"modern" gaff rig

[rdahmes]

Bob Perry and I are working on a 20 ft gaff cutter with a modern underbody and gaff rig. We will be using composite spars. I'd like to rig a topsail, but I need to figure out a way that the topsail will: 1. be easy to rig, 2. work well while tacking, 3. be easy to furl.

My wife and I will be the crew and both of us are disabled. One thought I had was to make the topsail THE means of hoisting the gaff and main. That way, the peak and throat halyards would not interfere with the topsail's shape on different tacks. On a blustery day, we would simply not hank on the topsail and would utilize a bridle to hoist the gaff and main.

I understand that this is not traditional, but I'm thinking of a modern adaptation of a classic design.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

Rob Dahmes

[benz]

If you use the topsail as THE means for hoisting, what you will have is essentially a low-aspect-ratio rig with the gaff acting as a huge full-length batten. I've been watching battens get longer and stiffer, giving Marconi sails more and more roach until they are not far removed from gaffers (or maybe junks, what with all the battens) only without the extra halyard. What you'll be doing will be years ahead of our time. On blustery days, you could still hoist with the topsail, but just have extra reefs below.
I too am building a gaff rig with modern materials, so I've spent many hours thinking along your very lines.
Best,
Ben

[Ian McColgin]

Personally I'd concentrate on the shape and length of a curved gaff to get the best possible shape at the head and not bother with a topsail at all. Just make a taller mast and plan on reefing now and then. Some very cool stuff is going on along these lines.

It's an interesting question of ease of handling coupled with some serious go-fast power for the amount of sail area.

[rdahmes]

Thanks Benz......I'm thinking about full length battens in the main, loose-footed, one set of reefing points and the sails on tracks.

Rob