Approach to Jib Replacement

[treeman]

So after having the sails up for the first time, it was easy to recognize that my furling jib has a lot of wear. There is actually a square flap of sail material flapping around - looks like some sort of reinforcement that has come unstitched. I also noted that I have a Schaefer furling system. (cable type) It works, but there is some signs of age - part of the plastic casing is cracked.

My question is,what would be a good replacement approach for the jib? I have read postings on the virtues of the different rolling systems - cable vs. foil. For the near future, I envision myself as more of a cruiser, so I was thinking that the cable type may be just fine for me. Do I just contact a sail maker, give them my boat type and tell them that I want a cable in the luff? Should I consider replacing the Schaeffer unit now? Might affect cable size? It looks like Harken and Schaeffer have some beefier cable models. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Tom J]

Not unusual for the stitching in the Jib to deteriorate. You could have the jib re-stitched and go from there. It's usually not too expensive.

 

[Joe11688]

So after having the sails up for the first time, it was easy to recognize that my furling jib has a lot of wear. There is actually a square flap of sail material flapping around - looks like some sort of reinforcement that has come unstitched. I also noted that I have a Schaefer furling system. (cable type) It works, but there is some signs of age - part of the plastic casing is cracked.

My question is,what would be a good replacement approach for the jib? I have read postings on the virtues of the different rolling systems - cable vs. foil. For the near future, I envision myself as more of a cruiser, so I was thinking that the cable type may be just fine for me. Do I just contact a sail maker, give them my boat type and tell them that I want a cable in the luff? Should I consider replacing the Schaeffer unit now? Might affect cable size? It looks like Harken and Schaeffer have some beefier cable models. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Dan

Dan,
That furling system came stock with the O'Day 222s and 192s. It's really a poor system that does not perform well. I got rid of it after the first year that I tried it out.
The main reason why the sail is falling apart is that these sails weren't made with UV shields. A Jib or Genoa sail on a furler without a UV shield will only last about three seasons.

You can go two different routes on a foresail: Get rid of the Schaeffer furler and buy a conventional 125% Genoa with snaps or piston hanks and hook it to the fore stay.
The other option is to buy a good roller reefing furler like a CDI FF-2 with the Genoa sail already made for the furler, or buy a Harken for more money.
I have the CDI and I love it. I bought my furler off Rudy several years ago and had my Genoa sail converted over from conventional sail with snaps, to the special tape that will fit the Vinyl furler luff of the furler. My sailmaker also installed the UV shield.

The small CDI furlers, F-1 and F-2 really don't need the ball bearings in the drum. The drum can turn very easy on the flat washer that comes with it.
My furler drum does not have ball bearings. Rudy told me that the ball bearings can seize up and cause problems and advised me to omit them which I did.

Whatever you choose to buy, keep in mind that the sun's rays can damage sails and it would behoove you to cover these sails, both Mainsail and Gennie or Jib as much as possible when they are not in use. Many times when I anchor for fifteen or tweny minutes to take Penny to shore in the kayak, I always cover my mainsail.
Joe

 

[Cabasa 83]

Just had mine re-sown and it was 150. Beware it will be tight when you put it back up.

 

[treeman]

Where would I go to get such service?

 

[Cabasa 83]

My broker also has a sail loft. Look for a sail loft, probably best to ask around to see if there is a good one around.