Change Jib to Genoa

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Steve Bowman

I just purchased a 1999 Hunter 310. Nice boat. I am trying to eake out a little better speed going upwind. the boat is rigged with a Furling 100% Jib. I am thinking I will pick up some signifigant speed in lower wind 7 to 11 Knts bu going to a 150% Genoa. Has anyone had any experience with that? Do you pick up noticable speed? Worth the money?
 
May 24, 2004
7,179
CC 30 South Florida
Your sail plan is designed around a large roach main

to power the boat. The headsail is used for balance and to help pointing ability with minimum effort from it required to propel the boat. These boats are fairly light by design and have good small air performance. It seems to me the installation modifications required for a Genoa and the ensuing problems with sail shape are not worth the performance gained in a narrow band of wind speed. Your boat as is can probably be propelled to its theorical hull speed in around 15 knots of wind speed. Above that you are wasting the additional power of a 150% Genoa and adding a lot of stress to the rig. The hull shape does not take kindly to a high degree of heel as far as boat speed is concerened. At higher wind speeds you will need to reef or partially roll that Genoa up loosing sail shape. Installing the sail itself may require for you to reposition or install additional tracks for fairlead blocks. A large Genoa would need to go outside the shrouds so your new tracks may need to go on the walking decks aft of amidship. Do you have cockpit winches at a favorable angle? I'm sure it can be done, as I'm sure someone may have done it but I question if the cost, labor and compromises are justified by the gain in performance. I even considered a 135% for our h320 and gave it up. Now the addition of an asymetrical spinaker would complement your present rigging quite nicely.
 
Apr 20, 2008
1
Hunter 310 San Diego
Thanks

I hear you that is why I am asking. there are a lot of added gear if I go to a larger Genoa so I am assessing its worth. Did you do a spinaker on your Rig? If you did it seems that you would have the same rigging issues with the spinaker sheets needing to go to the back cockpit winches? I am looking at a spinaker as well
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Here We Go Again

I am sorry but your question has been asked here many times before and answered. The way most hunters are setup already explained by Benny is with the 110 jib and will not do well with anything bigger. A 150 is way too much sail for them to handle,the most I have heard of changing to a 125 and it did help a little for a racer and he sold the hunter and got a smaller racer. You would be better to sell it and get a boat already setup for a 150 or go talk to some one who already has a 150 and ask him how much work it is and what is the good and bad of having a 150. I agree with Benny adding a spinnaker and I am looking into APC for my Hunter 36. Nick
 
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