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Step 5Simplest Sail
It's traditional to agonize over sail shape.
If you're in a hurry a rectangular 5'x7' army poncho will work well as a spritsail on a canoe.
The extra stick at the bottom isn't necessary.
It's called the "boom" because of the noise it makes when it hits your passenger in the head.
This sail is tuned for very light wind. When you tighten the "snotter" to raise the sprit as seen here, that puts belly into the front part of the sail. Good for light winds. In heavy winds you can remove the sprit entirely. The peak of the sail flops over and doesn't draw.
That's called "scandalizing" the sail. It looks bad but it works fine. It reduces the sail area by almost half and the area that's left is very low and easy to manage.
Notice the sticks the canoe is sitting on. If you make a little stick railroad like this you can drag your canoe over rocks without harm.
Here's a cute old book with a discussion of other types of sails for canoes.
If you're in a hurry a rectangular 5'x7' army poncho will work well as a spritsail on a canoe.
The extra stick at the bottom isn't necessary.
It's called the "boom" because of the noise it makes when it hits your passenger in the head.
This sail is tuned for very light wind. When you tighten the "snotter" to raise the sprit as seen here, that puts belly into the front part of the sail. Good for light winds. In heavy winds you can remove the sprit entirely. The peak of the sail flops over and doesn't draw.
That's called "scandalizing" the sail. It looks bad but it works fine. It reduces the sail area by almost half and the area that's left is very low and easy to manage.
Notice the sticks the canoe is sitting on. If you make a little stick railroad like this you can drag your canoe over rocks without harm.
Here's a cute old book with a discussion of other types of sails for canoes.
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Jan 29, 2009. 8:42 AMhchaug
says:
ok check this ok people...use fiberglass poles from your dome tent which your carrying onboard if your camping. I have a 2 seater coleman inflatable kayak with drink holders inbetween the leggs. place a cup in the holder and place your pole in there. BINGO sailboat in a bag!!!l I knew I'd get something out of 22 years in the Army...a sail.
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