Cape Henry 21 Rigging

[Keith Hunter]

Hi everyone, I just purchased Harriet M., formerly Mehaly, soon to be Morgan Elizabeth, from Jim Mason in Delaplane VA.  She is in great shape, but I see that many of you have beautifully customized boats, many details of which I’d like to copy and as I’m an architect with a fabrication shop, design and fabricate components that we can all use.  First things first though.  I need to get her in the water.  I’m having trouble getting her rigged.  I have, with Jim’s help set the furling Genoa, the bowsprit and Bob stay, the halyards and topping lift but I’m stuck on the main and I’m looking for details as to how the main is attached to the gaff and mast, generally I’d like details of all the rigging connections or closeup photographs of each so I can take it from there.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Ron Jesche CH21' Sealion']

Hi Keith, I had pictures of your boat from a Woodenboat article on the wall of my shed when I built Sealion, a very nice boat.

I have attached a couple of pictures that may help. The sail is attached to the gaff by lacing. I have parrel beads in a loop around the mast on the luff. You should have a stainess steel strap through the gaff for the throat halyard on one end and the attachment point for the luff [Nock]

I have both the genoa and the yankee for my boat but I don't sail as a cutter very often, even though the cutter rig looks great. I find that at about 15 knots of wind I would be furling either sail, and sailing with the jib and full main, and prefer the genoa for lighter airs.

Hope this helps and let me know if you need any further info.

Cheers Ron

[Daniel]

Hi Keith

Sorry I can’t help you with the rigging as I am only just at that stage with my build. However I do remember Mehaly. I am pretty sure Mike Smith built her and I owe him a debt of gratitude as he was my motivation to start my build. He had a neat website called Woodsmith. It gave a step by step photographic account of how he built her starting with a scale model. If anybody on this forum knows Mike please say thanks from me.

Daniel