DIY Roller Furling and Improvements to the Snark Sailboat

[@RobbsHomemadeLife]

My first sailboat was a Snark. Like 40 years ago. This was a great video. I saved it to a playlist I have of do-it-yourself boats etc. I subscribed. Just watch your precision sailboat video. You have a great channel.

[@zackariasthepirate]

Thanks so much RobbsHL the jib had a great shape and the snark sailed noticeably better than with only one sail. The little boat seemed to take well to the aftermarket jib.... I try to make content that is relevant and reasonable, or at least stimulate the imagination. Oh the fun we can have with a simple achievement. I started to really enjoy making these videos and hope to stay on track with some new ones soon! ZTP

[@jimmysails994]

Very interesting. I like your roller furling setup. Had thought about adding a job on my small sharpie I built. Sewed my own sails with heavy duty white poly tarp. They have lasted me for 6 years. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@zackariasthepirate]

If taken care of, the poly tarp lasts for years! Cheers.

[@garygronberg4310]

Such an inventive fellow you are. Creative roller furling system. I might try to copycat you on my Snipe, 15.5-footer. I bought a sea snark from a Sears Roebuck summer supplement catalog somewhere around 1978, for I think $134.00. Car topped it right away to a vacation we were doing in Michigan in a 3-sister-lakes area of mainly fishing lodges. While everybody fished I taught myself how to sail a sailboat on that sea snark. The first sprightly Zephyr of wind that spirited me with instant acceleration in that snazzy styrofoam creation hooked me for a life of sailing. I look at your video with great fondness stirring wonderful memories, and admire everything you've done to customize that boat. The bowsprit and the roller furling is brilliant. The use of simple tarp material also clever the way it's threaded on to the Boom. I will continue to be a fan.

[@zackariasthepirate]

The roller furling was a win. It has worked on both the Snark and the Hobie cat 16. I added a bit of curve to the luff when I cut the sail. I think that's what gives it such a nice shape.

[@giusybernardelli5733]

Mi sono goduta ogni attimo in barca con te perchè l'ho vista nascere e accarezzare ogni filo di vento e quasi nuotare leggera nell'acqua. Grazie di condividere l'entusiasmante esperienza🤟

[@hardystein114]

Good job , I really like the look and geometry of your entire rig. Well done Zack !

[@zackariasthepirate]

Thank you. It performed great, I was surprised at the improved speed of the little boat with the bow sprit and jib.

[@MarkAnthonyHenderson]

Very creative and a fun project Think.

[@zackariasthepirate]

It was easy to make, inexpensive, and it worked perfect. Im adding it to a catamaran in my next video.

[@Nikos_Andromeda1965]

great job my friend !

[@zackariasthepirate]

Thanks much.. The jib has a great shape and pulls the little boat nicely!

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Pretty neat. I'd like to have a furling main sail for a Snark sized sail rig. I have a Sea Eagle Paddleski inflatable boat with a full sail rig with leeboards. The sail is 45 square feet and compatible with a Snark sail. But often the wind is too strong, and I'd really like to be able to reduce sail area. I don't need a jib, just a main sail. But as I transport my boat in a sedan, I'd need a sail the packs down to fit in the boat bag I have for the sail rig, about the size of a golf bag. I like the idea of the Hobie furling sail for their kayaks, and especially the one on the Hobie Island Adventure. I'd love to add something similar that fits my inflatable, and breaks down small. Ideally, setups up quickly. I also have a Torqeedo motor on at the same time as my sail rig, which really helps and wouldn't be possible on those Hobie's. Not to mention it it fits in my sedan's trunk.

[@zackariasthepirate]

The mini adventure is great. I love being able to enjoy the day off for very little cost. Small boats are good for that. Yes the sail rig that is compact makes a difference as sail Rigs can add up quick once secured to the roof. Before you know it, you have an awkward looking set-up on your roof that just begs for law enforcement to pull you over. :)

[@keeledover4218]

very cool buddy i want to adapt your design to my inflatable conversion

[@zackariasthepirate]

Im sure it would work. Keeping tension on the line that runs through the pvc that is attached to the jib is what makes it smooth. The washers reduce any friction. It was nice having the "Center of effort forward" on my little red boat. Even with the bowsprit it pulled along nice into the wind.

[@BalkanShipyards]

Good stuff! that's about the cheapest u can go!!! Love it! is that a CrabMuda rig? A Crab main and a jib... the Roller furling is top bro, Enjoy this boat for a while, but the shunting world is missing u already.... Keep shunting Zack!!!

[@zackariasthepirate]

I really enjoy making all this stuff. If I can make every part of the boat, then I can fix and replace every part of the boat, find weakness and have a better outcome. All the weird materials now make it a whole different approach. In applying old ways, and using new materials, i feel there is so much possibility. I'm still at the shunt build, with some tests going on right now. Really good results so far, after months and years of tests! See u on the water!! ZPLAA.

[@stuesdays]

so, I JUST boat my first Sea Snark sailboat over the weekend, and I'm already salivating at ideas on how to build upon it. It is the classic pre-ABS clad hull. Eventually I'd like to add wooden rails to the gunwales so I can attach oar locks, fishing rod holders, and dock line cleats. I see that you have something like that on your boat at about the 2:04 mark. I assume these were mods and not stock from a later version? Also, the main point of your video, the roller furling, is genius. How much improvement to you find combining the lateen with such a rig? Thanks

[@zackariasthepirate]

The Snark has lasted as one of my favorite ways to enjoy the day on the water. I would go so far as to call it the "Ultimate Car Topper Boat". Its light, easy to set up, SUPER durable (mine is 50 years old and works perfect almost seems new) customizable and I paid 80 bucks for it. I painted it with rustoleum 15 years ago white inside and red outside. All the wood you see in the video has been added. The rails I added for a place to attach things and the work well. The centerboard slot seems to need a new upper slot so I added 3/4 inch pine coated with three coats of polyurethane. The roller furling combined with the lateen style sail is great and I think sails much faster and points better too. Glad you found a Snark to mess around with.... great boat.

[@larzhillbot1443]

I grew up in Florida back in the 70 s I had a Sunflower and also some of my friends We had so much fun back then chasing each other around in the back bay waters sailing Now day the Snarks are so $$$ it seems they priced them selfs out of the entry sailboat market ?? They used to make an all Foam model no plastic coating that was very affordable back then so sad becouse i Love the old Snarks Your sail Rig is awesome

[@zackariasthepirate]

Larz, I can only imagine how fun that was. I stumbled upon this one and paid 80 bucks for it.. It was pretty nasty looking. I wasnt looking for it specifically, but it looked like a fun little boat. I painted it 2 coats inside and out, and put a wind surf sail on it to begin with, which worked well. I have been tweaking the build of the sails to see what it likes. The jib really pulls nicely. The boat seemed to sail better with a jib ans mainsail than the mainsail only. Good times. Adventure awaits! ZPLAA

[@hardystein114]

Could you give approx sail dimensions please Zack ? I have never made a rig like this. I`m building a Jim Michalak " mixer" design , it`s a 12 ft sail and oar boat you can cartop. I think this rig you have here would suit my little boat.The spars are compact and it looks really nice .

[@zackariasthepirate]

Luff 9' 2".. Leech 7' 8".. Foot 4' 6". I used a standard 10 foot PVC schedule 30 because its lighter in weight. The Snark was about 12 feet and the Jib worked perfect for that size boat. I left the Bottom of the pipe free of sail area for the last 10 inches, so I could see under the sail as it left a small gap. I also cut the Luff of the sail with a slight curve before I taped it to the pipe, which gave the sail a nice shape.

[@hardystein114]

@@zackariasthepirate Very kind of you to supply these details , very much appreciated , THANK YOU !!!

[@markjamesmiller8690]

Soul

[@zackariasthepirate]

Its a fun little boat. 80 bucks well spent.