First Sail in the sailing canoe

We had a beautiful breezy October Saturday yesterday and we were able to jury rig a sail for the canoe.  A Sailrite sail has been ordered and is on the way.
The sail we came up with was a small canvas photographic back-ground, it held up for two hours of sailing.
My son and I had a great beam breeze on our way out to Elsah Bar.  Elsah Bar map
Elsah Bar is a tiny island in the middle of the Mississippi.  After a hike and explore of the island, we paddled up river to gain weather to make a dash across the main channel back to our port.
The canoe performed very well.
The small sail moved the center of effort forward, but even still we were able to point fairly high.
The outrigger has a v sectional shape and provides some lateral resistance.  A dagger board attached to the forward Iako may be added.  It would gain a few degrees to windward.
The rudder is designed to swing up and needs a spring line to keep it down.  In its swept up position it still steered the boat.
After this modification is made, the new sail is added and all parts get a final coat of varnish, the sailing canoe will move to St. Louis Sail and Paddle were it will be for sale.

River life

The shake down cruise of the outrigger was great fun. 

Two foot wakes were no problem, and the flex in the iakos seemed just right.

The canoe tracked well and was easier to paddle than expected.  The iakos are spaced to allow paddling on either port of starboard.  The outrigger is on port.

The forward seat requires a shortened stoke on the outrigger side but it is easy enough.  

We had the storage compartment on the outrigger filled with drinks and ice. 
Unneeded ballast with no sail up.  Actually it was up to 97 before lunch so maybe it was needed.  It rode in fine trim with this weight but will have a lighter footprint with a smaller load.

Canoe and outrigger

Together at last.
I picked up the Niangua canoe from our display at St. Louis Sail and Paddle.  It is time to fit the parts together.
After a rough placement, we stretched a string line from the canoe's bow to stern and measured off it to align the outrigger.  Tonight I will fit the iakos to the gunnels.
In the morning we are going to put in at Pere Marquette state park and paddle down river to Grafton, ILL.
Hopefully this weekend will see the installation of the mast and assorted sail rig components.
Check back.