What size jib did you go with on the 285 with roller furling on the headsail, I always thought I would go with 150%, but it seems the default on most sail selectors is 135%. Also, am looking at a Famet reefing system, any comments?
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Warren
285 headsails
There is no perfect answer to your question. A lot depends on where (average winds speeds?) you sail and how you like to sail (what is your comfort level with various heel angles?). A 150 on a furler will be great light wind sail, say up to 12 or so knots. Above that, you are going to have to reef it and a 150 is a lot of sail to reef in a real blow. The answer also depends on whether you have any other smaller furling headsails for your boat. If you only plan on having one headsail, you would probably be better served, on average, with about a 130% headsail. Famet, by the way, makes a high quality furler, but they tend to be pricey. Good luck.
There is no perfect answer to your question. A lot depends on where (average winds speeds?) you sail and how you like to sail (what is your comfort level with various heel angles?). A 150 on a furler will be great light wind sail, say up to 12 or so knots. Above that, you are going to have to reef it and a 150 is a lot of sail to reef in a real blow. The answer also depends on whether you have any other smaller furling headsails for your boat. If you only plan on having one headsail, you would probably be better served, on average, with about a 130% headsail. Famet, by the way, makes a high quality furler, but they tend to be pricey. Good luck.
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Steve O.
also...
Depends on cruising or racing. Assuming cruising since you will be using a furling system. As Warren said, a 150% won't maintain a good shape when furled, even with a foam luff. I would go with the 135% unless you are racing, in which case you don't want a furler anyway.
Depends on cruising or racing. Assuming cruising since you will be using a furling system. As Warren said, a 150% won't maintain a good shape when furled, even with a foam luff. I would go with the 135% unless you are racing, in which case you don't want a furler anyway.
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Jeff D
I use a 150 on my 28.5
I have a 150 on a Famet furler. If I were to replace it I would use the same set up. If you are using the boat in TN you probably get lighter winds. The Headsail is what drives this boat. As to the Famet furler, mine is nearly 20 years old and it "reefs" just great with no problems. My headsail is 18 years old also. I don't believe they are any more expensive than the big names and you don't have to modify the headstay. It is not easy to change the sail so figure that whatever you put on it is going to be the sail you will use for the duration. Don't forget to have a foam luff put on the headsail no matter what you get.
I have a 150 on a Famet furler. If I were to replace it I would use the same set up. If you are using the boat in TN you probably get lighter winds. The Headsail is what drives this boat. As to the Famet furler, mine is nearly 20 years old and it "reefs" just great with no problems. My headsail is 18 years old also. I don't believe they are any more expensive than the big names and you don't have to modify the headstay. It is not easy to change the sail so figure that whatever you put on it is going to be the sail you will use for the duration. Don't forget to have a foam luff put on the headsail no matter what you get.
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Cliff Ruckstuhl
150 all the way
It would be fair to quess that TN has light to medium wind strength. That said the difference in sail area between a 150 & 135 RF head sail is about 41 sq/ft of sail area. If you have 50 days of sailing thru the summer you might need to reef the head sail 3-4 times (MAYBE). We sail on Lake Erie and I have a 3 season old UK Tape Drive 108 that has been up 3 times has maybe 10 hours of sailing time on it. The difference in sail area from say a 150 hank on to a 150 RF sail is about 31 sq/ft. Then between a hank 150 and a RF 135 72 sq/ft HUGE Difference. I think getting the 135 seeing the loss in sail area for alight air place for sailing would not be so good. Who likes to sail slow? (Maybe Catalina Sailors, Just kidding) If you have a stock main it is not as big as it could and it has not such good sail shape meaning it will be slow and add the 135 Rf and on the 0-12 knot days you will wish for more sail area. This does not apply to racing the boat that would be a whole lot of other stuff. Get the foam luff for when you do need to roll it up. Cliff H 28.5 Red Dog
It would be fair to quess that TN has light to medium wind strength. That said the difference in sail area between a 150 & 135 RF head sail is about 41 sq/ft of sail area. If you have 50 days of sailing thru the summer you might need to reef the head sail 3-4 times (MAYBE). We sail on Lake Erie and I have a 3 season old UK Tape Drive 108 that has been up 3 times has maybe 10 hours of sailing time on it. The difference in sail area from say a 150 hank on to a 150 RF sail is about 31 sq/ft. Then between a hank 150 and a RF 135 72 sq/ft HUGE Difference. I think getting the 135 seeing the loss in sail area for alight air place for sailing would not be so good. Who likes to sail slow? (Maybe Catalina Sailors, Just kidding) If you have a stock main it is not as big as it could and it has not such good sail shape meaning it will be slow and add the 135 Rf and on the 0-12 knot days you will wish for more sail area. This does not apply to racing the boat that would be a whole lot of other stuff. Get the foam luff for when you do need to roll it up. Cliff H 28.5 Red Dog
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Stu Sauer
110, 135 and 155
I have a 110 a 135 and a 155% Genoa for my 1986 28.5 -none are hank on or roller furlers as I use a 'HeadFoil' system. Like Cliff, the 110 has had the least use, but the 135 and 155 are used about equally. We sail, cruise and race(a little) but in light air and below 12 knots we use the 155. When its above 15 knots, and up to about 22 with the 135, she runs like a freight train, and we start flattening the main to control weather helm. Actually , that's one of the benefits of having the sail selection available. We choose the best headsail and trim the main to perfectly ballance the boat. So what is the wind speed you expect to sail in most often? If you are not interested in racing or in eventually buying another sail, split the difference and have a good sailmaker build a 145% using mylar & dacron triradial laminate technology. My original all mylar 155% lasted for 16 years.
I have a 110 a 135 and a 155% Genoa for my 1986 28.5 -none are hank on or roller furlers as I use a 'HeadFoil' system. Like Cliff, the 110 has had the least use, but the 135 and 155 are used about equally. We sail, cruise and race(a little) but in light air and below 12 knots we use the 155. When its above 15 knots, and up to about 22 with the 135, she runs like a freight train, and we start flattening the main to control weather helm. Actually , that's one of the benefits of having the sail selection available. We choose the best headsail and trim the main to perfectly ballance the boat. So what is the wind speed you expect to sail in most often? If you are not interested in racing or in eventually buying another sail, split the difference and have a good sailmaker build a 145% using mylar & dacron triradial laminate technology. My original all mylar 155% lasted for 16 years.
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Tom
Cliff, pls explain the loss in sail area
Between a roller furling and a hankon. And thanks to all for your responses. Tom
Between a roller furling and a hankon. And thanks to all for your responses. Tom
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Cliff Ruckstuhl
Sail area loss
You lose all the sail area along the bottom and a little at the top. Along the bottom because of the drum and the foot of the sail is about a 1-11/2' off the deck at the top because of the top part of the furler. Cliff
You lose all the sail area along the bottom and a little at the top. Along the bottom because of the drum and the foot of the sail is about a 1-11/2' off the deck at the top because of the top part of the furler. Cliff
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