 knots of wind. Splendid is a phatter girl though. I do have a spinnaker pole and track on Splendid but have never owned a spinnaker. I’m trying to figure out if I want a traditional symmetrical sail, or an A-Sym??? Don’t really know. Any input would be appreciated. I want something that I can handle by myself if need be. I also want to be able to reach or deep reach with the sail.
I also want a storm main on a separate track. As soon as I have the money I’ll build a bowsprit for Splendid. I’ll move the jib forward and put in another furling for the cutter. I’m also thinking of putting a roller furling on the triatic. I’ve seen a few ketch’s rigged like that over the years and the owners swore by the extra sail. I saw a boat like that in Panama. My friends and I all paid homage to such a cool rig every time we passed in the dinghy.
I’m putting the idea of fixing my generator out of my head, SIMPLE,SIMPLE,SIMPLE! I want splendid light, simple, and as nimble as she can be. She isn’t a light displacement boat but that doesn’t mean I can’t keep her lean & mean. If I could get away with never turning over the motor again I’d do it.
Peace everyone.
Sail far and live slowly.
– Alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
asym’s are badass, and easily handled by one person.
do the triadic thing! bet you could set one up on a furler for less than 600bucks!
if you decide to “lighten up” by throwing out 4 or 500lbs in tools, let me know! haw haw
Darrin,
Less down wind power in a A-sym though. I just checked my rig and only have one forward halyard. I’ll need to put a block at the mast head for 2 more. I think I’m leaning to an A-sym for ease of use.
i domt understand one thing you wrote bu i think you put some information about the girls on your log-what are they involved with and how do they spend their time-tjis would be most appreciated—you are so busy are they
I agree with Darrin. I’ve got a North Sails asymmmmmetrical sail with the cool sock douser thing that came with my S2 9.2. I use it with an ATN tacker, works great. I’ve raised it when I thought I had almost no chance of sailing and bang, off you go. I don’t have a good whisker pole, but I imagine poled out in light wind it would fill pretty easily. You’d need a long pole, though.
Saw your discussion on the genset a few blogs ago, thought maybe that was a little counter to the new Project GreenSphere philosophy. I’ve got a small diesel generator, raw water cooled, piece of junk. I could use the weight and space for something (anything) else. A Honda 2000 might be nice for power tools and a battery charge, but I won’t dork around with a diesel genset on a small boat again.
P, L, and C!
Don
Yea go with the Asym. Easy to fly and douse. If you want to pole it out all you have to do is run a line (guy) from your rail midships to the tackline. Pole out the windward side and ease your tackline while taking up on your guy on the rail. You can really run deep with a asym that way, but for ease of use you can also fly it without the pole. Brandon
Suggest you look into the Code Zero sails. I’ve been reading about them and the few that have them like them better the longer they have them. One big plus is you can rig the furler and leave it up. Here is a thread on one of the forums about them:
http://cruising.sailboatowners.com/forums/CSBB/index.cgi?read=151996
Cheers,
John
OH! i almost forgot.
check out that place in st. pete that i got my new main sail from… masthead somethin’ or another..
http://www.mastheadsailinggear.com
they have TONS of used sails and they’re pretty cheap, plus, being in jacksonville, you’d have your sail in a couple days.
Alex – I have used a symetrical spinnaker as you would an asmetrical by using a short section of line from the tack of the sail to some point on the bow pulpit or other obvious spot on the pointy end of the boat. You can make the tack easily adjustable which helps with sail shape. Fly it with or without a pole depending on wind strength and it works surprisingly well. I jibe it by allowing it to cross in front of the head stay. Pretty simple and it works really well. Used symetrical spinnakers are pretty cheap and it doesn’t have to be exactly the right size just somewhere close. Works especially well with the main down and out of the way all the way from a beam to a broad reach. Maybe you could borrow a sail from someone and experiment. I bought a used spinnaker off a slightly smaller boat, so as not to be easily overpowered and it works like a champ.
Take care,
Kirk
Kirk,
Good hearing from you. I’m thinking I’ll have a few options. I am looking at symmetrical sails, hoping to find something used in about a 1 – 1.5 oz material. I’d like something about 1/2 oz at a later time as another option.
I’ve been doing alot of research the last few days and hoping the right sail falls onto my deck, or into my lap if you know what I men.
Are you comming to visit me in the San Blas when I get there?
-Alex
Alex,
I’m looking to remove my R/F staysail and go with a hank-on with a moveable stay. The sail is in great shape, though I’m not fond of the furler (works alright but I’d prefer a different brand). I’d trade you for a hank-on staysail and the parts to hook it up if you’re interested.
-Brian
Hi Alex
In reading your trials and tribulations with the small Kabota I realized I had read the same story before. I suggest you exchange a few emails with Bill Gord. He and his wife sail a Spencer 44 on the left coast. You can see some of their posts about the small Kabota at http://7milesys.com/LanikaiUnderway/category/repairs/
Good Luck Bill
Brian,
How big of a hank on jib are you looking for? I have the old cutter on board, I think it’s a yankee, never really had it out of the bag but I could take a look.
we have a 3/4 oz chute and just added a 160% tri-radial furling reacher on an extended bowsprit. its awesome so far.
DONT fall for the 1.5oz “Cruising chute” 1.5 oz is cheaper but a chute is for light air. 1.5oz will suck for light air compared to 3/4oz. i’ve flown my 3/4 chute in 22knots surfing along waves at almost 8 knots (with a 27′ waterline) I think sailmakers get the cheaper 1.5oz stuff and sell it to americans because we think heavier and stronger is always better. The furler i am using i got for $8 at a swap meet, the reacher was made by my friend Tony who has been a sailmaker for 30 years and i am echoing his admonitions about the 1.5oz chute. He has a furling 4.5oz reacher (like the one he made me) and the chutehe carries for his very racey Hunter 45 is a 3/4oz chute. in less than 10 downwind i will fly the chute using my awesome dousing sock and in light air upwind i will fly the reacher. tho in all likelihood i might not use our chute in more than 5 or 6 knots true because the reacher is so easy.
Cheers,
Adam
http://www.sailestrella.com