May I put my lee board in?

I realize I'm sailing with the big boys in this thread. I'll try not to be bothersome. But I do have questions.

specifically to cecbell:

I humbly agree this thread is about better windward performance. You mentioned you had a sportspal. (posting #309) I have a 12' sportspal that I am planning to fit out for sailing. My previous experience (New Members> Halcyon Days) with my barn-board leeboards, was that the only way I could go windward was to paddle. (and occasionally portage.)

Will a 12' sportspal actually make good to windward?

The sail I have been gifted is quite large; 7' luff, 5' head, 6' 9" foot and 8' 6" leech. (sprit rig) I am realizing while I am writing this that this sail must be in excess of 50 ft. square.

I intend to mount the mast at the bow (if you remember there is a 3/4" dowel mast step abaft the fore deck) and mount the leeboards at the mid thwart (for structural reasons)

Comments?

Humble supplicant

Crash Boom and Vang.

P.S.

Just to be an annoying sibling check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW_UfYGO3Kg&feature=related

Hi Crash,
Yes, we bought our Sportspal in the early 1970s. It's the 14' model and we got the sailing kit they had available then. We've sailed it much more than we've paddled it because it's a bear to paddle. Its special virtue is its capacity. The kids were small and we could put the four of us in it without coming close to an overload. Family vacations then were camping trips and it went everywhere with us. We'd sail it wherever there was water.

I measured the sail at 42 sq. ft. It seemed a little small but I got the impression from their brochures that it was meant primarily for the 12' canoe. Most of the time it would come about OK. But it had a limited range of wind speed for reliable tacking. If it was too strong, just shy of whitecaps, the extra wind drag would slow it to a stop before it could come through. If the breeze was too light, it couldn't build enough speed to coast through the dead zone. This can be a frustating experience in puffy conditions and close quarters! (Which is what inspired me to look beyond the Sportspal for canoe sailing.) But in gentle conditions it tacked reliably and I would think that the 12' canoe could be set up to do about as well.

In order to do that, perhaps the single most important thing is to get the leeboards located properly. Wherever you end up putting the sail, put the leeboards in whatever spot gives the boat a slight tendency to weathercock into the wind when the rudder's neutral. If they're too far forward, the amount of rudder needed to keep it straight will add a lot of drag to an already draggy hull and it will try to stay locked up pointing into the wind. If they're too far back (as appears might be the case in your avatar--it's hard to tell), you won't have much control over it and most likely will never get it to turn up.

Another thing with the Sportspal is its light weight. If you sit toward the stern, the bow comes up and gets caught by the wind making it hard to turn up. The tiller on ours is so short the helmsman has to sit in the stern. When going solo, the bow cocks up so much it's impossible to control. We usually find a convenient 30 - 40 lb rock to put in the bow to bring it back down to manageable trim.

While our 14' Sportspal seemed a little undercanvassed with the 42sq. ft. sail, it's a good size for the 12' canoe. I think anything much bigger than that would be pushing it--in spite of its beam. Unfortunately, no matter how efficient the sail you put on it, there's no getting around the draggy hull which makes it a less windward boat. But set up well, it will sail OK within its limitations. We've enjoyed ours for a long time though it hasn't been sailed recently.

I hope this gives a helpful direction but I must caution you not to confuse me with one of the "big boys" (not that there's much danger of that--those guys go on adventures I don't even dream about. I'm still playing catch-up with my homework.)

And welcome, by the way.

Instead of a rock, I use two, 5-gallon plastic gas cans full of water for ballast. The weight is right, they're easy to lug around--you can fill them when you need to--cheap and won't scratch your boat. They'll also retain some air and will float if you capsize.

I've used water ballast for years and these cans are so far the best.

Yes. In that scenario I think that's the best way to go. It's something I wanted to do but just never got around to getting the gas can (one would suffice in that situation). Fortunately, the Sportspal has a lot of floatation built in. In addition to the foam sponsons, the entire inside is lined with foam--which is why I thought we could get away with the rock. But it's not a solution I would advise--and it's one that only works if you can actually find the right rock (slippery little devils they can be sometimes, too).

Just want to say, "Thanks guys."
I'll give a more considered response later I just found I have an unpaid fine. Here in Ontario they issue a warrant for you Arrest for such transgressions and after 4:30 Friday they jail you until Monday to be arraigned. (So don't get mouthy with cops on Friday night or you will be spending the weekend at Her Majesty's pleasure.) Just waiting for the kids to come home from school.

T.T.F.N. (Ta Ta for now.)
Crash Boom and Vang.

But roll it and you lose your ballast!