Type of sail for multi-hull boat?

3 Responses to “Type of sail for multi-hull boat?”

1. Tony C says:

   May 6, 2011 at 2:57 pm

   Take a look at other multi-hulled boats. Generally they’re Bermudan sloop rigged with a very large mainsail and a slightly smaller foresail. On a monohull sloop the foresail is generally the larger of the two, on a multi-hull the mainsail is the larger (because their stability allows them to carry a large main).
2. threesheave says:

   May 6, 2011 at 3:52 pm

   It is true that multi-hull sailing vessels usually have a Bermuda rig, which is a triangular main sail rigged fore and aft behind a single mast and a smaller headsail, (triangular sail called a forestaysail) rigged forward of the mast. It is rare that the headsail is ever larger than the mainsail in a Bermuda rigged vessel and Bermuda rigs don’t carry a foresail.

   A typical catamaran with Bermuda rig:

   http://www. powerandsailing. com/img-boat-building/sailing-catamaran-RB3451. jpg

   I think the catboat rig would be the simplest and cheapest to build. A catboat has one mast, stepped close to the bow and carries one sail behind the mast and no headsails. That sail can be of several types, Bermudan, gaff rigged, Gunter rigged, sprit rigged. . .

   Here’s a link showing some of those types:

   http://www. transitionrig. com/rigs. htm

   A cat rigged catamaran:

   http://impressive. net/people/gerald/2003/02/21/15-21-40-sm. jpg

   Here is a gaff rigged catboat, (monohull).

   http://rhapsodysails. com/graphics/catboat. jpg

   Here is a catamaran with a dual cat rig. . . . . . . (not that common):

   http://www. cat2fold. com/images/albums/16/16_33. jpg

   Regardless of the type of rig or the sail configuration you choose, I would suggest a fore and aft rig over any other type of rig, for their efficiency and upwind capabilities.

   For sail material:

   http://macksails. com/

   Good luck, be safe and have fun!
3. Richard C says:

   May 6, 2011 at 4:21 pm

   You might try the web site below for sail plans. As you can see there’s lots of options. Good Luck1