I have a 1995 29.5 and am thinking about increasing my headsail from the std. 110 to a 135 . I have searched the archives to no evail. I thought there were some articles on this subject, but couldn't find them. Has anyone increased they're headsail without installing new genny tracks? It seems to me that Hunter said you could go to a 135 without any modifcations. Thanks in advance. Ken
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Bigger is Better
Ken, check the photo forums for pictures of our 29.5 with the 150 genoa. New tracks are required and aft winches must be used. Since the pictures were taken, I added a foam luff to the headsail for reefing. However I rarely reef the headsail. It makes the boat much faster in light air and we carry it up to about 20 mph winds. Feel free to contact me direct if you want more information
Ken, check the photo forums for pictures of our 29.5 with the 150 genoa. New tracks are required and aft winches must be used. Since the pictures were taken, I added a foam luff to the headsail for reefing. However I rarely reef the headsail. It makes the boat much faster in light air and we carry it up to about 20 mph winds. Feel free to contact me direct if you want more information
Asymetrical for Cruising
I'd also think about an asymatrical cruising spinnaker. Lot's of power with the wind over the beam or quarter, and they work into the wind, too, especially in light air. I got a 110 and 130 with my h27, and added the spinnaker this summer. We do still use the 130 for day sailing, though.
I'd also think about an asymatrical cruising spinnaker. Lot's of power with the wind over the beam or quarter, and they work into the wind, too, especially in light air. I got a 110 and 130 with my h27, and added the spinnaker this summer. We do still use the 130 for day sailing, though.
Second the Asymetrical
I'd like to second the suggestion of an asymetrical as this adds a lot of sail area for off the wind sailing. We have a 35 with a 110, 150, and a symetrical but last summer we used the 110 and symetrical the most. There were a lot of situations where an asymetrical would have been nice. The problem with the 150 in our inventory is the sails are a lot of work to change so one needs a period of lighter wind to make it worth the effort. The asymetrical would be easy because you don't have to remove the jib to fly it. The symetrical adds significantly more area than the asymetrical and is more of a downwind chute but if you're not racing the incremental speed increase isn't worth it. Go with the chute and you'll probably be happier. Also see what your significant other says, maybe try to sail with someone to get a feel if this will work.
I'd like to second the suggestion of an asymetrical as this adds a lot of sail area for off the wind sailing. We have a 35 with a 110, 150, and a symetrical but last summer we used the 110 and symetrical the most. There were a lot of situations where an asymetrical would have been nice. The problem with the 150 in our inventory is the sails are a lot of work to change so one needs a period of lighter wind to make it worth the effort. The asymetrical would be easy because you don't have to remove the jib to fly it. The symetrical adds significantly more area than the asymetrical and is more of a downwind chute but if you're not racing the incremental speed increase isn't worth it. Go with the chute and you'll probably be happier. Also see what your significant other says, maybe try to sail with someone to get a feel if this will work.
For assimetrical..
..on my 29.5 .It is eassy to set with the sock , and it add significantly , especially on8-13 kts,110-140 to wind. However it does need practice , and correct tuning of sail.
..on my 29.5 .It is eassy to set with the sock , and it add significantly , especially on8-13 kts,110-140 to wind. However it does need practice , and correct tuning of sail.
29.5-head sail
I have a 29.5 . The BandR rigs on the newer Hunters are designed for ease of use for the cruiser who is light on crew like the typical coulple. The big main is the power sail (the opposite of a the more tratitional mast head rig) The small %110 jib makes comming about and jibing realitively easy, for the short handed crew. The jib is not overlaping it is sheeted inside the side stays on a very short track. Look on all the brochure pictures of the newer back stayless BandR rigged boats. You will notice in evey picture the foot of the jib is hooked like a J. It is impossible to flatten out the jib.The slot will always be distorted and the jib cannot be brought in parallel with the main This configuration will give you better pointing angles, but no power. Because of the swept back spreaders you can't let the main out when going down wind. That combined with the tiny jib means sailing down wind is a joke. As far as I am concerned there is only one fix. A bigger head sail. but in order to fly it right you need to add tracks on the outside of the side stays. This can be done on top of the coaming between the safty rail stantions. Also you will need winches out in the cockpit -there are pads already there. My boat came with two # 16 winches on the starboard cabin top. I moved them both back into the cockpit.I put a # 30 on the cabin to to replace them. This bigger winch makes dealing with the main much easier . I can now crank up the main from the cockpit. I put a 165% jib on my boat . Now that may sound huge, but rememer our boats have the masts more forward than more traditional boats meaning that the fortriange is smaller. Translated this means that my 165% fractional is aout the same size as a Catalina 30 135% I run the furling line through a ratchet block so when I am letting out the sail it can't get away from me. The sail is marked so I can let out 110%, 150%,or 165and. I only use the 165 setting in light air or saiingl down wind. This set up has greatly improved speed and the sailing characteristics, and made the boat track better. I also have an asymetrical. I got that sail before I increased the jib. If I had it to do over I don't know that I would have bothered with the asymetrical. There are times when there is too much wind for such a light sail. I have some pictures if you want I will send them to you ( email me at cstoddar@juno.com
I have a 29.5 . The BandR rigs on the newer Hunters are designed for ease of use for the cruiser who is light on crew like the typical coulple. The big main is the power sail (the opposite of a the more tratitional mast head rig) The small %110 jib makes comming about and jibing realitively easy, for the short handed crew. The jib is not overlaping it is sheeted inside the side stays on a very short track. Look on all the brochure pictures of the newer back stayless BandR rigged boats. You will notice in evey picture the foot of the jib is hooked like a J. It is impossible to flatten out the jib.The slot will always be distorted and the jib cannot be brought in parallel with the main This configuration will give you better pointing angles, but no power. Because of the swept back spreaders you can't let the main out when going down wind. That combined with the tiny jib means sailing down wind is a joke. As far as I am concerned there is only one fix. A bigger head sail. but in order to fly it right you need to add tracks on the outside of the side stays. This can be done on top of the coaming between the safty rail stantions. Also you will need winches out in the cockpit -there are pads already there. My boat came with two # 16 winches on the starboard cabin top. I moved them both back into the cockpit.I put a # 30 on the cabin to to replace them. This bigger winch makes dealing with the main much easier . I can now crank up the main from the cockpit. I put a 165% jib on my boat . Now that may sound huge, but rememer our boats have the masts more forward than more traditional boats meaning that the fortriange is smaller. Translated this means that my 165% fractional is aout the same size as a Catalina 30 135% I run the furling line through a ratchet block so when I am letting out the sail it can't get away from me. The sail is marked so I can let out 110%, 150%,or 165and. I only use the 165 setting in light air or saiingl down wind. This set up has greatly improved speed and the sailing characteristics, and made the boat track better. I also have an asymetrical. I got that sail before I increased the jib. If I had it to do over I don't know that I would have bothered with the asymetrical. There are times when there is too much wind for such a light sail. I have some pictures if you want I will send them to you ( email me at cstoddar@juno.com
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