Patent Application
20090205551
The present relates generally to an improved gaff rig for use on sailing vessels. Gaff rigged sailboats were developed over 150 years ago and reached great popularity when the schooner America won the America's Cup in England. In the early 1900's gaff rigs lost ground to Marconi rigs as this rig yielded greater upwind speed. Gaff rigs also declined in popularity due to the great windage and weight aloft and were difficult to vang to eliminate twist in the sail.
In view of the foregoing, there is a demand for a device to simplify the use of larger sail areas and to control sail twist in the various sails employed on a cruising boat. As such, the instant invention relates to a practical gaff rig in which the gaff is controlled by the simple expedient of linking it to the boom.
In this regard, the instant invention discloses a gaff rig for a sailboat in which the boom and gaff are mechanically linked together. Essentially they trim together by the mainsheet. In my prior patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,010) the boom was offset but with this invention the gaff is offset to the same side of the mast to synergistically create a new aerodynamically superior rig. By projecting both the gaff and the boom ahead of the mast, there is established a clean leading edge to the mainsail that changes the center of effort and makes it easier to trim by reducing the load on the boom. As will be appreciated the portion of the sail forward of the mast is a counter balancing force. It also reduces weather helm.
A square headed sail has recently emerged as the fastest mainsail profile. To achieve the square shape, angled battens support the upper edge. Sails of this configuration can not be furled in the usual manner as the battens have to be removed and then reinstalled each time the sail is used. The instant invention places a gaff at the top of the mainsail where it provides a trimming base for a leech halyard that provides adjustable upward and rearward support for the sail, which can use conventional horizontal battens. To furl or reef the sail, lazy jacks (not shown) are employed. To reef, the sail is partially lowered under the control of the forestay and backstay. This illustrates that to achieve a workable gaff, it is not only operably connected to the top of the mast but also the forward and rearward ends of the gaff are connected respectively to the forward and rearward ends of the boom by the stays. A system is therefore created where the boom and gaff act together in the same vertical plane, an important aspect of the invention.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an offset horizontal swiveling boom and offset gaff that are mechanically linked together to trim as one with a single mainsheet.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.
In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, togetherwith further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to
Referring specifically to
It should be appreciated that the forestay and backstay that vertically connect the boom and gaff create a system where the two spars act in concert in a single plane. There is created a connected system where downward pressure on the mainsheet 142 will create an upward pressure on the forward part of the gaff. Since the boom is restrained at its forward end by a vang 140 the result is adjustable luff tension that is particularly useful when sailing to windward. Additionally, it can be seen that not only is the boom carried forward of the mast, but also the gaff. Thus there is 20 to 30 percent of the sail forward of the mast and this will decrease the “weather helm” as there is more balance. It also reduces sheeting load. This portion of the sail forward of the mast is particularly useful in a jibe as this forward part of the sail acts to slow the dangerous velocity of the boom as it swings from one side to the other.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
