Steve,
We're prepared to capsize, although we plan to sail it on very small waters, in order to be able to swim to shore and get a rowboat to haul it in. Self rescue is something we've practised. Me, years ago and my bud just learned last year. With two guys it's doable with a bit of fuss. Solo? Can be tough in cold water. Best to get to shore and dry out. Go back later and fetch the wreck. About the only way to right a large Grumman with a sail that big is to try to pull out the mast and let the rig dangle below, then right the boat, bail, then pull up the sail. Unless it's 75degrees, you'd better head for shore and get warm.

I have a plan for outriggers. A couple in fact. My son welds aluminum, so I might have him build some air tight pontoons that I can bolt to some type of boom structure. ANother alternative is to carve some out of styrofoam, then resin and glass them, somewhat like how they make surfboards. A solid connection to the struts is more difficult that way, so maybe I'll go with Plan A.

John

Aluminum is great. If you make them with styrofoam, use 6 oz fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin, not that polyester resin cuz it melts stryrofoam (my experience!!!!). By the way, polyester needs much ventilation, cuz it's toxic... epoxy is nice, needs few ventilation easy to use.

Need hints for painting aluminum canoe, boats? Ask me.

For me, outriggers are a must cuz we go in deeper water, far from start point, some wind no more than F5, and loaded with camping stuff, cameras etc. etc. Out of question we capsize. Other wise for fun I can always go without them in shoal, wearing bathing suit and see how far I go until capsize.

Sargon,
I watched your vids. Nice stuff. You're a craftsman, to be sure. Yes, outriggers are definintely in the plan. The waters here in Puget Sound/Rosario Straits/San Juans/Georgia Straits are very cold and anyone who goes in must get out quickly, or death is very possible. I don't own a dry suit.

The longest crossings are about 5 miles, so it doesn't take long, but there are freighters and barges coming and going from Vancouver B.C. and Alaska, not to mention all the New Money types in 40' cruisers. Lots of those. As I stated before, paddling it was an adventure to make you a good Christian.

Thanks for the advice. I'll be checking in frequently. Perhaps I should invest in a waterproof camera...

Thanks John for compliment. Cold water is dangerous even in a short period of time. 5 miles is a nice swim. I made my outriggers as mentionned in my vid from a book, where very few details were available. I had to calculate from a small picture and multiply by a X factor to get real measures to get to actual size. I took long paper roll, draw profile view first then top view, and start making queel, then floor beam, ribs. Planking was the fun part because once you have the ''squeleton'' it's easy to dress-up!!!!. I'm proud of them, very much. They perform very well. I used cedar for planking, epoxy to waterproof, and 2 parts epoxy varnish for hi gloss finish and UV protection.

I put some vids on YouTube in the hope some people will consider canoe sailing a nice sport, good vacation way, cheap in price (consider price of a 30 foot Beneteau or Hunter sailboat!!!! OK not the same thrill but fun.

I wonder if I should consider selling plans...but I have to work on design so people will have fun in building their outriggers, not swearing because plans are terrible in comprehension.

Your 'riggers are made using a fairly complex process, but one that is traditional. The fact that you were able to loft the design from a few photos shows you're advanced abilities. There are few individuals with the knowledge, time and patience for that nowadays. That, in itself might somewhat limit prospective sales.

I have built two simple boats from Glen-L plans. Love them or hate them, they have put basic boat building into the garages of many otherwise reluctant people.

If you could simplify your design so pretty much anyone could build a set of pontoons in, say, 10 hours, I think you'd make money.

Some of the stuff out there is junk.

John

Sargon--if you make plans, let's post them here in the magazine as a feature--front page!