Junk Rigs: Why the Hell Not ?

[ty.gregory]

No really, why the hell not????? I'm a soon to be single hander that wants to cruse El Caribe. I might want to one day cross the Pacific. I could go on a mono or a Catamaran, but mainly I just want to go in whatever comfort zone I can afford-- the less worry the better. I don't know how to sail, but that is beside the point, I will learn. Back to the question: Junk Rig...after minor research all I've heard is "ease of handling", ease of this, ease of that, are they really going to give me ease?

EASE is my middle name! I am a very big fan of EASE in all it's components... Matter of fact, that's going to be the name of my boat-- EASE!~

So what am I missing in all this? I know they've been around for a thousand years, but I'm just catching on.

[ty.gregory]

Better late than never.

[useDaGreyMatter]

Yahoo has a junk rig group. everything a newbie's heart can desire on how to. Best DIY site I have ever seen for any kind of sail building.
Check out the files section, Great newbie material. Enough to keep you reading for HOURS!

junkrig : A forum to discuss the design, building

[MarkJ]

Is the rig more important than the livability of the boat?

Sometimes people get really focused on one thing, but that might not be the 'real' thing that makes your life easy

Plus you will have great, great difficulty selling it when you want to upgrrade, win at the casino, or finish your cruise.

[SurferShane]

Gregory – here is a link you might appreciate,

http://www.jesterinfo.org/jester.html

[Chattcatdaddy]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Plus you will have great, great difficulty selling it when you want to upgrrade, win at the casino, or finish your cruise.

Thats the big catch 22 of the whole junk rig issue. If its a vessel you intend to own for a long time and it will truly make your cruise more enjoyable, then got for it.

You mentioned that you have not sailed yet. Maybe try a more common sail plan and then consider a junk rig once you can decide for yourself if changing sailplans will make that much of a difference.

All that being said, nothing wrong with a junk rig. Lose a little to windward, but modern changes to the junk rig sailplan has helped.

Here is an excellent book on junk rigs: http://http://www.amazon.com/Practic...9555593&sr=1-1

[skipmac]

Like almost everything on a sailboat the junk rig is a compromise. You get some advantages but will find some disadvantages.

After hundreds of years of sailing and many thousands (millions?) of sailing vessels built the majority of sailors and builders have determined a rig that offers the most advantages with the fewest disadvantages based on the materials and technology available today. That's the rig you see on 99% of the sailboats today.

Of course you have to decide on your own preferences and compromises. If you like what a junk rig offers and don't mind what you give up to get it then that's the best rig for you.

[Efraim]

Here are the advantages:
No or very little standing rigging.
Practically any old pole can be used for a mast.
Sails can be very economical i.e. the cheapest sailcloth is more than good enough.
Running rigging is made up of small size hardware.
Winches...who needs them.
All sail handling easily done from the helm.
Jibing, accidental or otherwise...no drama.

One thing that seems to be overlooked is that not every hull form is suitable for a junk rig, it's probably not a good idea just to take any hull and plunk a junk rig on it. Tom Colvin, a designer of some renown, has written a lot on the merits and limits of the junk, good reading.

[ConradG]

Great rig! Many advantages in my assesment but there are not as many who see the light so selling might indeed be more difficult (although I haven't noticed people having difficulty selling proven designs in good condition. In fact finding them for sale can be difficult and good ones seem to sell quickly).

If you are interested in the rig I strongly recomend picking up Tom Colvin's booklet " Coastwise and Offshore Cruising Wrinkles" and if your interest continues, his booklet "Sailmaking". He discusses the various types of junk rigs and comparisons to modern rigs with some trials of different rigs on the same hull form. Of course he also speaks of hull forms and many other progressions and digressions in boat design. He has a bit on his website (google Thomas E Colvin) and so does Micheal Kasten.

[Brent Swain]

I can walk into boaters exchange , buy a used sail in excellent condition, for a fraction the cost of the materials in it, hoist it and be sailing in half an hour. Not so with a junk rig where you have to build everything yourself , from scratch.
I can reef in under a minute, so don't see the advantage in a junk. They are abysmal to windward.

[hpeer]

Why not indeed. This one has been for sail for two years. I'll bet she can be had for a song. I looked at her but we were looking for a bigger boat. I thought she was great, if I didn't have a boat and wanted to single hand, this would be high on my list.

1982 Ganley Snowbird Junk Rig Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[roverhi]

How about the junk rig is just dirt slow. Check Blondie Haslers trans atlantic time against other boats in the race. Plenty of time to grow a beard.

[hpeer]

And if you have sense you realize that time is not that important. Who wants to race when you can sail?

[useDaGreyMatter]

"And if you have sense you realize that time is not that important. Who wants to race when you can sail? "


Well said, some folks just do not get it, Junk rigs just make sense to some and never will make sense to others. Its the same ol' question,. one persons religion vs anther's. Bermuda vs junk rig

[SaltyMonkey]

I've done quite a bit of analysis on junk rigs and they have a lot of shortcomings. Do some more investigation. Theres a major reason you dont see them. Too much to type on this iPad. There are better single handling options.. I like you was gun ho on junks