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Readers of this page have been kind enough to share some of their experiences.  Many have written that their own search for information on gaffers was like mine, finding that there is little available. 

Paul wrote:

I've really enjoyed and learned a lot from your web pages. The pictures are great. (have you thought about offering a booklet?)

While I've seen allusions to this issue, and the nearest I've read has been your page on mainsails, I'm still not clear why gaffs are not as effective as bermuda rigs when sailing into the wind. Here's where I get to show my ignorance: is it because there's less luff for the same size boat, or because the head twists off, or because the larger horizontal sail area requires more en-face wind to fill it? All of these seem to lead to the same problem of maintaining the power-producing draft behind the luff.

I always thought the reason a bermudan sail pointed into the wind better than a gaff was because of the longer luff, but again, I'm certainly no expert!

The Gaff Rig Handbook
by John Leather
A Valuable Resource on the Gaff Rig


Hand Reef and Steer
by Tom Cunliffe


Larry Janke of Southeast Marine Services, LLC wrote
Found your page on gaff rigs, you are right, There isn't much info.  Chappelles American Fishing Schooners has a lot about the old ones although most are big. 

In about two weeks we will begin the rigging of a 46' heavy steel schooner, masts are galvanized  steel with T-bar track and a car of my own design that carries the gaff.  Sail slides are also own design from UHMW and also ride on the T-bar. Since there was no info available I had to figure this out myself but I have had some experience with system engineering so I think it will work.  Did it all this way to avoid hoops etc. so we can have steps and other stuff on the masts. 

If you are interested I will send pictures that may help some other struggling soul. Again thanks for the info, the halyard page is especially useful.  Do you know of a source for traditional blocks the plastic stuff would look a little funny and I don't want to take the time to machine my own. I do marine electical stuff, Wesat coast
distributor for Rolls batteries, Paneltronics panels and abunch of other stuff.

I told Larry I knew of a few sources for wood blocks.  They are on the Sources Page. 

Jamie Burridge wrote:

Many many thanks for an excellent bit of information. I'm in Devon, England, restoring my small 21-foot Privateer, a very pretty drop keel gaffer,and am extensively doing mast/rigging.  As you found previously, not a lot on these on the net..until now!  Much appreciation for your invaluable site.  I'm also improving the keel, by using phosphorbronze bushings.  Will keep in touch.  Regards from Brixham.
Thanks for the kind words, Jamie.  Have you taken any pictures of your gaffer?  We'd love to see them if you have.

Gerald F. Sawyer wrote:

First, I wanted to thank you for the service you are doing with the Gaff Rig Page.

Now for the question:  I am a new owner of an older schooner, with a gaff fore and a bermuda main.  I am about to step my masts, and need information on the correct way to rig the main back stays.  I know that they need to be able to be loosed on one side or the other for running, so am not quite sure how to set them up.  Any ideas?  I'm also posting this query to Schoonerman, just so you know.

I'm always gratified to hear nice things about the Gaff Rig Page, but often I'm presented with a question that really is one for the experts.  Both The Gaff Rig Handbook and Hand Reef and Steer deal with this issue a bit, but I referred Gerald to the Wooden Boat Magazine forums, where there are quite a few people with experience in large boat rigging.  So, how did it go, Gerald?


Gerry Boucher of Nashua, NH, emailed that his rig was stolen and he was faced with a large bill to replace it.  Not wanting to spend the money right now, Gerry forged ahead and decided to try and make it:
 
"I wrote you weeks back about the Gaff Rig pages, how all my rig was stolen and I would try to build my own. Well It's done.

Couldn't have gotten done without your help.  I read your 'Detail Pages' over and over.  Made a mast out of 11 layers of Luan plywood. the Boom and Gaff out of different size closet poles.  I even scaled your drawings!  I made the sail from Brown Poly Tarp from Home depot with directions from the Poly Tarp web site."

"I have about $100 in the entire rig, and it sails like a dream (in a good wind).  Again, thanks, I could not have done without the help, of a lot of people.  And there are still a couple of days before the snow starts!"
Here's Gerry's completed rig, complete with a polytarp sail. I know the idea of polytarp is anathema to many, but for Gerry's situation, it was either "polytarp  and sail" or "no sailing."
"I think I could have made the darts 1/3 larger along the foot and the mast. I also believe that the over all size of the sail is too large because in a stiff breeze the boat goes too fast and in light air she just creeps along.   And windy and gusty.....yahoo!"
Gerry also came up with a unique way to attach mast hoops to a sail, using carabiners.  These are inexpensive, and easier to deal with than lacing the sail to the hoops if you have to remove the rig often.   I don't think the aluminum ones  would hold up on a larger sail, but for sails under 100 square feet, they seem to work fine.
"I also connected the sail too the mast with snap clips unto PVC hooprings. These are quick and easy to connect  and remove. 

DeHoops stay on deMast and deClips stay with deSail.  Having to take down the riggin each time is a lot easier with clips rather than lacing DeMast.  ( I did try lacing and failed)

So now winter is knocking at the door.  maybe I'll make a smaller sail, then a top sail, or a jib,...or both. It will be a long Winter."
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