Hi ZX
There is a lot of detail in the Voyager 122 plans regarding the mast and mast steps. For our Voyager build, however, we did decide to go with a traditional center mast. This required a fairly straightforward modification of the mast beam, which is essentially making a big wide V - like a dolphin striker but contained inside the mast beam (not protruding below the boat) to counteract the center mast trying to push the beam down in the middle.?
Bernd designs robust boats with simplicity, lightness, and ease of construction in mind.?
The Voyager is a big project, but if you are thinking of the 860 or bigger, you are already in the big project category.?
Bernd is usually willing to work with you if the changes you want to make keep to the spirit of the design.?
It would be very simple to rig the Voyager with a traditional center mast and boom. And coupled with the ¡°three attachment point¡± arrangement instead of a traveler, very very simple to do. (Three attachment points on the aft beam at the back of the cockpit to control the boom - center, port, starboard. The 4:1 mainsheet stays on the center attachment point always, and when you need to, take a 6:1 block and tackle that you attach to the end of the boom and to one of the other attachment points depending on what tack you are on.)?
Overall, building the Voyager has been fairly simple and straightforward, except for the modifications I decided to make myself. Those complicated things.?
We are very excited for you, no matter what design you decide to build.
Cheers
Patrick
