New Rig for Maggie, a Seapearl 21

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New Rig for Maggie, a Seapearl 21

(13 posts) (8 voices)

Started 1 year ago by DaveOnCudjoe
Latest reply from Ridgerunner

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DaveOnCudjoe
Member

I thought I'd explore the new site by posting my ideas for Maggie's new rig. Some may remember that I capsized in EC 2010 off Manisota Key in 10ft seas. I lost the entire mizzen rig and rather than go back to that rig have decided to replace both masts, which were already custom, with carbon fiber tubes which will reduce weight aloft by half. I will be replacing both sails with full batten dacron of moderate roach as before but will likely replace the booms with sprits like are seen on the Core Sound boats that have done so well. I'm hoping to further lower the CE and improve and simplify sail trim. I'll keep working sail area to about 125 (72 + 53 ) and carry the old mizzen staysail (60) which was not lost. There are no plans at this point for a fixed cabin. Any additional ideas or comments are welcome and I'll be picking a few brains in Key Largo. Dave

PS I hope this new site grows on me.

Posted 1 year ago #
MicroTom
Key Master

Sounds like a great plan. If you are going to play with the center of effort have you considered also adding a small bow spirt and jib? My biggest complaint with my Sea Pearl was its pointing ability. A roller furling jib would be an interesting addition.

Posted 1 year ago #
mistermoon
Member

If you're going full batten, might as well go for square top sails. Much more efficient that way. I'd go a little bigger on SA, like 150sqft or so and rig with three reefs. It's always easier to remove sail area than add it.

My only complaint with my Core Sound sprit booms is that reefing isn't as fast as it is with a conventional boom with jiffy reefing installed. Other than that, I like them a lot. The ability to control sail shape by adjusting the snotter is a very useful tool.

Another thought about full battens and sprit boom is you should probably make the foot of the sail parallel to the battens to make rolling up the bunt on the reefed sail easier. Also, with full battens, a wishbone sprit boom may be a better choice.

Posted 1 year ago #
whitecaps
Member

Hey Dave! I want to see you back in the mix. I know I will see you at Largo but would rather you be in this with your Sea Pearl.

toby

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveOnCudjoe
Member

Hey Toby, It'll be good to be back, Financing these improvements is not easy in this economy but the funds are now in place so nothing to it but to do it. I'll probably sail the trimaran up to Indian Key and watch some of the crew enter there and then down to Flamingo before sailing around Fl Bay and up to Bay Cove.

MicroTom, Maggie points great since I switched to the full horizontal battens and Calvert Sails 5yrs ago. I'm afraid a jib would move the CE too far forward and induce lee helm plus clutter the fore deck.

MisterMoon, I'm afraid a high apsect flat top main would move the CE up which is opposite my goal. We must remember that these boats are expedition boats and not race boats and understand the differance. A good dunking will bring that into crystal clear focus. I'll probably laminate some curved sprits so that they won't lie against the sail on the bad tack. That's a good suggestion on the batten orientation.

Thanks all, Dave

Posted 1 year ago #
Patowatomie
Member

In addition to your rig changes, are you going to do anything to make righting after capsize possible or easier? Perhaps a dogged down forehatch and an aft buoyancy compartment?

Dan

Posted 1 year ago #
DonKeyHoTey
Member

Hi Dave. Good to hear you're getting geared up again. Recently became aware of the British Swallow line of boats (there'll be one available for trialling on WC FL in mid-Jan), and think their double-ended Storm 19 (http://www.swallowboats.co.uk/content/view/66/73/) and its hard-topped version, the Cardigan Bay Lugger (http://www.swallowboats.co.uk/content/view/95/109/) provide some interesting ideas for how a Sea Pearl could be rigged (also for layout mods). Storm 19 has a jib and gunter main / sprit mizzen, and the Lugger has a balanced lug main and sprit mizzen with potential to drop the main and fly just a roller-furled jib with the mizzen in heavier conditions. I'm fond of my SP's balanced-lug rig for its low CE and mellow characteristics, though the square-topped sprit rig is another rig that might be interesting for its simplicity and high performance with relatively low CE and short masts. Any way, look forward to seeing what you come up with cuz I'm sure it will be well-thought out. -Per

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveOnCudjoe
Member

Patowatomie, The new rig should float and once removed should allow the boat to be righted by standing on the centerboard. I suspect that with the forward section dry you would never get her upright without a great deal of horsepower. No additional floatation is needed in the boat as she floats quite high and stable flooded.

Per, Those swallow boats are nice looking. Dave

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveOnCudjoe
Member

Just an update. I've ordered the CF masts and the sails. Masts by Hall Spars and sails by Mack Sails. The engineering that these two vendors are contributing to my project is staggering and hopefully I'll develope the skill to take advantage of it. I never fully appreciated the complexity of designing a rig. Luff curvature and mast stiffness apparently are critical to maximise performance. Calculating righting moment as opposed to guessing, designing aspect ratio based on knowing the righting moment turns the whole effort into a symphony of highly skilled professionals. Sprit booms will be next, I think curved would be nice. Any suggestion on species? Dave

Posted 8 months ago #
lugnut
Member

Douglas fir or clear spruce should work well for the sprit booms. Does this mean we'll see you on the beach in March?

Lugnut

Posted 8 months ago #
DaveOnCudjoe
Member

Gary,

I think spruce may be the way to go but I also have some Doug fir laying around. I hope to be ready in March.

Dave

Posted 8 months ago #
DaveOnCudjoe
Member

It feels like Christmas. I picked up my new carbon fiber masts today. They were made by Hall Spars of Bristol RI and are truely beautiful. I recieved the sails from Mack Sails of Stuart Fl a couple weeks ago. I'm inexperienced with CF but will hopefully catch on quick. Lots to do now and the clock is ticking. Dave

Posted 7 months ago #
Ridgerunner
Member

Dave, check this out - http://www.sailinganarchy.com/fringe/2012/caption%20contest%2010%2025.jpg - this is Oracle's rig after their pitchpole in SF Bay. It's from an AC (America's Cup) 72.

I'm jealous of the spaqrs. I may try to use carbon spars on my next boat (probably a Core Sound 20 MK 2).

Posted 7 months ago #

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