Gaff Rigged 23

[cfelle2]

I am the proud new owner of a 1981 Com-Pac 23 hull number 122. 
I just bought it about a month ago and have been thinking about cool projects for the boat.

Has anyone ever considered rigging the boat with a Gaff sail? 
It would shorten the mast a great deal and make the boat much easier to rig.

I guess the only problem would be getting the center of effort right. 
I wonder if the mast step would have to be moved forward.

Has anyone else thought of doing this?

Chris

[cfelle2]

I just wanted to clarify I would still use a head sail like in the original sail plan.  I was just thinking about replacing the main sail with a gaff sail.

[brackish]

At North Carolina Sailboats they've done exactly that.  Many references to it in the 23 project boat section.

http://www.ipass.net/sailboat/

Go to "Whats New" and scroll down to "Compac 23 Modifications"