Hi all ~ Hope that everyone had good summers of building and sailing/rowing their Skerries! It is now officially winter here since the first snow fell in the mountains two nights ago...although temps are predicted for the 80's midweek!
After sailing AFLAC this summer, I decided that I would prefer the sail to be lowered by a halyard, for safety and convenience. Brailing is quick, but I find is not the most seaworthy option on a little boat with a sprit. I made a halyard, but the rope loops hang up on the snotter fairlead on the mast. I am checking in to see if others have done either of the following: used mast hoops for attaching the sail, or added a sail track to the mast.
I want to keep the boom, and just raise/lower the sail and furl it and the sprit all on the boom.
Any suggestions out there?
Thanks!
Kyle and AFLAC

I think you'd need to change the rig to something other than a sprit for exactly the reason you mention. It would be even worse for me because I replaced the fairlead with a block.

I don't even understand how a halyard would be possible with a sprit. Are you taking the sprit out before lowering (you must be)?

I've thought along similar lines, and always assumed that if I ever did something like this a change in rig would be part of the package - although I'd want to keep a classic feel (no sloops), maybe a lug, or a gaff?

I wonder if Steven "Catboat" Roberts has any recent experiences with gaff rigs or thoughts about a skerry sized gaff?

It's worth pondering! I know I'll keep thinking along these lines. I like the sprit, but I am the only one that will sail it (ok, maybe that's not a bad thing). Really I just like thinking about another boat project.

- Bob

Hi Kyle,

Here are some thoughts that I posted on another thread, but think it may contain some points pertinent to you.

My previous experience of the sprit rig has been in nutshell prams and a scaled down 12' swampscott dory (the boat that inspired me to build the skerry), all of which had boomless sprit sails. If safety is the issue, I have found the quickest and safest way to shorten sail is merely to scandalise it, i.e. remove the sprit. The boat will still sail nicely, and the centre of gravity is improved rather than compromised. It may look a bit messy leaving the loose area of sail blowing free, but the beauty of the sprit sail is its simplicity and it seems a shame to complicate it with elaborate reefing systems.

I acknowledge there are benefits of being able to reduce sail in a more semi-permanent manner. One option I had considered for reefing is a track for the snotter fairlead, and reefing eyes in the luff and leech. It would then be possible to place the sprit in a lower position and take in slabs in the sail, keeping the geometry round the peak correct. This could either be done with a halyard incorporated, or the throat of the sail simply tied lower prior to sailing if the winds are high. If sail needs shortening whilst sailing, scandalising would still be the preferred option.

In sum, I think a halyard is not really a better option as the whole rig can be unstepped almost quicker than it could be lowered. If all else fells let the sheet fly and head up.

Just some thoughts. Hope they help.

Hello Gideon and welcome to the forum. I've always wanted to try sailing with it scandalized but oddly enough have never tried it. Did your swampscott still point with out the sprit?

greg.

Thanks for your insight, Gideon. I have pretty much given up the idea of a halyard since the rope "hoops" hang up on the snotter fairlead. I have rigged the brailing line to my boom and will try that once the weather warms. And, I will look forward to trying the scandalizing of the sail. Not being accustomed to a sprit rig sometimes leaves me befuddled as to what to try! Thanks for your thoughts from someone who has been there, done that.
Kyle