Well, rephrase - Has anyone given a shot at running a JR (Junk Rig) conversion? Has anyone tried to convert a standard sloop rigged boat to JR, (without buiding one from scratch)?
You mean without moving the location of the mast, ie; just new sails/boom on same spar?
If so, I think you'd have a balance problem, winding up with too much sail area aft.
I think you would need to reconfigure the whole rig, making that large of a change...
Or maybe I am misunderstanding the question. :)
I've done a good bit of studying on the Junk rig and feel it's an outstanding cruising rig. I've been onboard a 30 footer that was custom built to use that rig. Sailed really well. Easy to handle, VERY easy to reef- FAR easier than a standard marconi rig.
BUT- the sail plan HAS to shift. On that boat the mast required moving several feet to make the rig balance. In so doing, they basically lost the vee berth since the mast moved forward.
Additionally, the partners must be beefed up considerably since the mast was then free standing.. The original mast partners simply weren't up to it.
So while I'd love to cruise a junk rigged boat, just redoing the sails ain't gonna get it done