Date Posted:08:08:44 09/21/09 Mon Author: bEllingham Mike (Good boat, but not enough sail area) Subject: Re: Just got here, hoping to become a sailor one day In reply to:
Paul Whitehurst
's message, "Just got here, hoping to become a sailor one day" on 18:55:35 09/20/09 Sun
Congratulations Paul! Now for the bad news. From what I know of the Rawson it is a strongly built boat that came from the factory way under-canvassed. Sail area to Displacement (from tables at the sail calculator site) show the Rawson at 12.52 while the Alberg 30 is over 15. Not to get too technical, it is generally agreed a sailboat with an auxillary engine should have at least a 15 SA/D to sail decently in light to medium airs, yet not have to reef too soon. Jay and others on this site have suggested a SA/D ratio of 20 or more for an engineless boat. If you can't sail in winds of 2 or 3 knots (common in our area), you will have to row or scull!
What are your options then? Ultimately you must figure a way to add substantial sail area to the Rawson, as Perry (a local engineless sailor) did with his Cheoy Lee, by installing a taller mast and short bowsprit, or in some other manner. For example, my previous boat, a Buehler Emily, displaced slightly less than the Rawson (about 11,500), had 423 sq ft of sail, and was definitely undercanvassed. The Rawson apparently has only 410 sq ft of sail.
For now, you will probably need to borrow or rent an outboard to get your boat moved(unless you pick a day with lots of wind). For the future, you will need to add sail area - and make a sculling oar if you want to sail sans engine.
