has anyone tried a ketch rig??

Don,

It is definitely a sail shape issue causing the luffing. the sheet was attached to the clew of the sail, so when I would sheet in (to the same attachment on the stern as the main sheet, in otherwards FORWARD of the clew of the mizzen) it would effectively loosen the "outhaul" on the bottom while the "springiness" in the mast tightened the leech of the sail. in the vid you can see that the top of the sail is oversheeted (too flat) and the bottom is way off on luff tension. Like I said, this was a barbaric attempt to find out if I should invest any $$ in this idea.

I will be more than happy to bring everything for demonstration purposes but if it is windy (over about 10mph) I kind of lack faith in the pvc "mast step" to hold the pressure of the sail. we will see though...

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2015 Outback- dune with sail kit
2015 TI- dune- sold
2015 AI2- Hibiscus- should probably sell...
2018 AI2- Dune

I don't see the photos in my Tapatalk app, so when others said the photos were visible, I went to a browser. I can see the photos there. Thanks!

well I just ordered a couple cheek blocks and some cleats to make a proper outhaul for the sail (which will also allow it to furl) as well as to run the sheet into a usable position (last time I just passed it under the aka crossbar and held it the whole time)

hoping its all here in time for me to test it out BEFORE going to the Cedar Key small boat meet!

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2015 Outback- dune with sail kit
2015 TI- dune- sold
2015 AI2- Hibiscus- should probably sell...
2018 AI2- Dune

ok, ketch V1.2 is almost ready for testing (hopefully at the cedar key small boat meet Saturday). Here is a quick video showing how I laid everything out and the basic setup. In the video, the first time I tried to furl the sail I forgot to release the sheet, you will hear me uncleat the sheet then furl the sail. Since the video I have cut the boom at the end of the outhaul cheek block and I have changed to mid-boom sheeting rather than end boom. I also kept my stock 2015 seat buckles (I got the "free" upgrade to the new style from my dealer) because I just KNEW I would find a use for them one day. today was that day. they will work PERFECTLY to hold the mast step apparatus down and in the boat!

I really need to sail this for a bit to see where I need to go from here but the known future refinements are to:
- have an aluminum mast step apparatus welded up
- figure out a way to be able to furl the sail without actually turning it by hand, this will also allow for "reefing" since I cant really reef right now (the wind would just pull the sail out again)

If anyone has any thoughts or comments I would love to hear them!!!

here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qECtI09ArEE

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2015 Outback- dune with sail kit
2015 TI- dune- sold
2015 AI2- Hibiscus- should probably sell...
2018 AI2- Dune

Nice progress !

It will be interesting to see what increased performance you get from that sail. For your furling, why don't you just wrap small line around the drum of the sail. I'm not sure if that's the correct term but see the attached picture. That way when you need to furl, just give it a tug and it's done. You could even fabricate something to attach to the pvc piece the sail sits in and then attach a cleat to it so you could partially furl and set the sail while sailing.

I'd like to see your setup in action sometime. Don't think I can make Cedar Key though.

Jim I am torn on using the hobie furler (in your pic) or creating a different solution. the problem with the hobie furler is that it relies on friction from a loop of line passing around it, meaning that the furler line has to be a loop. with as many blocks as I will need to get the line up to the cockpit, a knot (to make the loop) will be problematic. I may just see about replacing on of the elbows on the mast step with a T. then I could add a "riser" or "stanchion" or pedestal to mount a cheek block on then just run a short loop of line. Sine it would stay on the step I would be able to splice the line to eliminate knots. I'm just not sure yet... Thanks for the feedback and keep it coming!!

I'm always willing to meet at honeymoon, it just takes the SLIGHTEST arm twisting!

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2015 Outback- dune with sail kit
2015 TI- dune- sold
2015 AI2- Hibiscus- should probably sell...
2018 AI2- Dune

Lets plan on it next week if there's good wind. I'm available all week and eager to test my final spinnaker mods with the snuffer on the bow.

Looking forward to seeing your final setup, Jim.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

We have a spare room Keith. Come on up with your AI and sail Honeymoon island and St. Joseph sound with us. You can try out the spinnaker yourself. I don't know if you've ever sailed this area but it's absolutely beautiful.

No, I have never sailed or kayaked that area. I'm tight on time now, but I'll take you up on that offer sometime. Thanks!

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

A Facebook friend posted this pic from the Cedar Key small boat meetup:

I saw several people taking pics, was hoping some would turn up somewhere, thanks!!!

I will write back in tomorrow on my thoughts/findings after several hours of use now (all good news), I'm just too pooped to do it now

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2015 Outback- dune with sail kit
2015 TI- dune- sold
2015 AI2- Hibiscus- should probably sell...
2018 AI2- Dune

Tom Ray's photo from Cedar Key sure looks good! Sail shape appears to be perfect...
The whole rig just looks right.
Looking forward to the report!
Sorry we were not able to attend as hoped, just been traveling too much and needing some down time which we have yet to get properly.

Don

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Don Haynes
Aka TriBlue

2005 Outback Red
2011 Adventure Blue converted to an Island
2015 Tandem Island Red

E-mail: [email protected]

I don't even care (much!) if it doesn't work; that looks darn pretty! Imagine the oohs and aahs if you bear away from the wind and add the Hobie reacher!

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

tony, most of the sailing that day was windward/leeward and every time I turned down I kept thinking "how sweet would it be to have the spinnaker out fly right now too!!!" I wonder if the mizzen would shadow the spinnaker.... my main thought is how awesome it would be to have the spinnaker to stbd, main to port an mizzen to stbd...


The rig performed FANTASTIC that day. the ONLY complaint is the flexibility that the PVC contraption allows. I wasn't able to sheet in quite as tight as I would have liked and I feel that when close hauled, the mizzen was not really helping much. I am considering adding something along the lines of a boomkin to help the sheeting angle some. As it stands, I just need to sail it several times to see what needs to be change because as it was, all things were petty.

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2015 Outback- dune with sail kit
2015 TI- dune- sold
2015 AI2- Hibiscus- should probably sell...
2018 AI2- Dune