gunter rig: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Nautical
Quick answer
What does “gunter rig” mean?
A type of sailing rig where the sail is extended upward by a sliding spar (gunter yard) that is hoisted nearly vertical alongside the mast.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of sailing rig where the sail is extended upward by a sliding spar (gunter yard) that is hoisted nearly vertical alongside the mast.
A rigging system common on small boats and dinghies, allowing for a tall sail plan without a permanently tall mast, often facilitating easier stowage and transport.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used identically in both nautical communities.
Connotations
Connotes traditional small-boat sailing, classic dinghy design, and practical rigging solutions.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to sailing manuals, boatbuilding, and historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “gunter rig” in a Sentence
The [boat] has a gunter rig.They decided to gunter-rig the [dinghy].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gunter rig” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The classic design is to gunter-rig the mast for easy trailing.
American English
- We decided to gunter-rig the skiff to get more sail area.
adjective
British English
- It's a lovely gunter-rigged dinghy.
American English
- He specializes in building gunter-rig sailboats.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical or technical papers on naval architecture and small craft design.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of sailing contexts.
Technical
The primary context. Used in sailing manuals, boat plans, and among boat builders and restorers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gunter rig”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gunter rig”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gunter rig”
- Misspelling as 'gunter rigg' or 'gunther rig'.
- Using it as a verb for general rigging (e.g., 'I will gunter rig the ship') is non-standard unless specifically converting to this rig type.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both use a spar (gaff or gunter yard) to extend the sail, a gunter yard is hoisted to lie almost parallel to the mast, whereas a gaff is peaked at a distinct angle.
It is most common on traditional small sailing dinghies, canoes, and some classic small cruising boats where a easily stowable mast is advantageous.
It is named after the 17th-century English mathematician and astronomer Edmund Gunter, who invented a related scale (Gunter's scale). The rig's name was derived later by association.
Yes, primarily by enthusiasts of traditional and classic small boats, in boatbuilding restoration, and on certain production dinghies designed for simplicity and easy rigging.
A type of sailing rig where the sail is extended upward by a sliding spar (gunter yard) that is hoisted nearly vertical alongside the mast.
Gunter rig is usually technical / nautical in register.
Gunter rig: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌntə rɪɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌntər rɪɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a sail that 'goes under' and then up? No. Better: GUNTER RIG = The yard GUNS up (raises) the sail TOP, making the Rig tall.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COLLAPSIBLE TALL SAIL is a gunter rig.
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary characteristic of a gunter rig?