Replace yard on a lug mainsail with a carbon windsurf mast. Replacing a standard wooden yard for the top of the balance lug sail on The Goat Island Skiff with a piece cut from a windsurfer mast.
Question was how to stop a freestanding mast from falling out on a small sailboat? A few simple fittings and a neat solution
A birdsmouth mast is a nice way to make a simple tapered hollow round mast. But what is the best way to join the wood. We show you how and why.
John Goodman and I sailed the immaculate Goat Island Skiff he built from my plan in the Texas 200.
The boat showed itself to be one of the faster in the fleet despite loading up such a short boat with food, water and camping gear for six days with little outside support.
We played with sailing the boat by the lee – a method used by racing boats to gain both speed and control.
I document the method here including a video showing how the angle of heel can be controlled using the mainsheet.
I have drawn up a solid mast that will have the same bending characteristics as the OZracer Mk2 so will suit the sailshape that comes with the plans
Comparing Lug and Bermudan Rigs is usually unscientific and opinion based. Joost has three rigs on his Viola Sailing Canoe. So a less biased comparison
Two Videos rig a Lugsail. 1/ Last step construction – set up hull, spars and sails. 2/ Setting up the boat to go sailing is simple and quick.
Chasse Maree magazine published an interview with Michael “The quest for performance is not a matter of materials, it’s a state of mind” Translated by Christine deMerchant
Venturi Dinghy Self Bailers and Does your Sailing Dinghy need them? – Storer Boat Plans in Wood and Plywood
Checklist for choosing and fitting Dinghy Self Bailers to sail boats. Why they suit some boats but not others. Suitability for different events and uses.
Every year a beautiful Calendar based on the best 12 photos of Goat Island Skiffs taken during the year in many countries and locations. Italy, France, USA, Canada, Austria and more.
Vote for your choice of the best Goat Island Skiff photos from the last year. The best 12 to 14 are used to make next year’s 2021 Calendar.
How common are Epoxy Resin allergies and what are there strategies for reducing the chance of building an allergy? I will discuss building strategies, materials choices and useful production work practices.
Fittings list for the Goat Island Skiff and other Lug rigged sailboats. Two suppliers who can ship full package.
COVID doesn’t need to end fun things. What simple boats could be built at home during quarantine and social distancing. Here are mine.
Just a little video showing that the Viola 14 Sailing Canoe has enough stability to stand and hoist the sail or raise or lower the mast while one the water.
Controlling sail twist on any boat is critical for performance. Here we describe two methods for getting more performance all round and safer handling downwind.
They get put in our 2020 Calendar for the GIS facebook group – just click “Like” or “Star” for the photos you like most.
Early design work. Ketch and Yawl version Norwalk Island Sharpie 18ft. Prompted by development of mast tabernacles and folded mast overhang
How to get power from the sail quickly and simply in this lesson works on your direct feeling of power and acceleration. Yes! you can FEEL it
VIDEOS in Gusty Conditions in the Viola 14 Sailing Canoe they built 2 years ago. Viola (the person) and Joost practice for a RAID next week..