Need advice on sailing problem.

Fine looking sailing vessel!

Your time & effort has paid off in a neat rig for sailing around the lake. If you have another person with you then 'shuttle' to the up wind side of the lake by car, meet that person and car at the other end. This way you will have wind at your back the entire time.

I know this will bring out salt water from your eye but possibly carry a small outboard motor? It could save the day if the wind is to calm to continue, also it will ensure safe passage home regardless of wind direction.

I'm a so-so dinghy sailor, better on bigger boats. A couple thoughts. You're kind of a big guy, right? If you are sitting on that little bench, try moving it up, or sit on something close to the mast  and move the sheet to up there.

It looks like your little shoe doesn't have a dagger board keel. That's a secondary set of problems, but don't prams usually have leeboards? One or the other will have to get raised when you come about. And a leeboard will give you another thing to do.

The stern is so high out of the water and will be if you are sitting in the middle. Maybe try a longer rudder blade. She has a lot of freeboard at least empty, and thats a pretty big wind catcher surface too. You need to really be able to throw something over with some bite to it.

Anyone who builds their own boat has my admiration, Admiral!

Ok, looks like there is a dagger board in the middle cockpit, else you'd not be able to close haul to the wind.

But, if tiller movement is not moving the boat, that's a balance issue.  Either the sail balance is too sturdy, or, what really suspect, you do not have enough rudder in the water.  With the boat heeling going upwind, there's less rudder area immersed.  It's also at an angle.

Now, you may only need a tiller extension.  That lets you put the rudder way over (the "braking effect'" effect  can pull the bow through irons and about).  But, it may only need to have a hinged rudder blade on a bit of line with a jam-cleat  on the rudder head, to let you lower the blade while tacking.

You might try loosing the jib sheets before tacking, which will move the center of sail effort aft a bit.  That standing-lug rig is very handy for small craft, but the luff and leech are only in dynamic control.

Alternately, you could use the method you have now, which is known as "wearing" ship.  It was used on square rigged ships to change tack, as a method of building up speed and momentum to allow time to brace all the yards around to the new tack (close-hauled is the greatest yard movement on a square rigger.

      Thanks guys. I really appreciate the input from sailing friends like SuppressionFire, bondoman and CaptnMac82. At one time or another, I tried the kind of recommendations that the three of you suggested. I made a rudder with a bigger blade.  No improvement when coming about. I have tried raising the center board, or dagger board, as you call this item. Negative. I have tried sitting in different locations on the pram. The same disappointing problem. I have also extended the tiller length, which does help.

    The only time I can come about correctly, is when I can get a full head of wind on the lug sail, then turn the tiller swiftly to come about. I think the forward momentum of speed makes it possible to make a proper tack that would not be possible in lighter winds. When I first tried this method on Lake Walcott ,soon after constructing my pram, I had disasterous results. The peak halyard that is attached to the gaff came loose when the pulley detached from the mast. With a jumble of sail around my head and unable to make forward direction, I drifted to the far end of the lake. My wife, who was on shore, became conserned when dusk was falling and I did not show up. She hailed a person from the Idaho Fish and Game, who was kind enough to use his outboard boat to tow me back to shore. Since then, I have secured the pulley to the mast head with a better fastener.

       Since that incident on Lake Walcott, my long suffering wife, the lovely and gracious Rhonda, insisted that I purchase a two way radio, so that we can communicate in the event of any problems while out sailing. This avoids any anguish on her part wondering if I'm safe. She will not sail with me, as she does not know how to swim.

       Redfish Lake Lodge is Rhonda's favorate location when she keeps in touch with me with the two way radio. There, she can enjoy the view, read a magazine and just relax. At the other two lakes, she has to sit in our car.

       I would like to read any other suggestions from Forum members. Your imput is appreciated. Thanks.

              Montani semper liberi !    Happy modeling to all and every one of you.

                                            Crackers                   

Wow, Anthony, what a jolt. When you mentioned Redfish lake, it ignited a brain cell. But when I saw the pictures of your wife on the dock, and the one with the Lodge in the background, I remembered being there probably 38 years ago. That peak behind her is awesome, forget the name of it.

I worked two summers in Idaho as a volunteer for the Forest Service maintaining trails. One year in the Sawtooths and one year in the Selway. God's country for sure, great fishing and beautiful landscapes. Lot's of mosquitoes too. The last night of my last trip we all had dinner at that lodge, and I haven't been back since.

Now that I think about it, it was 1972 because I remember it was when Nixon was reelected. Rather think about the lake!

What a great place to go to.