Apr 27, 2012 · Shallow U.S. East Coast bays and rock-strewn coasts have long been graced by cat boats, whose large, gaff-rigged mainsails proved simple and powerful both on the wind and, better yet, when reaching and running.

Aug 10, 2022 · It seemed a daft idea to build a gaff-rigged boat in 1974, just when everyone else had embraced the ‘modern’ Bermudan rig. Yet the first Cornish Crabber 24, designed by Roger Dongray, tapped into a feeling that would grow and grow and eventually become a movement.

Jan 1, 2025 · Top Small Sailboats Under 25 Feet. Classic Beauty: Com-Pac Horizon Cat. Com-Pac Yachts has a reputation for producing high-quality, seaworthy boats, and the Horizon Cat is no exception. This 20-foot sailboat features a gaff-rigged catboat design, offering a spacious and comfortable cockpit with room for up to 6 people.

Dec 6, 2010 · There are many gaff rigged small boats. A popular one that comes to mind is the Melonseed in any of its length iterations. Small ones are 13 feet, some are as much as 20 feet.

Especially with the modern take on the gaff rig, a short-gaff configuration, you greatly simplify the rigging needed to operate the main, as well as reduce the total weight of the mast and rigging. The downside of a simplified rig is that it can potentially be more difficult to sail short-handed.

The mast is so short because the “simulated gaff”-rigged mainsail is compact and wide for its height. The mainsail is in the shape of a gaff sail plus a gaff topsail, with a sturdy batten taking the place of the gaff boom.

Feb 18, 2015 · This list features 11 small sailboats with cabins that have the amenities often found on larger vessels. They may not be ocean crossing vessels, but they’re certainly capable of handling big bays and open waters.

The gaff-sloop rig, complete with small topsail, is traditional. The mainsail is low-tech: laced to the boom, gaff, and mast, and reefed with two rows of simple nettles. Less traditional is the jib’s roller furling mechanism, installed by Andy for easier control from within the cockpit.

Gaff rigged sloop. Power: Outboard motor to 4 hp, 15" nominal shaft length, mounted in a well. Trailer: Designed for use with Glen-L Series 3800 boat trailer plans.

Aug 30, 2017 · New boats are offered with sailplans featuring a fully battened mainsail set either on an unusual curved gaff or a rigid headboard. The mast is free-standing and made of carbon fiber, and you can also set the optional furling headsail from the sprit.

Find your gaff rig sailboat easily amongst the 3 products from the leading brands on NauticExpo, the boating and maritime industry specialist for your professional purchases.

Oct 9, 2024 · When considering a gaff-rigged boat, potential prices and specifications can vary widely based on size and design. Small Gaff-Rigged Day Sailer: 20-25 feet in length, typically priced between $5,000 and $20,000. These boats are great for learning and casual sailing. Mid-Sized Gaff-Rigged Cruiser: 25-35 feet, usually priced between $20,000 and ...

Nov 24, 2023 · Almost 18% of respondents have gaff-rigged boats, 13% fly sprit rigs, and nearly 7% set Standing Lugs (similar to balance lug except that boom or foot doesn’t extend past mast). Lateens/Crabclaws and Junk Rigs also made an appearance at 2% each.

The most common rig types on sailboats. To give you an idea of the most-used sail rigs, I'll quickly summarize some sail plans below and mention the three things that make up their sail plan. Bermuda sloop - one mast, one mainsail, one headsail, fore-and-aft rigged; Gaff cutter - one mast, one mainsail, two staysails, fore-and-aft rigged

A small boat, rigged simply, will take you away from the hustle and bustle of modern life in a single afternoon…and make you feel as if you had sailed on a deep-sea voyage. On the following pages, we examine 12 rigs for small boats—and their virtues and vices.

Many trailerable sailboats are gaff rigged. Though the traditional gaff rig is more complex than a modern Bermuda rigs, it uses a shorter and stronger mast. This has obvious benefits for trailerable boats, as the mast and spars store more easily.

If a vessel's keel is shaped efficiently and if the sails are cut for maximum efficiency on the wind and if the sail plan has been designed well, a gaff rigged boat will perform incredibly well, in many cases besting the performance of a high aspect ratio Marconi rigged boat.

FILO is a winsome gaff-rigged sailing dinghy reminiscent of catboats first seen along the New England coast in the 1840s. At 11′ LOA, with a 5’0″ beam and 8″ draft (daggerboard up), this beamy daysailer—designed for protected waters—combines characteristics of a Cape Cod cat with elegant features of the classic Whitehall.

A small sailboat will not only give you the feel of every breeze but will also give you the chance to instantly sense every change in trim. In this article, we'll highlight 10 best small sailboats under 20 feet. Most models in this list are time-tested, easy to rig, simple to sail, extremely fun, and perfect either for solo sailing or for ...

Paul Gartside’s 16′ Gaff Sloop, his Design No. 218, has its roots in SJOGIN, a 22′ traditional double-ended Scandinavian workboat built in the late ’50s. Paul designed a modified version of it, his Koster Boat, Design No. 176, and later developed three smaller versions.

FAIREHOPE is a 21′ gaff-rigged sloop designed by Nelson Zimmer. In my correspondence with him during the time FAIREHOPE was being built, he wrote, “I designed the little shallop in 1946 for a man in Auckland, New Zealand, as a stout coastwise cruiser.”