Drifter for CP19XL

[Salty19]

Hi Capt Nemo,

It sure is nice!  I was surprised that I was able to move and maintain steerage with almost no wind.  Granted we were only moving 1.5-1.9 knots in 3 or 4 mph of wind, but that's better than nothing.  n those conditions with a genoa we would have been bobbing like a cork.

And even more surprised that the extra sail area didn't overwhelm the helm when the winds did pick up later in the day.  Instead of heeling way over, it just went faster! We hit 5.8 knots several times, which is pretty darn close to hull speed.  That is speed over ground, and with a slight current so speed over water was probably 1/2 knot less or so.

Good point about using it until about 10 mph. It's a 1.5oz nylon variety so probably OK until that point, then at risk of tearing after that.

Frankly this sail is going to let me sail, and not sit there and be flying critter food, in July and August when the winds are normally very light.
Also I think it will make a great night sail as winds die around here right around 7-8pm. 

[capt_nemo]

Salty19,

Next thing you might want to try, if the spirit ever moves 'ya, is making a Light Air Nylon Mainsail. Great article by Ed Zacko, The case for the light-air mainsail, in the Good Old Boat magazine Jan/Feb 2010 Issue. Yours would be easy to make since it's triangular. Mine was a challenge since it is a 4 sided gaff rig main'sl. They are set "flying" above the main stowed on the boom and use the boom (with topping lift) and mainsheet for control.

Here is a photo of mine.



And one with the original little Orange Nylon Drifter.



Since then I've added a 4' Bowsprit and made a really large masthead Drifter from orange Polytarp which looks like this.



Sure is nice to move a sailboat in really light air!

[builder6831]

Salty19
I think your boat is one I almost bought in MN., it is a very nice boat. Let me know if you want to sell?

[Salty19]

Builder-Indeed, Island Time first lived in MN as Renovo, bought from a very nice couple who barely used her.
Had her since Nov 2009.

She'll be for sale someday, not on the radar screen for the next several years.   Unless you have a real nice Flicka to trade

I see you are looking for an XL.  There were 3 or 4 for sale over the last 2-3 years. One had the centerboard. You'll find one, but it may take some time.
Oh, and I saw one that was advertised as an XL, but the year didn't match up, so make sure the hull # is high..I don't recall where they start but I think around hull 560ish (not sure about that)..it's documented somewhere around here.

[builder6831]

I have found a nice 27 for you to check out in Madison WI. go to the Boat House of Madison web site, the boat is to big for me but you might want to check it out.

[Salty19]

Too big for me as well.  My tow vehicle thinks so too

[comfortably numb]

Salty, If you get this, please give me a call sometime. I will be going for dock space at Hoover this spring, I talked to the City, I know what I have to do, but I am wondering how the water level has been of late, in the summer. Just purchased my C-19 / 1 from Marblehead this Dec., think I mentioned it once here. I am assuming that you are out of Red Bank, it may take me a few seasons to get there. Will see.

Thanks,
Bill Nixon 937 271 1859
Columbus Native

[lochinvar]

I have a question for you guys about a drifter.

I have a CP 19 that is in the middle of a refirb. I couldn't stand it, I bought a CP 23 and will drive to Oklahoma in about a month to get it.

The 23 is a cutter rig that has the normal hank-on jib for the staysail and a furler on the 3ft bowsprit.

Could I rig a hank-on drifter for the staysail to be used in light air and use the furler when the wind picks up (dropping the drifter)?

What are the pros and cons of that?

I just never had a cutter rig before and want to explore using it...

-Shawn F

[capt_nemo]

lochinvar,

Congratulations on your, new to you, 23!

Your options with a cutter rig are many (limited only by your imagination). I've owned and sailed  32' and 35' cutter rigged sailboats for many years and really enjoyed them. There was a time when I thought ALL Sailboats should have a (flexible) Double Headsail Rig.

YES, you can rig a hanked-on light air Drifter on the stay'sl stay (think NYLON). BUT... your stay'sl stay doesn't go all the way to the masthead, SO... you are limited in the amount of sail area you can present to those light elusive airs. Plus, the foretriangle area would be small, making tacking somewhat cumbersome.

Consider these alternatives:

First, a large NYLON Drifter set "Flying" with tack secured by pennant under forward furler and luff hoisted to masthead. (Add a sock if you think it's necessary.) Then, to open the foretriangle and make tacking the "light wind wonder" a piece of cake, rig the stay'sl stay with a quick release lever (not too expensive) to disconnect it and secure it out of the way, lashed to mast or shroud. By the way, this would also make tacking that furled jib/genoa so much easier also. The cutter rig is quite versatile but that staysail is not needed/used all the time and the flexibility gained by a quick release stay'sl stay is well worth it. Broad Reaching and Running the staysail gets in the way and prevents a good free flow of air to whatever headsail is forward. But it's great on a Beam Reach, to Windward and when shortening sail to balance the rig in a blow!

Second, same large Drifter HANKED - ON to an ADDITIONAL quick release masthead forestay that is again attached under the forward furler. ADVANTAGE - better control of sail hoisting and lowering. Remove quick release stay'sl stay as described above to open foretriangle area.

Hope this helps to provide food for thought.

capt_nemo

[Salty19]

I chose the flying drifter to avoid having to swap out sails on the furler each time I wanted to use it, and it is pretty quick to rig and deploy without hanks or messing with another forestay. Therefore it's easier to use, and more likely to be used, safer to deploy and easier to takedown should the need arise.    If I had the choice to do it again, I would do nothing differently.

This pic was taken before I had the aft blocks set up in the right spot.  The foot was too loose in the pic, fixed by correct sheet angle.

[skip1930]

Salty19, take an angle grinder and loosen the bow roller till it spins and grind a groove down the center of the roller for the anchor to ride in when stowed.

skip.

[Salty19]

A few pics of the drifter in action.