Hi Peterd, I have recently returned from 5 weeks in Australia and getting back to modelling again. I spent yesterday re-rigging a yacht and today trying to remember where all the bits I had already made for Wild Duck were.
Eventually found them and will get back to it in the morning, I am about halfway so quite a bit to go.
regards
Roy

Looking forward to seeing your progress with the Wild Duck. I have seen a lot about that boat on Facebook wooden boat forums.

Hi Ross thanks for the comments. What I now do is use 3 hole bowsies, usually in line 3 holes and go in-out-in and tie a knot to secure the end.

I then fish out loop near the end and put a hook on it. The bowsies I use are about 2.5mm thick and the effectively 4 right angles the cord goes through secures it firmly in place.

The cord I am using is Sylcast Profish dacron, Black Spot comes in 100 meter reels and 50lbs breaking strain.

Just been re-rigging my Graupner Gracia yacht with a replacement mast due to a break and bad join that had the mast bent where the crosstree is.

Just waiting for a warm wind and I shall be out testing to see if all is working. I have left the string knots with ends not cut off yet so further adjustment is possible.

I have salvaged the old mast and rigging and bowsies for a smaller yacht which is currently on the back-burner.

Current build is a Wild Duck. A word to the wise! Do not tidy up the workshop before going on holiday, I can't find where I put things now!

Roy

Roy
How could you prevent the cord from snapping or bowsie from slipping? Double up on the cord before installing the bowsie? Like having a double pulley on a block?

Further on and once the sail is in position, there should be a wire or strong cord from the base of the mast to the sail boom located about 4 or 5 inches from the gooseneck.
This stops the main sail from rising up vertically when the sail is let out. Sometimes refered to as a Chinese Gybe. Also known as a boom vang. There is a lot of tension on this and I have had cord break that I could not break myself.

Photo shows the position of the vang, however the string used was not gripped well by the bowsie and it has loosened and you can see the result.
Roy

the luff of the sail should have a luff rope (cord) that goes up the groove as per a real yacht.

It could be the sail leading edge has a flexible rod or rope sewn into the leading edge and that slides into and retained to the mast slot a bit like a caravan annex?

hi Garth!

Couple of questions first:

-Is there some kind of bolt rope in the luff of the sail?

Does the luff of the sail fit freely in the the mast groove/track?

Gluing makes me a little nervous. If not perfectly aligned on the first try, it might be a disaster.

Coming from schooners, have you considered sewing the sail to the mast? A spiral thread along the length of the mast?

Sew through the sail, and around the mast, and drop lower
sew through the sail, and around the mast, and drop lower
and repeat every few mm's or cm's. If not a good fit simply cut the thread.

None of the old videos appear to show any rigging system for the track and sail, so it may be glued into the track

Thanks for all the support. I found a bag with a lot of goodies inside the hull. There is a wire that I think threads throw the sail. Then, the sail can be put in the groove in the mast. Print reads as photo converted from German. Sails have groments, so that part will be easy.

It looks like there should be a beading on the leading edge of the sail which sides into the slot on the rear of the mast.