Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board

Setting up a sailing kayak

Posted By: Tony Kiek
Date: Tuesday, 2 November 1999, at 9:03 a.m.

I have a 12foot plastic kayak called a Tuffy Odyssey. I want to rig up a sail, possibly something like a jib, so that I can sail my kayak. I saw some sailing kayaks on Lake Alexandrina in South Australia several years ago but couldn't get to speak to the drivers coz they zoomed away too fast for me to catch up.

I have an idea that the sail might be housed in a rigid plastic tube lying along the foredeck that I can raise and rehouse at the tug of a string - perhaps this will also need stays to hold it vertical. Perhaps it will also need a boom that I can sheet in or out as required to get some into-wind pointing ability. Maybe there is a simpler solution??

Is there anyone who has already done this. Perhaps there is a kit available? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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