Sailboat Modifications

[Tidewater]

Alright so I have an old sunfish sailboat that was given to me a few years ago and I absolutely love sailing it. I mostly sail out in the ocean off the beaches of Florida. I love pushing it to the limit and keeling it over. Recently Ive been thinking about how I could make my boat faster and I came up with the idea:
What would happen if you put a jib sail on a sunfish??
Has anyone ever tried ridiculous things with these little sailboats?

[Sabreman]

Good idea, but I don't know how well it will work with that little section of lateen sail sticking out in front. Since the mast is so short and so far forward, I don't know that you'll get much benefit from such a small sail.

What might be more effective would be to change the rig and put a large mast on it with a sock sail, like a Bic, Laser, or Force five. Lateens just don't go that fast.

[scottyt]

i think you could have more fun rigging an out rigger, and a bigger sail

[Tidewater]

I agree its a small length from the front of the boat to the mast but my idea was run a line from the front of the boat all the way to the top of the main sail instead of just running it to the top of the main mast.

[gulfcoastcruiser]

See if you can find the rigging and sails for a "Super Sunfish". I used to own one of these and it was a good bit faster than just the lanteen rig.

[Tidewater]

Originally Posted by scottyt

i think you could have more fun rigging an out rigger, and a bigger sail

Whatd you mean an outrigger? Like extend the front of the boat?

[scottyt]

Originally Posted by Tidewater

Whatd you mean an outrigger? Like extend the front of the boat?

no turn it into a trimaran, that way there is no heel and the sail can get more power with out flipping the boat

[Tidewater]

Originally Posted by gulfcoastcruiser

See if you can find the rigging and sails for a "Super Sunfish". I used to own one of these and it was a good bit faster than just the lanteen rig.

The super sunfish does look like it would be faster but I'd like to make something work with what I have already which is a regular old sunfish. I'm trying to be creative rather then go out and buy another boat

[Tidewater]

scottyy, that is not a bad idea at all but i think it would be a hell of an undertaking and quite a bit of money to make that happen. I mine as well go out and buy a hobie cat. I'd like to work with the boat I have and add another sail somehow. Keep in mind, this is just for fun and I don't want to put a bunch of money into this project.

[scottyt]

tide water it can be simple

just use some 8 pvc pipe with some sort of cap, then a pipe clamped on to the boat to run out to the out rigger.

or use heat to put a bend in the 8 inch pvc to give the ends an up turn. belive it or not if you put the pipe supported at the ends and just let the sun hit it it will sag, might be faster if you painted them black thou