Looking for ideas here on getting new sails made.
I'd like to hear thoughts from cruisers and racers alike on battens (full, 2f+2p), loose-footed or not, how deep to set up each reef, cruising laminates versus higher performance dacrons etc. Anyone that has put a fat-head main on a B&R rigged sailboat I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.
The boat is a 1998 Hunter 410, non-furling mainsail. B&R rig, boom is around 20' long. Tides strong track has been installed and the slides will likely be switched from the old sail to the new. Roller furling headsail.
Sailing area is Vancouver Island/Desolation Sound, Pacific NW.
Boat is normally double handed, not raced. That said I love squeezing every knot out of the wind that I can, and sailing as efficiently as possible. (Max speed, minimum heel.)
Desires with the new sails:
1) For the mainsail, shorthanded ease of dropping, trimming, and putting away are equal to the desire for a good performing sail. The boom is very long, therefore grabbing the leech as the sail drops is near impossible. We find it hard to drop and flake easily as the height of the boom, along with the dodger and bimini limits reach. The Tides track has helped immensely with quickly dropping the sail, but we know that it won't be flaked beautifully each time. We currently use a stack pack set up for our OEM non-loose footed main that comes from an internet loft that I'm less than impressed with. I will consider replacing the stack pack at the same time.
2) For the headsail, good performance, easy to trim, and preserves the existing sight lines below the foot of the sail.
Ideally the sails are left on year round for those ideal winter days here when we can sail for a few days.
The boat won't be going south anytime soon. It will be sailing around Vancouver Island. Therefore light air sailing on the Georgia Straight is as important as the heavy westerlies you get on the outside waters west of Vancouver Island.
Finally, I like the idea of laminates primarily for weight reduction and ease of use for raising/lowering either single or two handed but am concerned with longevity. Thanks to all who reply.
I'd like to hear thoughts from cruisers and racers alike on battens (full, 2f+2p), loose-footed or not, how deep to set up each reef, cruising laminates versus higher performance dacrons etc. Anyone that has put a fat-head main on a B&R rigged sailboat I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.
The boat is a 1998 Hunter 410, non-furling mainsail. B&R rig, boom is around 20' long. Tides strong track has been installed and the slides will likely be switched from the old sail to the new. Roller furling headsail.
Sailing area is Vancouver Island/Desolation Sound, Pacific NW.
Boat is normally double handed, not raced. That said I love squeezing every knot out of the wind that I can, and sailing as efficiently as possible. (Max speed, minimum heel.)
Desires with the new sails:
1) For the mainsail, shorthanded ease of dropping, trimming, and putting away are equal to the desire for a good performing sail. The boom is very long, therefore grabbing the leech as the sail drops is near impossible. We find it hard to drop and flake easily as the height of the boom, along with the dodger and bimini limits reach. The Tides track has helped immensely with quickly dropping the sail, but we know that it won't be flaked beautifully each time. We currently use a stack pack set up for our OEM non-loose footed main that comes from an internet loft that I'm less than impressed with. I will consider replacing the stack pack at the same time.
2) For the headsail, good performance, easy to trim, and preserves the existing sight lines below the foot of the sail.
Ideally the sails are left on year round for those ideal winter days here when we can sail for a few days.
The boat won't be going south anytime soon. It will be sailing around Vancouver Island. Therefore light air sailing on the Georgia Straight is as important as the heavy westerlies you get on the outside waters west of Vancouver Island.
Finally, I like the idea of laminates primarily for weight reduction and ease of use for raising/lowering either single or two handed but am concerned with longevity. Thanks to all who reply.