Bootstrap is rigged 'more or less' as per the original Navigator plans.
Most Navigators have added a jaw to the bottom of the gaff, effectively changing the rig from a standing lug sail to a conventional gaff rig. The main fault with the sanding lug sail is that main sail does not set the same on either tack. Bootstrap has its gaff mounted to port of the mast. This means that on the starboard tack, the foot of the gaff rests tight against the mast giving a very powerful sail shape. On port, the foot of the gaff is in front of the mast and the top of the sail tends to 'fall away' to lee, with the result that the main looses power.
When I first tied the sail out, I was rather disappointed. The gaff fell on the port tack so far that there was a horrible crease from the throat to the end of the boom. The top of the sail flapped and was pretty useless.
By making the gaff halyard as high as possible and tying the beads to the very bottom of the gaff I started to get reasonable results. The main still pulls better on starboard than port, that horrible crease is gone. What I need to do is re-trim the sail for the port tack, by slacking of the main's downhaul and snotter - of course I never bother!
Another problem is the sprit boom, on the Port tack the sail presses against the sail, spoiling its shape. A wishbone shaped windsurfer type boom would be a complex improvement. One could have a standard boom with a kicker, but I like not having a boom trying to knock my head off every time I gybe.
View showing the end of Mizzen's boom.
The boomikin was made from a Zie spinnaker pole which had that funny bronze fitting on the end - I haven't found a use for the U piece (yet!).
The Mizzens' spirit boom 'snotter'. I have a simple one to one purchase between the mast and the cleat. I have since changed it to a three to one purchase and can not flatten of the sail correctly.
The mast is a piece of aluminum from an old hang glider, only slightly bent during a hard landing! The sail is held on to the mast with cable ties. As the mizzen does not have any battens I simply wrap the sail around the mast to stow it.
As you can see the Mizzen boom sheet is simply fed through a cleat.
The main sheet has a three to one purchase and is mounted to a saddle above the tiller.
The end of the main's boom. No out haul is required, as you tension the sail via the snotter.
Note the luff line - required with pollytarp sails as they soon start stretching.
The 'snotter' for the main is attached to the mid point on the mast. I have a 6 to one purchase which is a total overkill.
There is a cleat on the other side of the boom that you cant see.
The one set of pulleys are attached to the mast with a rope that loops around the mast a few times. It is not very tight which allows me to slide the boom down the mast for de-rigging.
The foot of the gaff, with the famous loop of beads that help to hold the gaff upright.
I found I got the best sail shape by tying the beads as low as possible and the gaff halyard as high as possible.
The main's downhaul - the four to one purchase is not required, but the self cleating pulley makes it easy to mount . It would have been better to mount it on the center line of the boat instead of on the port side of the mast.
Note the rope that runs around the mast to the clew of the sail - helps a lot.
The mast is stepped onto the deck with a hinge which makes it easy to rig (I think!).
Rudder showing uphaul (2 to 1 purchase with a cleat) and downhaul - shock cord with a 2 to 1 purchase.
The nameplate was carved out by Sonja my wife!
In John W.'s words "Simple is Good".
The boat sails about 10% slower on Port than Starboard due (I suspect) to the sprit boom.
I tried putting the Yard on the right side of the mast in the hope that the performance on both tacks will be the same, but I couldn't see any effect. I suspect if the yard doesn't 'fall off' then the standard lug sail works okay.
I am intending to add reefing points to the main, and I suspect the yard will then 'fall off' on both tacks, due to the longer length of halyard between the yard and the top of the mast. As this 'falling off' of the yard will de-power to sail it may be a good thing for a reefed sail. We shall see!
The mizzen gives Bootstrap a lot of character. One of its main functions is to balance the boat. By simply adjusting the mizzen sheet you can add or remove weather helm as required. Another great feature is that when it is sheeted in and the main and jib freed, the boat will swivel into wind and park there. A very handy feature when you are the only experienced sailor on board.
The boat does not point very well. I would guess that the tacking angle is more that 110 degrees. (90 degrees is normal) The worst thing you can do is pinch the boat to get a few more degrees. - at all costs you need to keep the boat speed up. Stall the boat and it will go sideways, fast! Oh well, I tell myself that it isn't a racing machine and enjoy it!
Of course it all depends on what you want to do with the boat. My main concern is to have a simple safe boat that I can enjoy with my family and friends. The last thing that I want is to have an all out racing machine that will throw me in the drink at the first chance. Regardless of the conditions I must know that Bootstrap will get us home.