Posted by Laurence Monkhouse on July 18, 2003 at 20:35:08 from 62.253.32.7 user Laurence_.
In Reply to: Spar dimensions posted by Alex Forbes on July 16, 2003 at 19:06:07:
Wow!! I checked ABE Books looking for another copy for you - and I think I'd better insure my copy.
Quite seriously, looking through the sail plans in the book, there doesn't seem to be much pattern in standing lug design. Knockabout boats carry the gaff for about one fifth of its length forward of the mast and the gaff at an angle of about 30 degrees from the vertical, the crack racing boats of late Victorian times hardly had anything before the mast at all and a very high peaked sail indeed, the French designs published by 'la Chasse Maree' (which might be worth Googling) have a stteply raked mast stepped right in the bow of the boat with the luff lying very close to it. Working boats often didn't use a boom at all.
I suggest plan the spars to just fit in the boat and consult your sailmaker on the exact shape - if you plan to have the sail made. If you plan to make it yourself then AR's 'Scarab' shape really seems as good as anything - I based mine on it and she goes well.