BYYB Forums

I've been thinking of building both my mast and bow-sprit longer than spec. This would be to allow for a topsail and a second staysail making the boat a topsail cutter.

Any thoughts on this? From what I've read in the past, the extra sail area up front shouldn't harm the ballance of the boat too much - or am I wrong. Has anyone else gone with two head sails?

Well, I have toyed with the same idea. I love the look of a cutter rig and topsail...

However I have opted not fto go with this configuration for several reasons.

1.) It is a small boat already, and topsail and cutter rig would require a lot more lines and attachment points.

One of the fun things about this boat is the rapid set up and ease of setting up.

2.) A longer sprit would be too long for towing behind my minivan which would necessitate rigging and unrigging the bow sprit each time I want to go out. Again ease and quickneess are major plusse to me I don't want to compromise.

3.) a topsail would require a topmast which when down, would have more overhang off of the back of the boat. And I would need to rig and unrig again each time as garage space would not allow it stored with topmast on.

Ease and quickness.

Yes, peolpe have installed longer sprits and cutter rig and topsails.

Yes, a Weekender can certainly benefit from a fair amount more headsail than stock trim. and yes a cutter rigged topsail Weekender is definitely very fetching to look at.

I am opting however instead for a losing of the clubfoot and a lapper headsail of some sort with jib tracks. and deploying the bigger headsail in light air days, and the standard headsail in very heavy air days.

With Ballast on my Weekender, (See other post this forum) First sail shortening is at 20 knts sustained and invlolves 1 reef in Mainsail. In this configuration the headsail is still justy a wee bit too little. I suspect with bigger headsail I might want to do that first reef just a wee bit sooner and it would be better balanced with the bigger jib and the first reef at 20 knts sustained.

I have decided against the topsail, myself, for the same reasons. I have not completely written off the extended bow sprit, but it does pose issues with towing. However, extending the mast a couple of feet, with add-on type extension, and having the "flying jib" look is something I am still bouncing around. Don't hold me to correct nautical language.... :oops:




(or somthin...) :wink:

I've been sailing with Capt. Jake on his fine Weekender "Fire Escape" over the last couple years here on Puget Sound. Also on Lake Washington in Seattle.

He has a lapper on a homemade roller furling spool with a luffwire sewn into the luff of the lapper. It is mounted just aft of the forestay and the tension on the luff is controled by the jib halyard. he is now rigging a staysail about 16-24 inches aft of this mount for a staysail/stormsail. His intent is to use the lapper in light air but when it is time to reef down he plans on furling the lapper and striking the staysail instead. It is appro. 75% of the size of the standard Jib. It will also allow him to rig up as a cutter if desired.

I'm doing something similar with an elongated bowsprit which isn't a problem for towing with a pickup. I also have a 17' trailer with the boat sitting further back on it allowing for clearance of the bowsprit with a van or truck with a canopy.

My bowsprit is 18" longer than standard which will allow for a larger lapper and still use the standard jib in its designated mount with either a clubfoot or separate sheets. I can also fly a staysail instead or stormsail.
Both the lapper and standard jib are set on fruling spools with luff wires and a second halyard installed. I have a lot of flexibility in rigging this way. But it necessitates a pulpit to be able to reach the lapper furling spool if it needs attention.

If you have not seen it I wrote an article for Gaff Rig that covers the design and building of the pulpit with a pair of grate inserts. A link to it is here: http://byyb.org/gaffrig/jas05/table%20of%20contents.htm

There are two drawings of the rigging as I see using it.

My intent is to find a combination of sails to achieve a nice helm balance and some versatility in rigging to accomodate the widest possible conditions to sail in. The Weekender does benefit from a larger headsail. Capt. Jake's Weekender still has some strong weather helm in moderate wind conditions and I'm of the thinking that a bit more headsail will help that a bit and allow for better performance. If not, then I can just cut off the longer bowsprit and rig it as a standard combination.

I am still working out the bugs in the furling. It rolls fine, the geometry of the sail is causing binding at the head though. I was going to incorporate a clubfoot on the stas'l to make it self tending, geometry here is also not working out as planned.

I may swap the two sails for each other, lapper aft and stas'l forward. It may work out mechanically better, but I am thinking it will 'increase' the weather helm even more than it already is.

Oh well, I still have several months of foul weather to ponder it.

capt jake

One of the biggest problems facing a double headsail (a cutter rig is a different configuration, not possible on Weekender/Vacationer unless the mast is moved considerably aft) rig, is the gap between the staysail and the jib. I consider 48" the minimum distance for passing the jib and it's sheets through, without having to go forward on every tack and "walk it 'round" the stay. When this distance is less then 48" the jib usually hangs (more often then not) on the staysail or it's stay. I've seen smaller openings between the jib and staysail, but they usually have been inadequate in preventing the jib from hanging up.

A double headsail rig is cool looking, but leaves much to be desired in ability (single headsails are much more efficient). A better setup would be to have an inner stay rigged up, but kept on a pelican hook, stowed at or near the base of the mast. Under most conditions you'd sail under a big lapper, but if you run into more wind then comfortable with, you can douse the big headsail, then the "baby stay" can be hooked up and a smaller staysail hanked on.

A topsail is an interesting addition. It can have the topmast attached to the luff (most small craft rig this way) so you don't have to carry the extra stick on the end of the mast. It's not an easy sail to use, needing to be brought down and re-hoisted on each tack or jibe, though some will leave it up, chaffing against the peak halyard tackle (not good for long periods) It would require some crew participation to use it with any real efficiency, but can liven up light air performance a fair amount. It does add a few extra string to pull on, but not as bad as you'd think.