Wood_Ogre: I don't think you sent me an email -- but rather you raised questions re the yawl rig on a posting on Dec 28 and I responded the next day with an "private" email thru the forum. It could be in your in-box. But if it isn't, this is what it said:
Hello W_O,...
I, too, like the yawl rig. Better even that PocketShip as designed. I got the sails from Douglas Fowler, the same sailmaker used by CLC. He was hesitant at first. But I suggested that he ask John Harris about it -- and with John's ok, he dealt directly with me. I'd consider selling the sails to you for what I paid for them. I've only used them on three outings. That's why I have so few photos while under way as a yawl. If you have just started building recently, then it will be a while before you need them. But work something out in advance with CLC regarding the jib sail -- because they ordinarily only sell the jib with their [designed] mains'l. Maybe you could get the jib sail (without the regular mains'l) from Fowler by special arrangement. I'm trying to sell my PocketShip with both rigs and have advertisements coming up in the next issues in February (March/April) of WoodenBoat Magazine and Small Craft Advisor. If there is no interest in the yawl rig, then I'd definitely want to sell them to you.
My opinion is that the yawl rig is actually a much better rig for PocketShip. The mains'l is slightly smaller and easier to handle for this 80 year-old solo sailor. And the mizzen (sprit boom) is so simple and useful. She easily does 3 to 4 knots with just mizzen and jib. The balance is such that she can be steered just with the mizzen sheet -- hands off the tiller. And she can be made to "heave to". Maybe she isn't as fast as the sloop -- but almost.
If you will email me your email address -- I'll send you my design sketches and construction photos of my set up. I made the mizzen mast out of Southern White Pine. It weighs only 5.5 lbs.
Incidentally, back in 1969 - 1972 we lived on Maui. I was the Site Manager of ARPA's 60" optical telescope at the top of Mount Haheakula. Our home was on Kimo Drive in Kula at about the 2,800 foot elevation. A lovely spot -- but too far from the water. A neighbor friend went sailing alone in the local waters and was "missing" for more than a day in stormy weather! We and his wife thought he was "lost at sea." But when the storm cleared out he was found ok.
- This just about shows the entire set-up for the mizzen mast, etc.
- Mizzen & step & partner & boomkin.jpg (136.67 KiB) Viewed 12727 times
- The conversion to a yawl required a slightly small mains'l with accompanying gaff & boom. I've kept the originals so that I can alternate rigs if I want to.
- Tattoo's yawl rig.jpg (69.46 KiB) Viewed 12782 times
Pete McCrary
[email protected]703/369-6100
703/369-2962 fax