Ep. 14 - Lug Rig or Gunter Rig? Onboard 'Solid Air' the Welsford Navigator at Little Swanport...

Рет қаралды 3,878

Ай бұрын

What’s the best dinghy cruising rig?
In this Episode we swap the Gunter Main and Jib for a Balanced Lug on our Welsford Navigator ‘Solid Air’, then take her up to Little Swanport on the East Coast of Tasmania for the annual Tasmanian Wooden Boat Guild Easter camp/cruise.
Five different skippers take the Navigator out for a sail and make a conclusion on what they believe is their preferred rig…
Thanks to Alan Gogoll for his brilliant playing once again: www.alangogoll.com/

Пікірлер: 51

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks to all that attended the 'Premier'. I think we had a few people viewing but the ability to comment was a bit tricky and perhaps not user friendly. We hope you enjoyed the episode...Stay Salty...⚓👍

@vempronordeste2841 20 күн бұрын

A hug from everyone here in Brazil❤

@damoog5985 Ай бұрын

Another great episode, and I'm loving my standing lug yawl with no bowsprit, no shrouds and no fuss

@rossbarnett3759 Ай бұрын

Myself and a mate just watched your video together. We think your videos are very well put together and it keeps the interest on a high. But we both concluded in high winds like over 20 knots with the original gunter there are more options possible. Because there are 3 sails, 3 configurations thus giving more options in high winds. Which is why we own Pathfinders and Navigators. Above 25knots we have found that the main is dropped and a small storm Bermuda rig is hoisted and the jib is reefed which is needed to point. To conclude the Navigator design is very good, she was designed as a gunter and Bermuda rig racing training dinghy and it's no surprise that the lug sail also works. Love your videos and thanks for your good work.

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks Ross. Appreciate your comment (and your videos too!). I agree having the extra sail options is a bonus...BUT...let's ask the question why JW's last two designs (that he describes as expedition craft) have a balanced lug with mizzen? I reckon that properly reefed lug can be just as useful as a jib and jigger set up.

@benwinter2420 13 күн бұрын

There was a larger Hobie cat type on a trailer at the local tip shop north east NSW . . that I could't tip over myself in a fit . . even for a song

@alfred-vz8ti 27 күн бұрын

a high angle gaff rig gets the beat of each.

@ianboyce4276 Ай бұрын

I like what you have done with the rig.😊

@benwinter2420 13 күн бұрын

Turned back over small hire cats off of Mindil beach Darwin NT back in day . . huge fun

@benwinter2420 13 күн бұрын

Can't recall his name , youngest circumnavigator for a time . . him rode a Hobie cat along the north east Oz coast as kids

@waynemckinnon1960 Ай бұрын

I still haven't found where you make live chat comments! I would have thought the gunter would be quite a bit better to windward. But Mike Storer, with his followers have tweaked the way you rig, tension, sail the balanced lug rig. It gets close to triangle sails pointing, with all it other advantages intact, like great offwind performance, with lower centre of effort short mast & no stays. Nice video Matt.

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks mate. Yeah, the chat was a fizzer unfortunately...I think the way YT sets it up is terrible. Apologies. Thanks again. Mat & Jo.

@davidbrayshaw3529 Ай бұрын

You've got it too easy down there. All you Tasmanians seem to do all day is go sailing or fishing. Wonderful time management skills, if you ask me. Thanks for the video.

@benwinter2420 13 күн бұрын

The water is very cold all year round , seasoned NSW types get a shock . . me from NT would snap freeze

@Morningvicar Ай бұрын

Another great video, the lug looks great. I so very nearly bought a Navigator before the Shrimper presented itself and, whilst it's doing everything we want at the moment, I can see a John Wellsford boat in my future.

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thank you. The Welsford boats are certainly worth looking at. At the very least I recommend test sailing a SCAMP and Navigator.

@kens2114 Ай бұрын

Really enjoy your boating down there in Tassy, the Welshford boats are extremely well thought out. Your Navigator is a luvely vessel, works well with the lug rig & mizzen. Practically speaking can you camp on the Navigator, looks a little tight? Thanks for taking the time to make these vids, cheers

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks mate. Yes, two can sleep on the Nav. We have sleeping platforms that span across the cockpit.

@aNaturalist Ай бұрын

I love discussions about different rigs on small boats. That's sort of hard to find here on KZbin. I sail a cats paw dinghy with a sliding ghunter that's right out of a Herreshoff book. It's a beauty and sails quite close to the wind. It also spills wind in big gusts. I feel quite safe in that boat. It's cat rigged, so there no jib. It's very easy to setup and go, or to drop sail if necessary.

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment. The discussion is a good one...as the 'dinghy cruising' movement seems to be growing, so does the move towards a more traditional rig; because they are better suited to cruising. You mentioned safety and I think that's the most important feature of any small boat design. Thanks again...stay salty!

@gascoynejoe1 Ай бұрын

Great video, this is what I was looking for a couple of years ago when I built a Navigator and was deciding on the rig. I picked the gaff rig with mizzen and sold it not long after I built it, as it took so long to set it up. If I had of seen this I would have gone with the balanced lug as this is what I had on my Goat Island Skiff. I hope other Nav builders see this as the boat is fantastic but a simpler rig means less time on the beach and more on the water. I have really enjoyed your previous videos and look forward to your future adventures.

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks mate. Appreciate your comments. I cut the old bowsprit down yesterday...so the lug is staying.

@gascoynejoe1 Ай бұрын

Great, now you’ll be able to get it onto the trailer, I’m coming to Hobart in Jan, I’ll keep an eye out for you if you’re going to the Wooden Boat Show. Regards Ian

@groundowl3098 Ай бұрын

I'm picking up a scamp 12 this summer. It has a balanced lug. I plan to add a mizzen and bowsprit to it. Thanks for this post. It was timely.

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Curious…why are you adding a bowsprit to a SCAMP?

@groundowl3098 Ай бұрын

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sxHonestly, I like how it looks. Like a mini schooner or something like that. I'm downsizing to this boat, but still want the full experience. I may change my mind after I pick it up.

@lauriev Ай бұрын

Yes, the lugsail rig makes much more sense imo, the gunter sail on the Navigator whilst good, took far too long to setup and then unrig at the boat ramp. A day-sailer should spend most of the day actually sailing.

@brucedyson-smith459 Ай бұрын

Excellent video Mat really enjoyed it and interesting to see what your thoughts on the Lug change over.Will be interesting to see what you think in some stiff breeze.

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks Bruce. Appreciate your comment. With respect and regards, Mat & Jo

@stevecam14 Ай бұрын

The famous Little Swanport Coconuts!

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

We sailed a fair way offshore for that pic. ⚓️👍🏾

@stevecam14 Ай бұрын

I'll get there one day!@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx

@andrewrobb633 Ай бұрын

The navigator looks so much better with a lug sail

@brianromanowsky2955 14 күн бұрын

More Info - PLEASE - can you tell us more about the measurements of the sale you used here? God willing, I'll need to get one some day! Thanks so much.

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx 14 күн бұрын

Hey mate. As mentioned in the video, the lug sail wasn't designed for the Nav but works fine. I suggest sending Michael Storer an email at Really Simple Sails and he will design you something for your boat. Remember; you might need to move your mast position and perhaps make it free-standing. reallysimplesails.com/

@brianromanowsky2955 12 күн бұрын

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Thanks so much!

@sailingspark9748 Ай бұрын

I will be honest, I have a series 1 GP14 that somehow emigrated to the US. As I often sail her solo, I find her a little headstrong and difficult to manage when the wind pops up. Even reefed down, she is a handful. I have thought of talking to Michael at RSS about designing a lug rig for her. Even if it is the same amount of sails, putting all the canvas closer to the water should help keep her right side up, non?

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Absolutely send Michael a message. He’s great to deal with and very knowledgeable.

@jonathanlewis1352 Ай бұрын

Fun. Have you tried a cat ketch rig like the Norwalk Islands Sharpie? Just wondering…

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

My mate I sail with has a NIS…so I have a fair understanding of that design.

@paulschriever9279 Ай бұрын

Great video. I'm building a Navigator now. Which RSS sail did you use? What boat was it designed for?

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks mate. It was for a dory...just ask Michael to design you something around 100sqft. I think JW has a Lug sail plan on file for the Nav though.

@simontee4262 Ай бұрын

Thank you for another great vid! Having grown up racing fibreglass 1 design dinghies and yachts, it's fascinating to learn about different approaches to sailing rigs and performance. Please keep up the good work! Hey, what type of dinghy was that lug rig actually meant for?

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback. The sail was for a a 'Dory' type hull project that we abandoned.