Rushton "Improved Bailey"

...Batwing...
Sail

-A-
Sail
Boom, -B- -C- -D- -E-
Area
Yard, Luff 1 Luff 2 Rise in 10' Mast Height
in sq ft
Battens
36 6' 0" 2' 0" 4' 2" 18" 6' 8"
47 6' 10" 2' 6" 4' 9" 18" 7' 6"
70 8' 0" 3' 6" 5' 7" 18" 8' 8"
87 8' 11" 4' 0" 6' 2" 18" 9' 7"
103 9' 8" 4' 6" 6' 9" 18" 10' 6"

Notes:
• The two largest rigs have an extra reefing batten which divides the bottom
panel in half:
o 87sf = 2 ft/2 ft
o 103sf = 2' 3"/2' 3"
o It attaches to a mast hoop or fitting like the Boom does.

• The sail panels can be flat-cut cloth for simplicity. This is traditional.
• For original fittings diagrams see Fittings.
• For Rushton's mast & spar diameters, see this page.
• This is a "gunter" rigged sail. There are a number of schemes to keep the topmast from
sagging off. See Batwing Gunter Sails. The double halyard is recommended.
• For rigging details, like where the lines go, see A Polytarp Batwing and Reefing.
• The Upper Batten will be 1"-2" shorter than other battens to fit in its pocket.
Cut it long and fit to suit your sail. It does not attach to the upper mast fitting.

• Nice photos of batwing sails appear in:

o Leather, Spritsail and Lugsail, page 38, a variant with an extra upper batten.
o WoodenBoat 55, page 82, an open Willits Brothers canoe with a small batwing
sail.
o A Canoe Called Yakaboo, WoodenBoat 119.

• Quick and Dirty Spars

o For the smallest 3 sails, use:
 Boom and Yard, 1" diameter ("closet pole", aluminum tube, square
molding).
 Battens, 3/4" diameter or similar flat stock like "parting bead". Taper to
1/2" at leech if desired.
o For the largest two sails, use:
 Boom and Yard, 1-1/4" diameter (try "closet pole").
 Battens, 7/8" diameter or similar flat stock. Taper to 1/2" at leech if
desired.
o Mast can be made out of red cedar or white cedar "baluster", 1.75" sq by 8 feet.
o I use bamboo for spars.

For drawings of this rig’s hardware, see Rushton's Rowboats and Canoes: The 1903
Catalog in Perspective. To set this up as originally done requires Spar Gear No. 23, Foot
Gear No. 15, and Mast Head Gear No. 14 (part numbers from the catalog). The sail is set
with double halliards.

COD 5/11/98