Leg-of-mutton sail

1922 canoe with a leg-o-mutton sail (often confused with a lateen rig)

A leg-of-mutton sail (LOM) is a simple triangular sail set on a long spar mounted horizontally on the mast.[1] It runs in a fore-and-aft direction.[1] The leg-of-mutton uses a spar mounted high instead of a boom.[2] This gives the helmsman more visibility and there is no boom hit his or her head on.[2] It is a favorite type of sail for small boats. These include puddle ducks[3] and canoes.[4] A LOM is very similar to a spritsail. But instead of being square or having four corners, the LOM has three.[1] Instead of the spar being mounted diagonally, as with the spritsail, it is mounted horizontally.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A. Hyatt Verrill, The book of the sailboat: How to rig, sail and handle small boats (New York; London: D. Appleton and Co., 1916), p. 40
  2. 2.0 2.1 David 'Shorty' Routh. "My favorite sail, the Leg-o-Mutton Sprit". Duckworks Magazine. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  3. David Routh. "The Super Awsome Leg-O-Mutton Sail Rig". PDracer.com. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  4. "Sails and Rigging". History of Wooden Canoes. Dragonfly Canoe Works. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2017.

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