AeroRig

[Healer52]

I've read the info here on these AeroRigs, and done a bit of searching on the net.

We're looking at some boats, two we've perused online have these.

I think I understand the idea (with the wind forward of the beam, the sails are always close hauled, etc), and I understand that they're good for singlehanding.

But, it seems nobody actually makes these any more. What if it breaks? And the deck layouts (and presumably important structural bits like compression posts, etc.) are a bit weird, especially if you want to convert to a more conventional rig.

Comments?

TIA

[delmarrey]

There is a reason they don't make'm any more.

The mast was 100% overweight because Carbospars covered up their bad laminate by adding extra layers of fiberglass

[James S]

I don't think they have compression posts as we know them.
They are typical free standing rigs and the lower bit of the mast inserts, through a bearing, into a sleeve of sorts that support it...this may look like a compression post....but most probably of a lager diameter.
I had the opportunity to get a good look at one recently...the mast had been pulled and was on horses on the hard.
It was interesting.
But it was very heavy looking....but what does standing rigging weigh?

[Healer52]

Hmm.....not a good thing.... Just goes to show that deals that seem 'too good to be true' aren't.

Oh well, lots of boats out there.

And thanks very much for the wisdom.

[David M]

There is a lot to be said about a standard rig. It has evolved into what we have now over hundreds of years. Its cost effective and reliable. Its a good thing to think outside the box but sometimes some of those ideas that are outside the box are still out there for good reason....because sometimes they are not as good as what we have now that is known to work.

[cantxsailor]

Geeze Dave don't even try to tell that to an engineer.........putting on my Nomex suit now.................m

[Healer52]

Originally Posted by David M

There is a lot to be said about a standard rig. It has evolved into what we have now over hundreds of years. Its cost effective and reliable. Its a good thing to think outside the box but sometimes some of those ideas that are outside the box are still out there for good reason....because sometimes they are not as good as what we have now that is known to work.

True enough. But there is room for outside the box ideas too. However, when they're tried and don't work (for whatever reason) it's not smart to keep trying them.

Who knows. Maybe someone will re-launch the AeroRig idea, and get it right. But we have a saying in medicine: Don't be the first, and don't be the last...."