The Gaff Rig Page

Reader Feedback Notes and pictures from readers. Revised 11/19/00

Readers of this page have been kind enough to share some of their experiences.  Gerry Boucher of Nashua, NH, had emailed that his rig was stolen and he was faced with a large bill to replace it.  Not wanting to spend the money right now, Gerry forged ahead and decided to try and make it:

"I wrote you weeks back about the Gaff pages.  how all my rig was stolen and I would try to build my own. Well It's done.
Couldn't have gotten done without your help.  I read your 'Details Pages' over and over.  Made a mast out of 11 layers of Luan plywood. the Boom and Gaff out of different size closet poles.  I even scaled your drawings!  I made the sail from Brown Poly Tarp from Home depot with directions from the Poly Tarp web site."

"I have about $100 in the entire rig, and it sails like a dream (in a good wind).  Again, thanks, I could not have done without the help, of a lot of people.  And there are still a couple of days before the snow starts!"

Gerry Boucher
Nashua,NH

I asked Gerry for some pics of what he had done:
 
 

Here's Gerry's completed rig, complete with a polytarp sail.  Gerry writes: "I think I could have made the darts 1/3 larger along the foot and the mast. I also believe that the over all size of the sail is too large because in a stiff breeze the boat goes too fast and in light air she just creeps along.   And windy and gusty.....yahoo!"

Gerry also came up with a unique way to attach mast hoops to a sail, using carabiners.  These are inexpensive, and easier to deal with than lacing the sail to the hoops if you have to remove the rig often.  Gerry writes: "I also connected the sail too the mast with snap clips unto PVC hooprings. These are quick and easy to connect  and remove.  DeHoops stay on deMast and deClips stay with deSail.  Having to take down the riggin each time is a lot easier with clips rather than lacing DeMast.  ( I did try lacing and failed) So now winter is knocking at the door.  maybe I'll make a smaller sail, then a top sail, or a jib,...or both. It will be a long Winter."