Cutter rig for Dory (?)

[1stnewyorker]

I have been bouncing around the idea of adding a bowsprit and "yankee" head sail to my 23 foot dory for use in light winds. My present rig consists of a Sprit mainsail and jib, with a small topsail (also for light winds). I realize that I'm pushing the limits of a dory, but would like to give it try. In addition to the bowsprit and yankee, I would add stays with deadeyes. She does have weather helm to spare so another headsail wouldn't hurt in that regard. Any thoughts?

http://www.1stnewyork.org/boat/General-arnold.jpg

[paladin]

i wood git some real sails instead ah bedsheets...

[Thorne]

Nothing wrong with trad sail material for a trad boat!

;- )

Here's a few examples of bowsprits on smaller boats. If you've got weather helm then it is sure worth a try.

Here's one from the Scandavian small boat raid:

http://www.luckhardt.com/apfel24_0200g.jpg

And here's a small boat built this year by my friend Ed (smoking his pipe below) in Eureka, CA. The bowsprit bolts on so it can be removed for transport.

http://www.luckhardt.com/edboatdetail3.jpg


http://www.luckhardt.com/edboatdetail.jpg

And yes, we also do historical/costume reenactment with boats out here...recognize the flag?

[ 12-03-2005, 09:03 PM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[1stnewyorker]

Thanks Thorne,

Your posting is very encouraging. The pictures are a big help. And I'm pretty happy with my "bedsheets." I hand-stitched every inch of 24-inch wide canvas in an effort to build it as period correct as possible. There weren't too many sailmakers available on Lake George during the French and Indian War, and they sure as hell didn't have the luxury of dacron.

[bainbridgeisland]

Nothing the matter with bowsprit and more sails. After all, some say that more sails = more fun.

Weather helm: I assume by weather helm you mean the tiller must be held to weather of centerline. I apologize to you putting it this way but some folks think it means the tiller pulls hard (which is not the same thing and is sometimes called a heavy helm). Not everyone knows that sails with maximum draft too far aft can often cause weather helm. If you haven’t tried this, look at your sails carefully when you have too much weather helm to determine where the maximum draft is. If it is aft of the middle of the main or aft of the front third of the jib, then tension the halyards until it has moved back into position. The weather helm can be improved on any boat using this method.

[Gary Bergman]

I'd give the yankee a try!...Yup, the flag seems familiar; we flew it for a couple 'o three years on the Bay(never saw those nice longboats, tho'!)
http://www.privateerinc.org/images/rr_bridge.jpg
Since we've sailed 'South', we've been flyin' this one more often..
http://www.privateerinc.org/images/225.jpg

But then, in lieu of 'Rue de Guerre', ya never know what we'll hoist op the gaff!!

[1stnewyorker]

Damn beautiful vessel!! Let me know if you ever make it out to the "colonies." I'd love to serve as a topman.

[Gary Bergman]

Actually, you are probably welcome on any of our legs that work for you next year. We'll be on the Great Lakes from mid-May(rigging in), doing the Tallships Challenge, and in late August, we'll be headed your way, doing the Richelieu,Champlain Canal,Hudson,etc.Battle of Plattsburgh Sept. 9-10, then whatever we rustle up on our way south. Looking for some appearances betwixt NY and the Chesapeake until hurricane season subsides.She's all 'soft-rigged', no cable shrouds, just rope, so we try not to run into heavy weather on purpose(we seem to find plenty anyway!)

[WWheeler]

Gary, how do I sign up? I'm on the Great Lakes (Georgian Bay/Lake Ontario), and I'm willing to work me passage. Argh.

PS I've pulled an oar with Atlantic Challenge and skippered a Block Island cowhorn for a historic film production.

[ 12-05-2005, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: WWheeler ]

[ishmael]

Having all those strings to pull seems a bit anti-dory in its essence, especially for small boat rigs that would have been common during that era. There could also be a bit of rush and tangle if a sudden summer squall came barreling down Lake George when you were flying all your kites!

But what the hell, sounds like fun! It's your boat. Don't do anything not easily reversible and have at it! smile.gif

[Gary Bergman]

Originally posted by WWheeler:
Gary, how do I sign up? I'm on the Great Lakes (Georgian Bay/Lake Ontario), and I'm willing to work me passage. Argh.

PS I've pulled an oar with Atlantic Challenge and skippered a Block Island cowhorn for a historic film production.Bloody 'eck, mate..just stay tuned! Actually, email us, we'll ink you on the crew list, and as time draws closer, I'll be posting more. We've been getting a lot of response from ASTA for crew, but since our living history interpretations are our strong point, we like those sailors who also have a 'historic bent'...Hafta keep the 'shtick' in order, eh? Toronto is fiddlin' around announcing a date, but they are going to let us know in the next two weeks....Toronto will be the first port, when they announce. As it stands now, it's Cleveland. The bigger picture is we are headed south after the Challenge, to prepare for the Atlantic Challenge '07....then, jeesh!..Back to the left coast to do it all again!...Brother, did I find a heckofa way to retire...eternal shipwork...A news flash, BTW..Lady Washington took off both topmasts transiting at night down the Sacrament River..Didn't have 'em raise the Benicia Bridge!....

[1stnewyorker]

You're right Ishmael, it is getting away from the essence of a dory, but I can't resist. Besides, after building her last winter, i'm lost for a project this winter.
And Gary, sign me up as a volunteer. I presently serve as the topman for the gunboat Philadelphia II berthed at the Lake champlain maritime museum, so I do have some experience serving in the rigging (albeit a heck of a lot closer to the deck than what you're sailing ;)

[Gary Bergman]

A Canadian artist that did some portraits of the Royaliste has a nice bowsprit/jib on his longboat; and he just alters the rigging to 'float' thru the period from 1750 to 1812..
Consider yourself 'on', mate! I'm generally my own topman, but I've had a few 'piss and vinegar' type youngsters of and on as of late, so don't worry about the rigging..are ya any good with these?

http://www.privateerinc.org/images/654.jpg

[WWheeler]

Argh no, but I'm willing to 'ave a go. Might bag us a snot boat or two. I can even help pilot ye into Toronto harbour. (Toronto Harbour license in the works.)

[1stnewyorker]

Hi Gary,

My regiment owns a 6-lbder field gun, (which I often command), and I have a swivel gun on my dory. I'd be happy to serve as a gunner!

[Gary Bergman]

Kewl, maytees!..Been bustin' me tail getting the ship ready for this History Channel shoot next week. Proper paint, wheels on the gun carriages,(I hate 'em, they just punch out planks, but,hey)Changing the course riggin' so she brails to the yard instead of vertical...Looks like next summer will be a 'blast'!!...I'm working at simplifying things as far as the guns go..too many tools to keep up with all the different bore sizes,so..Gettin' it down to two main muzzle sizes, sericed by the same swab, ramrod, etc..less round things to step on when it gets 'exciting' .We like to deliver quick broadsides, as here on the left coast, we've enuff ships with guns to offer battle sails regularly. As far as next year, it looks more like 'exhibition' stuff...

[Ben Fuller]

I remember Barry Thomas at Mystic Seaport built a melonseed for his son 30 plus years ago. Gave it about 60 feet in a sprit sail and no parts to the main sheet. David was not strong enough to turn the boat over. As he got older he added a North Carolinal style jackyard topsail, and a bow sprit with a jib. Boat went faster. When he got older still, he scarfed a chunk of wood on the mast and increased the sprit sail to about 90 feet in a nice high peak with a boom. Boat went faster. But there were fewer strings to pull in the far more efficient rig.