Hello from Gozo, Malta

[Seahunt]

Hi, I'm new here. I've been reading some of the posts, which I find very interesting and informative as well.

I have recently acquired a fibreglass lifeboat 12 feet by 5'3" which is very good for rowing since it's got a small keel and 2 rowing positions. I also use a small 4 hp outboard to do a little fishing sometimes. I find its small size and weight very convenient since I usually go on my own and I can do everything without any help.

I like sailing as well and so I have rigged a balanced lug sail with an area of 65 sq.feet. The dimensions I got from the Internet copying from a slightly smaller boat. The yard and boom are both 10 feet and the mast 11 fixed 50 inches from the bow. I'm trying to adjust things especially the Leeboard which I fit on the SB side through a slot in the gunwhale in line with the CLR of the sail (according to my calculations).

However, in the first sea-trial I found that the boat has too much lee helm, so I'll try the Leeboard a few inches further forward......... We'll see.

Any suggestions are welcome . Good to be here.

[Ocean Girl]

Welcome to the forum! Feel free to post pics of your row/sail/motor boat I had a 12 ft whitehall that I rowed around but never got around to rigging her to sail. I hope you find the info you are looking for.
Cheers,
Erika

[Randy]

Hi seahunt,
I used to love rowing, actually still do but don't do it as a routine anymore. I do have plans to build an 8' with a sail as well. Is yours set up to where the leeboard can shift fore and aft easily? Check out this website: johnellsworth.com: Balance your helm for speed I think that will clarify things alot better than me mumbling on about the concept.

have fun,
Randy

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and Welcome aboard!
Here's a 12 footer I put together years ago. I added a bowsprit to use a jib.

The original boat design had a leeboard. I converted it to daggerboard and used a Laser daggerboard I had extra. It sailed very well and was extremely well balanced from the first day I took it out. After a lot of calculations I just got very lucky on where I put the daggerboard trunk.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[Seahunt]

Thanks Randy. That was a great help.

[Seahunt]

Thanks Erika. I have moved the Leeboard about 9 inches forward, tied it with ropes as a provisional measure and it seems to be working fine now. I succeeded in arriving very close to my mooring in a stiff force 3 - 4 headwind. Quite satisfactory performance.

[Seahunt]

Hi JohnL. Thanks. I decided against a Daggerboard cause I did not want to cut a slot in the keel and a leeboard sounded like an easier solution. The leeboard seems to be working fine now after moving it a few inches forward.
Seahunt