Anybody has an idea what dimension should be a storm staysail on our H37C, there are a couple of used ones (brand new used ones, like most storm sails) here in Oriental and we are looking into buying one.
Storm Staysail H37C
- Thread starter Mathurin
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You have heard of ATN, make the Gale sail and the Top Climber? Their storm sail for boats 36' to 43' is 100 square feet. Hope this is helpful.
P.S. If your staysail is heavy enough there is another option. Have a reef point added to your current staysail. Much faster and easier than removing a sail and/or hanking on a storm staysail.
P.S. If your staysail is heavy enough there is another option. Have a reef point added to your current staysail. Much faster and easier than removing a sail and/or hanking on a storm staysail.
Storm sails on a H37C
On Valhalla my 37 cutter, I sailed very successfully in heavy wind with a tripple reefed main and the full staysail in up to 45 knots of wind. Comfortable and stable. A great sail combination.
Alan J
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On Valhalla my 37 cutter, I sailed very successfully in heavy wind with a tripple reefed main and the full staysail in up to 45 knots of wind. Comfortable and stable. A great sail combination.
Alan J
and
I had a reef point installed on my staysail. I have tried it, but never had to use it in anger. I have only two reefs in the main, but double reefed main and a full staysail are good to almost 40 knots. I think the reefed staysail would take care of the boat up to storm force winds...but I wouldn't want to be out in them!
Unless the storm sails are cheaper than having a reef fitted to the staysail (~$100), I wouldn't bother buying one. Unless your staysail is trashed. Then maybe it would be good insurance!
Unless the storm sails are cheaper than having a reef fitted to the staysail (~$100), I wouldn't bother buying one. Unless your staysail is trashed. Then maybe it would be good insurance!
Our staysail has two reef points, but it's 30 years old, so I want to give it a break. The jib and staysail will need to be replace in the close future, but we don't have the time to do it now. So the storm staysail would be a kind of insurance, as we all know how accurate forecasts can be. I would also like to use it as a wind vane...
ATN, I've seen, but I don't want to buy something new when I can get a barely used storm sail at the consignement store here for little dollars (I mean brand new and bullet proof for ~150$), plus I think a storm staysail would be more adequate than a storm sail that goes over the roller furling for our boats. I just can't find much info about sizing.
ATN, I've seen, but I don't want to buy something new when I can get a barely used storm sail at the consignement store here for little dollars (I mean brand new and bullet proof for ~150$), plus I think a storm staysail would be more adequate than a storm sail that goes over the roller furling for our boats. I just can't find much info about sizing.
Oh speaking of ATN I have two remarks, we have and older spinnaker tacker that I finally rigged just today, so we might be able to fly our spinaker soon 
, just hope someone will have a camera to capture the moment.
Second, I you ever go on a trip like we do, our just want to spend your money wisely, make sure you go in a climbing store before you buy anything in a marine store. I mean, the top climber 430$ really??? There is for max 100$ worth of climbing equipement on there. Then lifelines and safety theters, you can have a complete tether with two slings and two CAMP Hercules carabiners for around 50$, why pay 200$ (just a note of caution here, go for Nylon slings, avoid Dyneema) ? And lifeline, just buy bulk tubular webbing. OH, funniest thing ever, spinlock does something called the Mast Pro Harness, retail 175$. I have a petzl climbing harness at home, better quality than what spinlock is offering. It was an expensive one, still I only I paid 65$. Then you need a boom brake... Wichard does a fancy one, but 345$ ???? You go with a simple figure 8 descender that does the exact same thing for hummm, 12$.
Sorry, I think I'm just fed up of boating compagny, all they see is our walllet.
, just hope someone will have a camera to capture the moment.Second, I you ever go on a trip like we do, our just want to spend your money wisely, make sure you go in a climbing store before you buy anything in a marine store. I mean, the top climber 430$ really??? There is for max 100$ worth of climbing equipement on there. Then lifelines and safety theters, you can have a complete tether with two slings and two CAMP Hercules carabiners for around 50$, why pay 200$ (just a note of caution here, go for Nylon slings, avoid Dyneema) ? And lifeline, just buy bulk tubular webbing. OH, funniest thing ever, spinlock does something called the Mast Pro Harness, retail 175$. I have a petzl climbing harness at home, better quality than what spinlock is offering. It was an expensive one, still I only I paid 65$. Then you need a boom brake... Wichard does a fancy one, but 345$ ???? You go with a simple figure 8 descender that does the exact same thing for hummm, 12$.
Sorry, I think I'm just fed up of boating compagny, all they see is our walllet.
While I had my mast down, I measured offsets to determine staysail size. I s is about 34-8, J s is 11-6. Full triangle staysail area then is about 200 sf. I would think a 100 sf storm sail would be small enough so you could sail in hurricane strength wind ... if you wanted to.
I wasn't suggesting an ATN Gale sail. Only referencing their size of 100 square feet. I also have the climbing gear instead of the Top Climber. But I never considered using a descender to make a boom brake. Interesting idea.
On Midnight Sun we race in 45kts with a full main and a blade (90%). If we start to get a little overpowered, we bleed energy off of the main by easing the traveler. This is were the Harken ballbearing traveler is worth its weight in gold. Because the mast is so far back in the boat, a storm trysail is not effective. In seventy+ (pending searoom) we strike all sails and just keep the bow into the waves using the engine. This provides a safe comfortable (relativily) ride and the boat doesn't tack like it will on a sea anchor. If you don't have searoom, the boat can be sailed to weather with about 50 square feet of sail up. If you are roller reefed, you will probably trash the sail in short order. I don't know anyone who enjoys getting their brains kicked in offshore, but if it happens, this is a great boat to have it happen on.
Thanks for the input guys, I decided to not buy a storm staysail after all. We will use what we have and see how it goes. We are doing a small 62 miles passage out to sea tomorrow .
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What inlets will you be using for your offshore foray? Do you have inlets marked where you can go in sooner if necessary? Along parts of the Carolina and Georgia coasts it can be a long haul between inlets. I assume you have the guides that warn of the treacherous and/or shallow inlets.
Yeah, we do have a guide and we are travelling with another boat that has good knowledge of the area.
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