Home >> Hobbies >> Other Hobbies

How to Rig a Sabot Sailboat

Joining the ranks of nautical explorers and the many seafarers of the world can be an exciting proposition; however, one must take the effort to learn the art of the craft of sailing in order to become a proficient sailor. The basics include knowing how to rig small boats such as the Sabot. The rigging process is not complicated but does require some attention to detail.

Things You'll Need

250-gauge line
Small weight
Wire cutters
Measuring tape
Turnbuckle

Instructions

- 1
  Level the boat. Determine the rake -- center of balance -- by attaching a line to the top of the mast.
- 2
  Attach a plumb bob -- a small weight -- to the bottom of the line stretching the length of the mast.
- 3
  Measure the distance from the plumb bob line to one side of the mast. Set the stays with the correct distance.
- 4
  Run the stays--rope or wire-- from the boat's floor to the top of the mast, tying off the ends. Connect the stays to small connection points known as padeyes.
- 5
  Lace the stays through the padeyes, securing it in place by wrapping it tightly around the padeyes. Your stays should "sing" at a pluck by hand indicating the tightness. You will want your forestay -- line running the masthead to the bow -- very tight, if a jib is used; the backstay -- a single wire supporting the mast from the stern -- also known as "lower shrouds", should be hand tight if your boat has backstays. Your backstay will connect with the lower padeyes on the mast.
- 6
  Use a forestay turnbuckle--tightening device-- to place tension on the forestay. Connect the turnbuckle to the line and twist the device tightening the line. This setup is used to create simple three-stay rigs.

Other Hobbies