I'm about to upgrade my Hunter 31 headsail. Currently I have a 110 furler. Could someone give me any pros/cons with choosing a 150 over a 135. The 150 would use a lighter cloth (5.6oz vs 6.4oz on the 135). Would this be a potential problem? I am leaning towards the 150 thinking it would be good in lighter air and when the wind picks up I would roll it in to some intermediate point. I don't race, just daysail and the odd week here or there in the San Juans so ratings aren't an issue. Thanks in advance for any advice. -Wags
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Doug Margison
My vote is for the 135
I too have a 110 genoa on my Hunter 30 and plan to up size. A 150 Genoa though is a lot of sail. Unless you plan to sail in a lot of moderately light air I think you will be overpowered much of the time. Even reefed you will be using a much lighter sail under all wind conditions. A reefed foresail is not very effeicint. Not only that but if you reef your foresail a lot it will eventially deform. A 135 is a good choice for most wind conditions. In very light wind conditions you might be surprised to find that the large sail area causes excess drag on the sail and you may acturall loose perfomance. Why not also get a cruising spinaker for light area reaching.
I too have a 110 genoa on my Hunter 30 and plan to up size. A 150 Genoa though is a lot of sail. Unless you plan to sail in a lot of moderately light air I think you will be overpowered much of the time. Even reefed you will be using a much lighter sail under all wind conditions. A reefed foresail is not very effeicint. Not only that but if you reef your foresail a lot it will eventially deform. A 135 is a good choice for most wind conditions. In very light wind conditions you might be surprised to find that the large sail area causes excess drag on the sail and you may acturall loose perfomance. Why not also get a cruising spinaker for light area reaching.
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steven f.
135
I have a 150 and a 135 on my H33 and I usually use the 135. The 150 leaves me overpowered too much of the time and reefing it down to anything below 135 causes it to look and sail like a potato (hope I spelled that right) sack. During the normal light air days of summer down here I keep the 150 on. The problem with this sail is that during the thunderstorms that pop up I have to be even more carefull, that is a lot of canvas to have up in anything over 20 knots of wind. A 150 simply will not roll down to a 110 and give you any type of shape, a 135 will.
I have a 150 and a 135 on my H33 and I usually use the 135. The 150 leaves me overpowered too much of the time and reefing it down to anything below 135 causes it to look and sail like a potato (hope I spelled that right) sack. During the normal light air days of summer down here I keep the 150 on. The problem with this sail is that during the thunderstorms that pop up I have to be even more carefull, that is a lot of canvas to have up in anything over 20 knots of wind. A 150 simply will not roll down to a 110 and give you any type of shape, a 135 will.
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Mac Lindsay
Headsail
Wags; The origional 110 headsail has the best shape. If you go for the latger sail sail on your furling, get the 135 and no larger. The larger the headsail on the furling , the worst the shape when you furl down to a smaller size. I have a 135 on mu 1984 H31 and when furling to a smaller size, the shape gets baggy, The 110 on the furler has a better shape when furled. For really light winds that we get in the summer, a cruiser spinnaker off the wind is a better adea even if it takes a little more work to set it. Going to windward there is nothing better than good sail shape rather than too big a sail. Just make sure the crew sits to leeward when the wind gets light. Mac
Wags; The origional 110 headsail has the best shape. If you go for the latger sail sail on your furling, get the 135 and no larger. The larger the headsail on the furling , the worst the shape when you furl down to a smaller size. I have a 135 on mu 1984 H31 and when furling to a smaller size, the shape gets baggy, The 110 on the furler has a better shape when furled. For really light winds that we get in the summer, a cruiser spinnaker off the wind is a better adea even if it takes a little more work to set it. Going to windward there is nothing better than good sail shape rather than too big a sail. Just make sure the crew sits to leeward when the wind gets light. Mac
135 or smaller.
Wags: I would have to agree with Mac. Once you start reefing down on that 150 you sail isn't going to have any shape left in it. I think that you would be better off with a 135 or smaller (maybe even a 120). You need to speak to the sailmaker and ask them about your boat and the wind in your area. The H'31 usually needs to be reefed early. Reefed sails are not as efficent as your full sails so you are going to be loosing a lot of efficency with a reefed main and a reefed jib to. Hell those Catalinas are going to be running away from you <G>.
Wags: I would have to agree with Mac. Once you start reefing down on that 150 you sail isn't going to have any shape left in it. I think that you would be better off with a 135 or smaller (maybe even a 120). You need to speak to the sailmaker and ask them about your boat and the wind in your area. The H'31 usually needs to be reefed early. Reefed sails are not as efficent as your full sails so you are going to be loosing a lot of efficency with a reefed main and a reefed jib to. Hell those Catalinas are going to be running away from you <G>.
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David Foster
110 and a Cruising Spinnaker
A cruising spinnaker is the best way reduce useof the "iron genny" in light air. A dousing sock means you can get it down quickly if a squall threatens. And a roller furled 110 is quickly deployed. With a 110 and the main, the boat is balanced, and easy to reef with good sail shape as the winds climb over 20. David Lady Lillie '77 h27
A cruising spinnaker is the best way reduce useof the "iron genny" in light air. A dousing sock means you can get it down quickly if a squall threatens. And a roller furled 110 is quickly deployed. With a 110 and the main, the boat is balanced, and easy to reef with good sail shape as the winds climb over 20. David Lady Lillie '77 h27
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Todd Osborne
150
I would buy a 150. Cruising Puget Sound and the San Juans can be frustrating with all the different wind conditions one can experience in only a few miles traveled (hence the usefulness of a furling sail). The key is to spend the extra couple hundred dollars
I would buy a 150. Cruising Puget Sound and the San Juans can be frustrating with all the different wind conditions one can experience in only a few miles traveled (hence the usefulness of a furling sail). The key is to spend the extra couple hundred dollars
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