mmm@weitek.UUCP (Mark Thorson) (12/01/85)
I'm interested in someday building a boat (someday, like when I retire in 50 years). I would like a sailboat. One of the most difficult parts to build would be the mast(s). My question is: Could I eliminate the masts by towing the boat with a parafoil kite. It seems like a fine solution. No masts, no rigging. Just toss the kite(s) into the wind. Steer with the rudder. Any reason this wouldn't be feasible? What do you see as big problems? (Just as an aside, the difficulty I have with the idea of a mast is that I'm thinking of a non-rigid unsinkable hull made from cloth, rope, and hollow plastic beads). Mark Thorson (...!cae780!weitek!mmm)
lsmith@ut-ngp.UUCP (lsmith) (12/02/85)
Before you think seriously about non-rigid boats and kite power, I strongly suggest you read Heavy Weather Sailing by K. Adlard Coles.
ins_aeas@jhunix.UUCP (Earle A .Sugar) (12/03/85)
> I'm interested in someday building a boat (someday, like when I retire in > 50 years). I would like a sailboat. One of the most difficult parts to > build would be the mast(s). > > My question is: Could I eliminate the masts by towing the boat with a > parafoil kite. > > It seems like a fine solution. No masts, no rigging. Just toss the kite(s) > into the wind. Steer with the rudder. > > Any reason this wouldn't be feasible? What do you see as big problems? > > (Just as an aside, the difficulty I have with the idea of a mast is that > I'm thinking of a non-rigid unsinkable hull made from cloth, rope, and > hollow plastic beads). > > Mark Thorson (...!cae780!weitek!mmm) With that rig, anything closer hauled than a broad reach is out of the question. Even a beam reach would be impossible, so you might have a bit of difficulty going anywhere except exactly where the wind blows (i.e. running). If you have ever run a spinnaker, you know that without some rigid support (spinnaker or whisker pole) it is extremely hard to control the sail, poleless spinnakers notwithstanding. A rigid solid pole with masthead rig shouldn't be that difficult to build, if you are worried about biulding a mast. -- ______________________________________________________________________________ Earle A. Sugar Disclaimer:"I doubt anyone else here agrees with me." USENET: ...!seismo!umcp-cs!aplvax!aplcen!jhunix!ins_aeas CSNET:ins_aeas@jhunix.csnet ARPA:ins_aeas%jhunix.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa BITNET: INS_BEAS@JHUVMS (as a last resort) or call 301-889-0815 after 6 P.M. EST