The Pete Culler Skiff, Paku needs a sail rig. The plans by the master of small boat design call for a sprit rig, but (not to contradict Captn' Pete) I like the versatility of the balanced lug and it's an attractive sail, too. I don't think Pete would be offended.
At least that's where I am today. I have a very nice old solid, round spruce stick about fifteen feet tall and about three inches in diameter at the mast step. I'd convert a spruce mast I made a few years ago for the boom and the light boom that went with that rig would be the yard. The combined weight of these three sticks is probably thirty five pounds.
The skiff is narrow and flat bottomed, so the risk is making the sail too large or the rig too heavy. It may be necessary to add lead weight to the centerboard to increase the lateral resistance and stability.
Here are some very good tips on rigging and tuning a lug sail.
I'd have to build a centerboard and a rudder. Then the Marine Board will require a license. In my opinion, a small row boat with an auxiliary sail need not be registered any more than the row boat without the sail, but that's a topic for another day.
(There's some legislation afoot that would require a fee for "non-registered" boats, which are all small human powered vessels currently exempt, yet another controversial subject.)
I just have to know how this little skiff handles in a stiff breeze!
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