How to build a spritsail for your boat, an illustrated guide to building this seaworthy shanty. (Click on the “enlarge image” link to see a close-up view of the sail diagram.)
Build a Spritsail Sail for Your Boat
Clamp this simple spritsail onto any small, square-sterned
rowboat or dinghy (such as the build-your own model
featured in our last issue), and–presto–you’ll
have yourself a fine little wind cruiser! The rig, though
complicated) as those on “real” sailboats, performs nicely
on a broad reach, and with a good breeze can even bring a
boat around to tack at about 30 degrees into the wind.
Moreover, since the mast, boom, and rudder work as a single
unit, even a novice can readily master the sail’s
operation.
By following the drawings, you should be able to assemble
the entire pusher sail for no more than $45. Those of you
who’d prefer to work with larger-scale drawings than we’re
able to present here, or who are also interested in
constructing the plywood dinghy featured in MOTHER NO. 95,
may want to purchase a complete set of plans that detail
the building of both units. The plans are available for
$10.00 plus $1.98 shipping and handling from Boat Plans,
THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS PLANS, Hendersonville,
NC.