tinkboats

Lug Rigged Gull

I have a long running debate with another DCA member about the merits of Bermudan Rigs vs Lug Rigs. I firmly believe that if you are slogging up wind you can’t beat a Bermudan. That, for me, has been an essential safety feature, getting to shelter before the wind increases.

However……. Despite 7 mile open sea crossings in rough weather the only time, cruising, I have had water of the gunwale has been up river on relatively calm days. On a blue ski cumulus cloud day you need all your rags up to use every bit of wind. Complacency has no space in the boat, the clouds can produce strong gusts and violent shifts, and as ever the cleated jib will put you in. I think therefore a single big sail would be safer… a balanced lug for instance.

Additionally a free standing mast and lug sail will allow for quick setup and have advantages going for quick sails.

Scrolling through eBay boat bit adds, as I occasionally do I came across a lug sail of approximately the correct dimensions.

Not a good picture as it only just fits in the dining room but you can see it’s a rather nice sail

After a lot of careful measurements and some CAD it has the exact same area as the Gull and allows for the mast in a convenient position

CE fore and aft in the same position

There is a bit more to this than as I plan to allow the rig to be completely rotating and going to experiment with sailing ‘beyond the Lee’ and gybe over the bow. I’ll leave that for another day. Currently making the mast socket.

12 comments

  1. Interesting. I have just converted the hull of an old wooden Gull to take a junk (=standing lug?) rig, and done the calcs to have the C of E in about the same position as when the Gull is sailed main-only. I’ll make a test sail from a tarp, which appears to be a viable option even for a permanent sail.

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    • I’d say a Junk is a Balanced Lug, obviously it all depends on where you’re putting the mast, mine is forward of the front thwart, the great thing about the Junk and Balanced lug is you have a lot of control of the balance by moving the sail fore and aft

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    • hi Pete I wondered how the junk rig on the Gull was progressing ? I’m very interested in the same project on my Gull dinghy, regards Bill W

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      • hi Pete I have been renovating a mk1 GRP gull with Gunter rig I have replaced the centre board with a steel plate and taken out all the old foam floatation and replaced with air bags. I intend to sail the boat this year with just the Gunter main and see how I get on. I sail single handed in Chichester harbour and don’t race but I hope to use her as a cruising dinghy for exploring the harbour, hence my interest in the junk rig. I’ve also looked at a balanced lug rig as a possibility.

        thanks Bill

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      • Bill, (and with apologies to Mark for this parallel conversation), I know Chichester Harbour well having sailed & canoe’d/kayaked there for over 30 yrs while we lived near Emsworth. Anyway…. I have 3 wooden Gulls at the moment. One is my ‘normal’ one. I often sail with just the main in the forward stepped position. Very comfortable, less string lying around with no jib. Perfect with the grandchildren. One is my testbed. I’ve rebuilt and strengthened the foc’sle to take an unstayed mast, strengthened the transom to take an electric outboard, and restructured the aft locker. The third one was given to me partly restored. I’ve finished the woodwork, including a new centreboard case, new fore & aft lockers. I’m now trying to give it away to a local group or family (needs painting/varnishing) but this gifting is proving surprisingly difficult. Even the local Sea Scouts won’t take it, although they would like to. ‘Protocol’ and lack of facilities prevent it. They don’t own boats at all, they use boats belonging to a local sailing club. Back in the day my hand would have been bitten off by offering a free boat.

        I agree that junk-rigging a Gull is impractical, but on the other hand it will be fun…..plenty of string to get tangled up in….

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      • No problem, I’m enjoying the conversation. I’d be interested in number 3 but 5 boats and renovation a 6th for a friend is slightly too much.

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  2. very interesting posts I have a gull dinghy and would like to convert to either standing lug or junk. More info would be of great interest

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    • Hi Bill,
      Still working on my balanced lug but not quite there yet, will post when I have built and tested. I’m after simplicity, I trail the boat so quick setup times, I feel a junk would be too complex on a small boat. I chose the balanced lug for its simplicity and that it self vangs and is more balanced down wind.

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      • I once talked to you when you sailed your gull to the beach at Thorney Island. I brought a mk one gull and am now going to fix her up and sail in Chichester this year. The lug rig is my favoured option although I do have a perfectly good Gunter set up. Would be glad to get the dimensions of your lug sail to maybe build my own sail and get a new mast.

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      • Hi Bill
        Yes I remember chatting, I have updated the post to add the dimensions but as I say it’s untried at the moment and it is sail of ebay rather than something designed for the purpose. If you keep her near the water and sail Chichester Harbour the Gunter will be good. If you trail and explore rivers the lug may be worth the effort. For me it is about ease of set up after trailing and having one sail for the chaotic inland sailing – thats my feeling anyway

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