sloop rig to cutter?

[rick o'brien]

My boat is sloop rigged, and I would like to put a bowsprit on, to change the rig to a cutter. The original drawings call her a, "keel cutter", but show her sloop rigged. It's a Charles Wittholz design. Very similar to what I've seen by Sam Crocker. 30ft. in length, with a boomkin to accomodate the long-footed mainsail. Full keel, with an outboard rudder. What do I need to consider before I do this modification? Thanks, Rick

[Woxbox]

Not to be a wise guy, but the services of a naval architect would be a good investment. As a true cutter, you'd want to move the mast & shrouds aft, which raises a bunch more questions about handling the rigging stresses, etc.

Do you have the original plans? Perhaps they show alternate rigs, which might explain the description.

[Rick Tyler]

If you just add sail to the foretriangle you run the risk of building in lee helm. I think Woxbox has a strange screen name, but good advice. :)

[paladin]

You could have a double headsail sloop.....but for a true cutter it would involve mast relocation as mentioned above, reduction in the size of the main, shortening the boom, possible mast modifications and more balance issues, possible increased complexity and cost at questionable performance increase.

[John B]

The old slutter rig eh. People do it all the time, especially if its to add a big leader or reaching sail for just off the wind performance( where lee helm tends not to be an issue).

[rick o'brien]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm curious about the "double headsail" option. Tell me more.

[paladin]

The mast location and size of the sails, plus balance of same determine a sloop or cutter. A sloop will have the mast closer to the bow (usually the pointy end of the boat)....and the sole headsail making it a sloop...depending on the deck space and other factors, sometimes it's possible to move the headstay forward a foot or two, add a stay at the 3/4 height and inboard and fly a second sail inside the genoa, making the craft a double headsail sloop....actually, on Tana Mari, I rigged her as a true cutter, and made the second sail on a club, and then added a third stay and left the storm trys'l permanently bent on....

[Bob Cleek]

Wittholtz designed a good boat. I wouldn't mess with it, particularly if all you want is the affectation of a bowsprit, for Pete's sake. Adding a bowsprit will NOT make it a cutter, not to mention all the complications of sail plan modifications that go with it to compensate and prevent weather helm.

BTW, I've never heard of any "slutter" rig, other than the Giles arrangement of inner and outer headstays with both tacked at the stem head and the outter running to the masthead and the inner three quarters up.

[John B]

Yeah thats where it comes from but in this context Its a joke. makes me laugh, a bit like the 'snotter' you might use to squash your kite.