I built this experimental proa using my Aire Superlynx kayak... http://www.aire.com/aire/superlynx.shtml , and an outrigger I built with a thermorest, ABS pipe, bamboo and webbing. For the rig I used bits and pieces from sailboards and a custom made daggerboard to prevent leeway. Heres the problem with inflatable boats; when you have to stay the mast you impart flexural forces into the hull. Though I could get it to sail downwind and on a beam reach, I couldn't go upwind, the more the wind loaded the sail, the more the hull flexed! I was sailing a great big red bannana. The execise was fun though and I got to wallow around in the water on a hot summer day laughing my head off. I thought I'd have a fast sailer that I could pack in to where I wanted to start from. I've kept all the parts so maybe I'll pick this up in the future sometime with a different kind of rig. For a different kind of sail, check out this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OYV0chVUUU or search Youtube for moth foiler.
Friday, September 29, 2006
I built this experimental proa using my Aire Superlynx kayak... http://www.aire.com/aire/superlynx.shtml , and an outrigger I built with a thermorest, ABS pipe, bamboo and webbing. For the rig I used bits and pieces from sailboards and a custom made daggerboard to prevent leeway. Heres the problem with inflatable boats; when you have to stay the mast you impart flexural forces into the hull. Though I could get it to sail downwind and on a beam reach, I couldn't go upwind, the more the wind loaded the sail, the more the hull flexed! I was sailing a great big red bannana. The execise was fun though and I got to wallow around in the water on a hot summer day laughing my head off. I thought I'd have a fast sailer that I could pack in to where I wanted to start from. I've kept all the parts so maybe I'll pick this up in the future sometime with a different kind of rig. For a different kind of sail, check out this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OYV0chVUUU or search Youtube for moth foiler.
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