Very interresting matter this crab claw rig,How do they perform windward?And how does that reversetrick exactly work?I want all the info please

Having seen the Crab Claw rig on Aluna, I find myself now seriously considering putting one on our TIKI 38. I truly love the simplistic nature of the Junk rig and loved the one I had, but they are not practical on a catamaran for higher speed cruising. The Crab Claw definitely seems very simple and low tech - which I like a lot. I just do not have enough information to make an informed decision.

Mast Placement? Mast, boom and sail materials? Rigging type and size? Sail sizes? How are the sails reefed? How are they trimmed? How to use them in storm conditions? Etc, etc, etc?

I have seen crab claw rigs in Brasil on socalled janggada's that didn't even in volve any ropes for trimming.It was just 2poles with a piece of cloth between them and a deckstandard with 3 holes and slots in them for positional purposes. To reef the fishermen told me that they would just roll 1 of the poles into the cloth as in wrapping it up. I guess they also sail windward Why else would they need huge daggerboards

thankx for your information.I hope you don't mind me asking another few questions;1What are the advantages and disadvantages of a bipod mast?(why doesn't wharram use them?)2can you shunt a vessel if it has a mizzen?3do your masts also pivot?

I have only sailed once on a boat with a crab claw rig. It was anew boat with many issues still to be worked out with the rig and running rigging. That being said these are some salient points. They are very long spars and do not readily have a place to live when the boat is parked. The sail/spar combo are certainly heavier than a sail/gaff combo.it seems to be a fair amount of work to change down to heavy weather sails as opposed to simply tying in more reefs.The rig doesn't seem to be readily able to add light air sails such as a screacher or an asemetrical chute which can make a lot of difference in the fun factor and the decision of wether to float or motor. The gaff wingsail is a pretty efficent sail plan and still has a relatively low center of effort. Also someone commented on only wanting one mast on a T46. The schooner rig is hard to beat as far as an easily handled rig. It's been said that you want to have a rig on a cruising boat that the weakest crewmember can handle solo. People do become ill or incapacitated. Smaller individual sails are easier to handle than one large sail. Personaly I have raced many more miles than I have cruised and it's something about macho honor that makes it fun to manualy fight headsails in a fresh breeze and the dark with big seas as opposed to simply rolling that headsail up with a roller furler. But then again maybe you won't be cruising with a deck ape either. just some thoughts, I know that Hans and Glenn and Kiki sail with the crab claw but me thinks maybe it's not the best rig for everybody. But what I don't know is a lot compared to what I do know which is not so much. Maybe some one of the crab claw gurus could chime in and educate us all. Regards, David

I have asked Beat to join in on this conversation. He has installed a crab claw ketch rig on his TIKI 38 (photos here). This set up looks very nice and easy to use and stow.

This is Beat's profile on this forum: http://wharrambuilders.ning.com/profile/BeatRettenmund

This is his website: http://web.mac.com/mobeyprod/iWeb/Alunatheboat/Welcome.html

well....have been looking after Rapa Nui for a few months in Brunswick Heads NSW, Australia and have never been more amazed by rig than a crab claw! Does anyone know, where Rapa Nui is located right now?

Here's a great shot of Manurere, Glenn Tieman's Tama Moana:

If you are new to boats, go slow build or repair a small boat sail it hard, break some stuff, learn some stuff. Then start down the path of innovation. I sailed with Beat and Beatriz from SF to Hilo on Aluna this past summer. We had max winds of 30 knots and 5 m seas. All was fine when we reduced sail - two mizzen rigs. In greater winds who knows. Wharrams are ideal platforms to experiment with. Not fancy and pretty rough and tumble. Bamboo pole, white(or blue) tarps and some rope from Home Depot (the Made in China stuff with a paper core is fine) and you are set. If we don't try how will we ever know. This is not a thinking problem but a doing problem. ...or buy a fancy yacht from a broker, have a yard maintain it and go out on sunny days only

A shot of Glenn Tieman on Manurere's deck with the Marquesas in the background:

Pacific Voyagers  are approaching San Francisco Bay now. 6 traditional vaka sailing from Hawaii, after sailing from Auckland. . .

 

Entering under the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco Bay.

 

They are now in my home port of Los Angeles at Cabrillo Beach: welcoming festivities are planned for this Saturday. I will try to go and take pictures. My wife practices hula with one of the local halau, and her kumu (teacher) will be one of those chanting at the welcoming.