It's hard to imagine a better sail for a boat with one sail and no engine. The Center of Effort (CE) changes little, fore and aft, when the sail is shortened. A gaff sail is a good alternative, as well as a balanced lug, all for the same reason. But, with these alternative sails, you have to stop the boat before reefing.
Always wondered that about the rowers stopping the boat - thanks for addressing that. I used to row a little dinghy out into the harbor on glassy days when I was a kid - how I loved it - and there were times it was like gliding a thousand miles an hour on slick ice. I can still feel the feel in my bones. It must be amazing to get to that sweet zone in a 6 or 8-man scull!
I love junk rigs; I think they’re superior in about every respect for 90% of cruisers. Maybe they don’t quite go to windward like some traditional sails, but I’ll sacrifice a few degrees of pointing ability for the other benefits.
But, I voted “no thanks” in the poll. I need an engine of some kind.
Junk? Absolutely! Engineless? Sure. Steel? Not ever!!
After watching "adventures of an Old Seadog" for years -- Junk yes, Steel Hell No!
It's hard to imagine a better sail for a boat with one sail and no engine. The Center of Effort (CE) changes little, fore and aft, when the sail is shortened. A gaff sail is a good alternative, as well as a balanced lug, all for the same reason. But, with these alternative sails, you have to stop the boat before reefing.
Always wondered that about the rowers stopping the boat - thanks for addressing that. I used to row a little dinghy out into the harbor on glassy days when I was a kid - how I loved it - and there were times it was like gliding a thousand miles an hour on slick ice. I can still feel the feel in my bones. It must be amazing to get to that sweet zone in a 6 or 8-man scull!
Steel, if you ever run out of things to do.
Yes to everything, except electronics are fun!
I love junk rigs; I think they’re superior in about every respect for 90% of cruisers. Maybe they don’t quite go to windward like some traditional sails, but I’ll sacrifice a few degrees of pointing ability for the other benefits.
But, I voted “no thanks” in the poll. I need an engine of some kind.
Junk rigs are not junk! I get occasional emails from Annie Hill, who is now in New Zealand, living aboard her latest creation, the beautiful, junk rigged FanShi! She also posts the same text to a blog, and here's a link: https://fanshiwanderingandwondering.wordpress.com/2026/02/01/fanshi-five-years-on/