I'm building an 18' Superpelican. I'm toying with several possible rigs. First of all, the standard rig. I'm thinking that an alternative might be fun to try. Idea #2 is Lug rig from the Jim Michalak's Jewelbox design. The Jewelbox 2 has a similar underwater shape and size as the larger Pelicans. Idea #3 is the junk rig. I've never sailed a junk rig, and it looks like it might be fun. Anyone out there with experience on junk rigs, or other alternate rigs for the Pelican?
I put a junk rig on "Dowser"(20') and it has worked quite well. She points to 45 degrees off the wind, beam reaches fast and runs fast and easy. This is on a lake in 20 kts of wind and less, so I can't speak to how it works in heavy air or any seas at all.The rig is hugely powerful. I found junk rig very easy to sail and a snap to reef(drop a panel or two and sheet in). Setting it up initially to get good sail shape and have good sheet leads when reefed was not so easy. Maybe my years as a rigger made getting into a totally different way of thinking harder. I'd recommend looking at Hasler's book for reference. Jeff
As far as I understand there is not a terrible lot of difference between a junk rig and a lug. My GP (built by someone more competent than myself) has a fully battened main like a junk, but it doesn't have the sheetlets that many larger junks do. In other words there is one sheet from the boom.
I guess true junk rigs do not require standing rigging, which is nice and may be cost saving and less cumbersome in snotty weather.
The full length battens on my boat really help retain sail shape; they allow for exceptional off wind points of sail. I think I get to 45-50 deg off the wind and closer with the jib. Jibing is safer because of ample sail area in front of the mast.
Plus, In my reading I've come across tons of accolade bestowed on junk rigs for various reasons. Nate
We too are working with Jeff to see about a Super Pelican 18 build. I've asked about the possibility of a yawl rig; roller headsail, gaff rigged main and small mizzen. I like the balance, ease of being able to hove to, and the lower mast height. We're not trying to make this a race boat, so speed isn't an issue with this boat. Any suggestions/comments will be welcome...Mayrel
I'm the guy who bought Dowser, the 20 foot Pelican built by John Roumbanis, from Jeff last year. My wife and I towed her back to San Francisco and spent quite a few months restoring the largest of all Pelicans. Last fall my wife Sue and I took her sailing for the first time (with the Junk rig).
Jeff had found Dowser languishing in an obscure S.F. Delta marina a couple of years back. She'd been stripped of her rig and hardware and he took the opportunity to try out a Junk on an aluminum mast from an old Columbia.
I've had a few boats, most with Marconi rigs, 3 ketches, 1 standing lug and 2 sprit sails, but I've always been intrigued by the Junk rig too.
I was disappointed at the amount of time necessary to set the rig up. But once up, it pulled well and I was pleasantly surprised at Dowser's performance against similar-sized fiberglass boats. I'd been prepared for the lack of windward performance -- most apparent in light air -- but that was still frustrating. I suppose for a work-boat doing long reaches and downwind it would be fine, but in tight quarters I prefer more nimble rigs.
As a result, I contacted Hank Jotz, the sail-maker who made Dowser's original sails, and had him make a new set. Because of Dowser's size, these sails are about 1/4 more area than even a Great Pelican. I then did something a little innovative (fingers crossed) and fitted a bamboo mast (4"x18'), bamboo bowsprit (4"x8'), and bamboo boom and gaff (2"x17'). Bamboo is light and stronger than steel by weight. It's also flexible, cheap and renewable. It's used in a lot of construction and holds up well if sealed and protected with a good varnish. I even made a bamboo tiller!
Dowser will be back in the water in the next few weeks and I'll post some pictures!
Bamboo spars, COOL! Always wanted to try that. Looking forward to seeing the photos.
It'll be good to see Dowser with her original sail plan. The junk was a good experiment and I'd do it again on a boat designed from the start for junk rig.
