O T Heavy Water & Sail Rig

Jon Bouton

Sucker for an Indian Girl
I have an ~ 1930 16 ft HW canoe repaired several years ago with my brother, Tim & father, Ed. The front seat has a hole for a mast. I have the Step but didn't re-install it. When, this winter, I stumbled across a sail rig and leeboards (no rudder) in a used furniture store, I grabbed them. I know nothing about sailing but am going to learn. I'm going to refinish the parts on vacation. Now I'm just looking for general information so I don't mess up. I'd welcome any comments. I believe this is a lateen rig from Old Town. Mast is spruce, 78". Both poles are 122".
The sail will need to be replaced. It is 114" along the bottom pole (not tight), 117 along the vertical pole and 125" is the (luff?) diagonal. The luff has 3 pockets for stiffeners.
(You "in the know" must be rolling in the aisles by now!)
This finally got me to join WCHA and to buy Dragonfly's book.
Here are some photos. Again, any comments welcome! Thanks!
 

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The information at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=969 indicates that you have a standard 45 square foot sail. The pictures at http://canoesailingmagazine.com/index.php/Issue-4/The-Good-Times-A-1931-Old-Town.html should help you put the pieces together. Another good resource is "Canoe Rig - The Essence and the Art" by Todd Bradshaw which is available from http://woodencanoe.org/catalog/prod...d=436&osCsid=62f6833df1c7adb1b335034ea61b625e in the WCHA store. The information at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=4107 may help you date your rig. The leeboards appear to be after 1932 and yet the mast appears to have the round bottom which is usually found on earlier rigs. The messages at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=4461 describe this in more detail. You may also want to get a rudder. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson
 
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Many Thanks!

Thank you, Benson. This is a tremendous help. The great photos of your canoe give me something to strive for.
I hope to make one of this summer's events and will look to meet you in person. I'm not too far away in White River Junction, VT
 
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