I am thinking from the same place as the jib is set now. I am sailing solo and wan't a crossover sail between jib and spinny to keep things tidy on deck and just make life simple in general. I expect to get a lot of righting moment from my wings so as to use the hooter up wind in light and get the gains downwind with the bigger sail section. Also, not going higher with luff would keep centre of effort lower. I suppose my question is, can I lose the normal bridle and stays and rely on the foil section at bows?

Everyone calls it a knee knocker, but I like it, I am all leggs, so when I am sitting my feet rest against the bar and my backside sits on the hull perfect for light air hiking.

The bow foil I made so I could lower the jib and not loose so much sail area when I cut the leech off to allow for the self tacker. I took the standard jib and cut it down to about a 90%. Works pretty well considering I am a composite guy not a sail maker. The bow foil is laid up using carbon fiber soxs over a foam core, then I melted the core away. The Pelican Strike (up right post) is solid carbon fiber. I layed it up with 20 layers of fabric then vaccuum bagged it. It has a mechanical and epoxy bond to the foil. There is a machined adjustable stainless rod in the up right to allow for adjustment of the cable. More then you wanted to know, oh well.

A work in progress,

Carl
Saylor Specialties
www.saylorspecialties.com

More is better thanks. What does the "Pelican Striker" do exactly as I wasn't going to include one? I am including a photo of my "work in progress" so you know you are not alone! : )

Sail my 52 solo quite often, bought it exactly for that reason. Have no difficulty raising mast by myself, but it does take a few extra motions during setup. Usually fly a stock I-17 spin on it, but that spin is a little small.

The Pelican strike works just like the dolphin strike but in the reverse direction. If I attach the forestay to the center of the bow foil without the pelican strike system it will pull the foil up and back, bending the foil in half until it brakes. Some systems just have a foil going across and still attach to the bows with a bridle which does not allow you to lower the head sail attachment point. Hope this helps.

Carl
Saylor Specialties
www.saylorspecialties.com

Warbird:

If the distance is the same the photo I sent you of the Murray's Super 17 kit on page 41 of what I posted before will give you all the parts you need. I am going on 6 years with this system and no problems. Call them and ask the distance.

Doug