Retro51

I was very interested in this post, but saw that it was old, as were most of the responses. I would like to hear from the original poster, since I want to build a sail rig also. I am buying a Pelican kayak and have plans to build one myself (ClarkCraft Lark 8 plans, plus plans for a skin-on-frame canvas -CanvasBack kayak). I plan to use my kayak on a lake only -no whitewater - although I did take a kayak trip on the Colorado River last year, which was fun. I will probably try to add the sail rig to the home-built one, since it's hard to add anything like a rudder to a plastic kayak.
Some plans come with sail plans - the Lark 8 doesn't, but I chose it for other reasons. One, it looks easy to build and only requires 2-1/2 sheets of plywood plus misc pieces and hardware, so can't be too expensive. Also, it gives you the option of paddling with a double-ended kayak paddle, which is very comfortable, or adding outriggers for conventional, scull-type rowing. If I build it, I think it would be easy to build a sail rig for. If I build the CanvasBack, I know these have been converted to sailing - I have several pictures of such rigs.
I do have some pictures and info on building sail rigs but have several questions. Mostly, regarding the sail mount and rudder. I don't want a foot control rudder, so I think I can construct a hinged mount with a hinged handle. I've seen the sail mounted through a panel or board laid across the cockpit - you have to have leeboards anyway, so you can mount them on the outer edges. For sailing, you need a sail, leeboards and rudder to convert the forces from winds across the boat, into forward motion. That's about as much as I know about it, but there are library books (Sailing for Dummies) that explain it. So I can make a mast and mount it through the panel that holds the leeboards, but how do you mount the bottom of the mast to the bottom of the boat?
If anyone else has converted a kayak (or canoe) to sail and tried it out, I would like to hear about it.