Dinghy rigging

[pcatterall]

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Hopefully there are some photos of what was my tender but is now my only means of getting about by water.
She is a Fibron dinghy and I have put the rigging up the only way I can see which will work!!
I believe the rig is called a gunter rig but I cant really see why it is like it is.
the wooden pole hardy extends the alloy mast, I feel that it would be simpler just to extend the mast with a bit more tube.
However there will no doubt be some cunning system which I have not spotted and one of you will probably be able to 'explain all'!
I would like to be able to play around and use the sail on our local lake so would welcome any advice on how to rig her properly.
As I am old and not too flexible I do want to get as much height under the boom as possible.
Is there a way that I could get the sail to rise and fall as on a proper yacht as, in the past with other dinghys I have found it awkward getting on and off while alongside larger craft ( it would be nice to get clear then just whip the sail up!!
I will appreciate any suggestions.
( hope the photos work )

 

[Ruffles]

Peter,

I think it's normal for the gaff halyard(?) to go through a block at the top of the mast and then down to the cleat. Otherwise the top bit of the mast isn't doing anything!

Just found a photo.

 

[sarabande]

yes, the wooden jaws should be hauled up nearly to the cleat , and the blue plastic ones will go higher as well, to give you good head clearance.

The line halfway along the yard goes to a turning point at the top of the mast, then down to the foot.

It looks as if you need a few bits more string and cleats. One from the end of the boom to a block halfway up the mast will enable you to scandalise the sail in an instant. Sliding gunter is a low-tech and easily handled rig when set up.

 

[Skyva_2]

As Rob says the gaff could normally go higher - see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mirrordinghy2008.jpg

That would get the boom higher at the gooseneck.

 

[Ruffles]

Peter

I find a traveller quite important. Just a piece of string from one corner of the transom to the other and a block for the main sheet that slides along it. You need to flatten the sail with the main sheet to get upwind but with the gaff rig you go sideways if you centre the boom. Though you can always hold the boom down with your hand!

 

[CLP]

Can you post a picture of the whole rig? The sail and boom should go higher up, like Ruffles shows. Your mast cleats seem very high and this might be daft, but have you got the mast upside down?? Also you need a line to pull the tack (corner near the mast) into the mast, and also pull it down towards the boom.

 

[Ruffles]

[ QUOTE ]
...but have you got the mast upside down??

[/ QUOTE ]
Good point. And I bet there's something on the other end of the mast to take the halyard.

 

[pcatterall]

Many thanks guys.
I was outside looking at it again and it suddenly came to me,
when I first got the boat there WAS a wooden end in the top of the mast with rollers. The gaff lines passed through that and so ( as you all say) the sail sits much higher up the mast.
I think that the wooden end disintegrated!
All your other tips are welcome and I will start playing around with the rig accordingly.
Sorry about the photo arrangement, I willl have to learn how to get them arranged vertically.
Thanks again.

 

[dur]

...and then the point where the halyard is fastened to the gunter yard will go to the block (or whatever) at the masthead and the boom will hopefully be 2' higher so that you can see out!
If you take the tack forward a little so that the luff is a straight vertical line it will take out the crease that runs from the clew to the bottom of the sleeve at the moment (with a bit of luck).

 

[Lakesailor]

At one point during the restoration of my Heron dinghy I fitted the rig to my tender. I think this will show the arrangement you are trying to achieve.