Kayak Sail Rig Complete - Sea Trial Successful

[capt_nemo]

Although I've recently sold Sun Cat "Frisky" and the homemade Portuguese Dinghy, I still have 4 boats in the stable to keep me busy.

The addition of a Sail Rig to a Necky RIP 12 Kayak was my latest project to keep me busy, out of trouble, and scratch my designer's itch.

Again, like all the mods on Sun Cat "Frisky" I used the structure of the Kayak and existing hardware to mount the Sail Rig components. Only had to drill a few holes to mount the Mast Support, the other components were mounted using existing hardware and/or holes already there.

Here she sits sporting a Lateen Sail, hinged rudder, pivoting leeboard, and rudder control rod.



A close-up of the loose footed sail made with 1/2" PVC pipe components, 3.3 oz. orange Polytarp, and nylon wire ties.



Mast is two-sectioned 1" Poplar Dowel which slides down into the Mast Support made from 1/2" Ply and 1" PVC Pipe which is securely through-bolted to the Kayak deck.



Close-ups of hinged rudder using shock cord for strong spring effect and a control line to raise, lock, and lower.






Rudder control rod of 1/2" CPVC into 3/4" CPVC section with formed detents for the pivoting 5/8" oak wood dowel control handle.



And finally, the 3/8" Ply Leeboard, snugged down with a 1/2" stainless bolt with nylock nut through a brass bushing, pivots down and up by hand, yet stays securely where you put it.



Now I have to get back to "finishing" the Kayak I built which is standing upright in the back of my man cave as shown in this pic.

[Duckie]

I built a lapstrake canoe a couple years ago.  I didn't need a third canoe, so I made it into a sailing canoe.  It sports all the things on your kayak, except that I steer with my feet and it carries a balanced lug rig.  I am amazed at how well it stands up to a blow.  The last time I took it out, the wind was gusting up to where larger boats were giving up, but the little bugger just got more fun to sail.  Because it isn't covered very well I ended up bailing as much as I was sailing, but on a hot day that is fine with me. 

Once again, your work shows a lot of thought and the quality of your work is first rate.  I think you are going to have fun with this one.

Al