The Lugsail
The Solway Dory BALANCED LUGSAIL is an excellent cruising sail. It is ideal for fitting to an open canoe whether for solo or two up. It is quick to raise or lower, easy to reef, sets well when reefed and has a low centre of effort so the boat heels less. A sophisticated modern cut allows surprising performance from a sail of traditional appearance. This used to be our favourite sail though we now prefer the improved performance and quicker easier reefing of the Solway Dory Bermudan.
We supply lugsails in three sizes: 44, 30 and 14 sq ft. The 44 or 30 may be used on their own to make single masted rigs or either of them can be combined with a 14 sq ft mizzen to make a ketch rig.
The BALANCED LUGSAIL KETCH rig has all the virtues of our single masted lugsail rig plus several more of its own:
- The individual sails are smaller and easier to handle.
- The stresses the rig imposes on the hull are smaller and well spread out.
- The masts are moved out to the ends of the boat . This allows room for two people to sit in the centre of the canoe which is the optimum position for sailing, whilst maintaining the original canoe seats for paddling.
- If you sheet in the mizzen and ease the main you can stop the boat and sit facing comfortably head to wind (eg. while you reef the main,or while you wait for other people to catch up!)
- The overall centre of effort of the rig is very low indeed, even lower than might be expected as the booms can be set lower in strong winds
- The rig is generally supplied as a mainsail of 30sq ft and a mizzen of 14sq ft adding up to the OCSG's 44sq ft but the mizzen may be combined with a 44 main to make a more powerful rig for experienced sailors.
- This is probably the best way to turn a standard open canoe into a two person sailing canoe.
If you have built yourself a classic wooden sailing canoe you can choose Solway Dory lugsails with confidence knowing that we have a lot experience in using them. Our rig comes on aluminium spars as standard. If you want wooden spars we can supply these at extra cost. (P.O.A)
We make all our own sails,they are computer designed,laser cut and built to a high standard.
Lugsail - Prices
| Sailing Rig | Sail Only | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lugsail 44 sq ft | £380.00 | £15.00 P&P | £210.00 | £2.00 P&P |
| Lugsail 30 sq ft | £270.00 | £15.00 P&P | £150.00 | £2.00 P&P |
| Lugsail 14 sq ft | £130.00 | £15.00 P&P | £80.00 | £1.50 P&P |
The rig includes the sail, the boom and yard, the mast, the halyard and sheet, the mast thwart, the mast foot
Please note that our rig prices do not include rudder or leeboard.
The rig will not work without a leeboard. See the Accessories page for details