Fitting a Jib to a Walker Bay 8

[FullCircle]

I love my little Walker Bay 8, but it needs to go better upwind.

So, I am hatching a plan to fit a jib. Trouble is that the mast is mounted through the front seat, which is a long way forward.

So I thought about fitting a bowsprit:
Aluminium pole 38mm 16awg around 1m long
Attached at mast with spinnker pole like fittings
Through a 40mm ring mounted on the bow
Eye top and bottom
Bottom eye with bobstay to mooring towing eye in hull
Top eye fitted with highfield lever to tension mast

Mast modification
Fitting to front of mast around 3m up to fit forestay and top jib halyard block
Fitting also must clip on 2 shrouds
extra cleat at base of mast for jib halyard

Rigging
Forestay with fitting to clip to mast and fitting to clip to highfield lever
2 shrouds to fit on mast, swept back 5 degrees to hull fittings
2 jib sheets


Hull mods
Addition of 40mm ring to take bowsprit
Addition of shroud fitting eyes
Addition of sheet leads and clamcleats

Sails
Modifiy main with reinforced hole to allow forestay to exit
Use Pico Jib

So, does this sound feasible, what does anyone think about possible sailplan balance issues as centre of effort changes?

Is this daft?

Anyone hazard a guess on cost?
So far, I have new Pico Jib available off ebay for 35 quid, so I was hoping around 100 quid might do it?

 

[VicS]

Danger perhaps that the additional area forward could create lee helm.

Not possible to shift the mast back a bit?
Thinking along the lines of a mast support to be located on the after edge of the forward seat with a " block of wood with a hole in it to locate the heel in the bottom of the boat.

Like a Prout Puffin:

 

[Ariadne]

We had the high performance kit on our WB10, still went to windward like a house brick!

 

[William_H]

Jib

Yes I think you will find it easier to sail to windward with a jib. If only for the easy identification of luffing.
I would think that moving the mast back a little would be better and fit a fairly small high aspect ratio jib. ie tall not too long in foot but mounted to the bow not a bow sprit. olewill

 

[Blueboatman]

My only thoughts are that you are in danger of drifting (not really) away from 'Plonk and Play" once you have to actually rig it all before going for a sailing jaunt to the pub/milk store.

With that in mind I wonder if a wee sprit that clipped onto the boom projecting forward to the bow would do as well? A tall blade jib then attaches to the front of the sprit and its upper end is a wee sock that slips over the mast head, job done? Capt Snowleopard may well advise...

Myself I have a lugsail which provides the fore area and I am wowed by its effectiveness and simplicity in tidal streams. And as an inveterate 'tweeker' I haven't modified anything, er, yet.

 

[FullCircle]

Hmm, some good ideas here......

 

[MoodySabre]

How about a junk rig like this (I know you just love lots of string )

 

[FullCircle]

How about a junk rig like this (I know you just love lots of string )

Wayyyyyyy too complicated Rog.