SV Panopevideo
Yawing at Anchor. Adding Mizzen.
December 8, 2025 · 10 min · 15K views
What this video covers
Panope, a gaff sloop with a forward-biased above-waterline profile, yaws 50–60 degrees at anchor because her keel, rudder, and running gear are centered aft while her main mast sits well forward — an imbalance that sets up a continuous oscillation against the anchor chain.0:06 The owner tried a bridle, an offset snubber, and a second anchor; none solved the problem without ongoing tending.1:01 His solution: fabricate and add a small freestanding mizzen on a pivoting mast stepped in the existing dinghy davit structure, which also carries radar, antennas, and lights.1:46 The mast was built using a 1936 South Bend lathe acquired on Craigslist, with a glued collar at the partners to preserve full spar strength.3:35 A sail cut down from a Glen L-10 dinghy served as the test sail, with duct-tape reinforcements.5:26 Load testing was done by driving a pickup truck at 35–40 knots with the sail set at an angle of attack.6:09 On the water in 15–20 knots gusting to 25, hoisting and sheeting the mizzen amidships reduced yaw from 50–60 degrees to roughly 5 degrees.7:15 Under sail, the mizzen contributes meaningfully only when the boat is heavily reefed or under storm canvas, where its aft position acts as a trim tab for helm balance.9:05 Josh Slocum added a mizzen to Spray for the same reason before his circumnavigation.10:19
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