Gaff rigged schooner

[Paul Davenport]

I have a large (almost 3m long) gaff rigged schooner which needs RC. I have
solved the problems of winches. The only problem I foresee is that the
mainsail and boom are longer than the actual stern. There thus appears to be
no (easy) way to provide a rear stay so as to adequately support the mast
when the boat is running.

As always, a virtual beer for the first/best answer.

Paul (Davers)

[Matti Raustia]

On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 19:29:45 +0000 (UTC) Paul Davenport wrote:
>I have a large (almost 3m long) gaff rigged schooner which needs RC. I have
>solved the problems of winches. The only problem I foresee is that the
>mainsail and boom are longer than the actual stern. There thus appears to be
>no (easy) way to provide a rear stay so as to adequately support the mast
>when the boat is running.

You have to install RC controlled running backstays for the mast :)

Seriously, if we forget the runners, you might solve the problem the same
way as it is done nowadays with runnerless fractionally rigged sailing
boats: Have aft-spread spreaders with enough tension in shrouds. In this
case the spreaders are of course top of the mast (or yard) or if your model
is some newer design with one-piece mast (as for example Shamrock or
Britannia, see http://www.15ath.fsnet.co.uk/britannia.htm) just spreaders.

This way you can not get the boom completely perpendicular to the hull when
running but at least you don't need the runners...

>As always, a virtual beer for the first/best answer.

Thanks.

matti


--
"China is a big country, inhabited by many chinese." - Charles de Gaulle

[Rob]

Have a look at a definive work on gaffers - Gaff Rig by John Leather, excellent
publication with many illustrations from a marine architect but written in
layman's terms.

Bob