Sailing canoe rig

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

Looking for some photos or help on what the original set up would have looked like on my Peterborough sailing canoe. I have parts and it looks like previous owners may have adapted the lee boards as I have two sets. How do lee boards attach to canoe as there is a bronze bracket that appears to bolt into scuppers. First photo is of current set up and then I have the extra boards. Also rudder does not look original, so hope to make a new one.

Current rudder with hardware. Looks like maybe the bottom wore or broke off and they added the extension.

Also came with a motor mount.

 

[Benson Gray]

The picture on page 34 of the 1927 catalog below may help. Your rig appears to have been significantly modified. Good luck,

Benson

Peterborough 1927 | Wooden Canoe Museum

woodencanoemuseum.org

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

Thanks Benson for the link, but no close up photos. Must be someone out there that has a photo of the lee board set up for this canoe.

 

[Michael Grace]

Hi Rod - I have a couple of these Peterborough leeboard setups, a bit different from each other because they were made at different times, but generally the same contraption. They are exactly as described in the catalog: "folding - with special hinge. Hardwood". Everything about them is radically different from what is shown in the photos above. The leeboard setup in the first photo above looks completely homemade to me. The leeboards in the second photo look like they are re-shaped (tops cut off) from Morris, Kennebec, or possible early Old Town leeboards.

I'm away from them for a little while, but can get you photos when I get back if you haven't gotten them elsewhere by then. I hoped I might have them on this laptop but apparently not.

You could certainly make a replica. The whole thing looks complicated, confusing, but it works and could be recreated. The entire contraption - leeboards, leeboard thwart, hinges (six of them) are all put together as a single unit. It never comes apart, but just folds and unfolds as needed.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

Thanks. I would greatly appreciate any photos that you might be able to share. I am not super worried about making it exactly as original, just something close.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

Forgot all about this request, but still looking for photos of how the leeboard and rudder set up works.

 

[samb]

I have a copy I made of a set of this type of lee board. I'm away from home till the weekend but I'll get some photos for you. If you don't see photos, message to remind me.
Sa

 

[samb]

Sorry for the delay - I forgot I’d said I’d post pictures of my lee boards.
They are an approximate copy of an original pair of Peterborough ones, the main difference being the shape and length of the actual boards, and the fastening clamps.
I’ve only used them twice on my 12’ Chestnut with a small sprit sail,but they appear to work well.

Folded position:

Clamped on:

Clamp detail:

Non sailing position unfolding to sailing position:

The L shaped hinges were sourced from two of these
All fittings are stainless.

Hope this helps.

Sam

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

Thank you. That is fantastic. Other than sourcing those two hinges, the rest should be pretty simple to manufacture and I think I can still use the old lee boards.

 

[Dan Miller]

Other than sourcing those two hinges

You could always fabricate them from bar stock of the metal of your choice.

 

[chris pearson]

That’s pretty cool!

 

[Gil Cramer]

Absolutely cool! It seems as though the rig would have had a kickup rudder, also.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

I found a local supplier of those hinges in SS. They are a bit shorter than yours, but should suffice. Looking forward to completing this canoe and moving on to next project.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

What about positioning? The old set up looks to have been made to locate around center of canoe, but on yours it is forward of the yoke. Is that just because you are demonstrating on a different canoe. On other photos on the net, it does appear to be forward to center.

 

[Benson Gray]

What about positioning?

The center of the leeboards (center of resistance) should be under the center of the sail (center of effort). You can calculate these or simply keep moving the leeboards forward and back until it feels right. Ideally, both of these will also be centered on the canoe. The book at the link below and others cover this in some detail. Good luck,

Benson

Canoe Rig: The Essence and the Art: Sailpower for Antique and Traditional Canoes: Todd Bradshaw: 9780937822579: Amazon.com: Books

Canoe Rig: The Essence and the Art: Sailpower for Antique and Traditional Canoes [Todd Bradshaw] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Canoe Rig: The Essence and the Art: Sailpower for Antique and Traditional Canoes

www.amazon.com

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

Thanks. I will make the cross member length adjustable a bit and figure it out.

 

[samb]

What about positioning? The old set up looks to have been made to locate around center of canoe, but on yours it is forward of the yoke. Is that just because you are demonstrating on a different canoe. On other photos on the net, it does appear to be forward to center.

It's just there for demo purposes; go off Bensons instructions for positioning.

 

[Nick Dennis]

Here are mine on my Peterborough Cedar rib. these are a pair of folding ones contemporaneous to the canoe. The gunnel clamp is pretty universal being capable of being fit above, below, in or outside the gunwale. My rib canoe only has outwales so they clamp under those . They work well and look after themselves meaning there is one less thing to faff with whilst sailing. They are located pretty much centrally on the sail as Benson says.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

Thanks to all. Have already begun to build this from ash. Just need the hinge parts to arrive and then set up the sail to figure placement.