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'Acadia's' Circumnavigation of Bridgemarsh Island
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When I sold my 50/50 sailing and paddling canoe, I missed being able to get out on the water for an hour or two; therefore I rigged my Acadia canoe with a sail copied from a Tasmanian kayak sailor's web site. ( See Grant Hyland's sail at http://www.vision.net.au/~jennings/sail/sail.html ) On my first outing under sail I was surprised how well she went on a beam reach. She more than met my expectations while sailing downwind.
I found gybing is a safe manoeuvre, because the sail has a short boom and the peak is supported by a batten in a sleeve. In rough conditions the safest way of gybing is to let the sail feather downwind before bringing it to the opposite tack. The short mainsheet in no way hinders this procedure; it is simply passed forward of the mast.
Stepping and unstepping the rig while afloat is easy; since there are no halyards or downhauls, it is a matter of putting the mast in the support tube, or removing it. While in paddling mode, the rig can be stowed on either side deck with the aid of fore and aft bungees.
The mast is a 2 metre plastic kitchen drainpipe, strengthened with 2 smaller ones inside, each with internal canes. To make the mast watertight and buoyant, its ends are sealed with epoxy. A rotating toggle at the top keeps the head of the sail in place. Vertically severed half-inch sections of drainpipe sewn to the luff of the sail function as quick release hoops or slugs. Thus, sail can be set or struck quickly and the sail itself can fully rotate around the mast.
The mast support tube is made from a 40 mm kitchen drainpipe held in place with epoxy so that the open end protrudes through the fore deck. Some 'shrinkwrap' around the base of the mast ensures a snug fit.
Since arranging this page I have fitted 'Acadia' with a leeboard and rudder. To see pictures of them visit 'Acadia' - 50/50 Conversion
When 'Bumper' is re-commissioned at the beginning of next season, I shall test 'Acadia' to discover if she is suitable as a tender. If so, I'll be able to use her to explore various backwaters.
Bill.
12.10.04