tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273883632460433399.post4846485480082866084..comments2024-03-28T02:33:20.668-07:00Comments on Earwigoagin: Look Ma, No Rudder (No Paddle Either); St. Lawrence SkiffTweezermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559514473959503645noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273883632460433399.post-21749849893977900782009-11-14T19:32:54.509-08:002009-11-14T19:32:54.509-08:00Skiffs typically had a fan-shaped folding centerbo...Skiffs typically had a fan-shaped folding centerboard, operated by a lever in the boat, similar to the Radix and other boards used in sailing canoes of the later 19th century. A Clayton resident, Montraville Atwood, had a patent on a 3-leaf folding centerboard. Rig was a 70-90 sq foot spritsail. <br /><br />The majority of the skiffs had long, straight external keels with very little rocker, which facilitated tracking and reaching. To tack, the skipper moved forward, pulling up the board as he went, and crouched at the base of the mast while the boom went over above his head. Heading back to the stern, he pushed the board back down. To gybe, the skipper went to the stern and sat on the afterdeck, urging the boom across with a flip of the sheet. Smaller course corrections were variations of this weighting/unweighting, augmented by sail trim.John Summershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15711715402726496173noreply@blogger.com