Changing Yankee Jib to 150 Genoa on H37 Cutter

Ed Schenck · Nov 26, 2009

You need to talk to Blaise Pierson. He has been winning races with his converted H37C for years. Here is one thread: http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=634728&highlight=Midnight . Somewhere on this board he wrote extensively about his conversion, the how and why. I am sure he would recommend removing all the staysail hardware to use a 150.

Jim Legere · Nov 27, 2009

What do you want?

The sloop vs. cutter debate goes on. The H37C was designed as a cutter - the mast is a little further aft than on a sloop of similar length. Two advantages of a cutter over a sloop are: smaller sail size = easier to handle; COE (center of effort) is further aft (more in the center) when reefed = better handling in heavy weather.

I love the cutter rig. When the going get rough and windy, I roll in the yankee and sail on the main & staysail - no sheets to tend while tacking, balanced helm and, with the main reefed, good to 40+ knots of wind!

The advantage of a sloop rig is that it is (typically) more weatherly, less costly (2 sails instead of 3). and has the abilty to roller furl (if so equipped). I have no doubt you could make the H37C perform well as a sloop, but you will definitely need to upgrade the furler to handle a bigger sail and maybe the primary sheet winches as well. A 150 genoa will cost more than a yankee (but not both a yankee and staysail...but you don't usually have to replace both at once). You probably won't want to use the 150 with the staysail or even with the inner forestay. Light air performance upwind will probably be better though. Off the wind, using a drifter will give better speed that a 150 genoa.

I go back to design. John Cherubini, who knew a thing or two about boats, designed this boat as a cutter - why second guess him? If you really want a sloop, trade in your H37C and buy a C&C or a Tartan or any other sloop of similar value.

sandpiper10471 · Nov 27, 2009

Mobjack: I don't think you will seriously change the boat's balance. But I do wonder what your purpose is in considering this alteration. If it is to race or improve upwind performance, go for it. If it is to increase sail area, then just get a bigger yankee. The H37C has a huge J measurement. A 150 genoa will be a huge sail to handle short handed, spend most of its time reefed and put considerable stress on the rig and probably the crew as well.

H37 LunaSea · Nov 29, 2009

Near Norfolk

I have a 1980 37c with a 150 and the staysail. I have owned it for 1 year and sailed a couple hundred hours under different conditions. I have no trouble tacking around the stay. The boat seems to balance well with just the 150 and main. As mentioned in another post, you do find yourself furling in any significant wind and of course start losing sail shape. I really like the flexibility of light wind set-up with the option of running staysail and reefed main when it gets snotty. Regardless of the true purpose of the cutter design, this has worked great for me and I plan on replacing the sails with the same configuration. I am near Norfolk if you would like to see the set-up or even test it out.

Johnb · Dec 2, 2009

Alternative Sail Set Up

I have long been intrigued by the picture showing an HC37 sailing beautifully in glassy water conditions. I have been the lucky recipient of a cosmetically challenged but usable genoa, shown in the second picture. So far I have only raised it in the dock, among other things I need longer sheets in order to try it out. I now have them and if conditions are suitable will try it out this weekend.

I intend to use it “unhanked”, attached only at the head, tack and clew and with the Yankee in place. I have a quick release on the inner forestay and will experiment with moving it out of the way.

I have no intention of replacing or modifying any of the existing rig – it works very well for me in the variety of conditions on San Francisco Bay.

e allen · Dec 5, 2009

genoa

I would with experence with my 37c say that the only way to do is not a 150 but a 130. The boat will handle much better be better balanced and you will be able to trim the jib a lot easier.

two local boats here in florida did the 130 on the 37c and took out the furler.

Both have had very good success racing and cruising. The boat will perform very will with this combo.

Like Ed S says, Contact Blaise Pearson, or Dennis Velinga at banks sails in tampa. Both have campained boat of the year results with the one thirty and get a better rating than the 150 also.

The cutter stuff is wonderfull . I used mine when it blew and never in light stuff. I never believed it gave me any advantages over a genoa with a furler for coastal stuff .

YOU Can put a lever on the stay for the staysail and remove it when you want to tack easier. These guys have not problem tacking as long ast they dont care about a fast tack or they dont sail short or single handed.

If your going to cross the atalantic this year put it up.

jcherubini · Dec 8, 2009

Actually the advantages of a high-cut 'yankee', even a long-footed one, used with a lower-cut inner staysail, have been well-known for decades. In the 1950s this was the usual light-air AND heavy-weather rig-- they did not use one long genoa and rarely brought in the yankee till it got really bad; they just replaced it with a smaller one. I have no doubt that this was my dad's idea with the H-37C. Also, two smaller headsails are more easily handed by a crew of a certain age, as opposed to a larger sail that has to be arm-wrestled in during a blow; and that was one consideration for this boat by marketing as well. Roller-furling is just that; it does a lousy job at roller-reefing, so it ends up being all or nothing.

I do favor the idea of having two roller-furling jibs on these stays, the outer one high-cut and maybe worth about 130 and the smaller one like a little 115. With such a rig one can get a marvelous slot at each overlap and the intricacies of tacking both headsails are easily learned. Just leave the inner one a little backwinded till the outer goes through. We did this all the time with our old Cherubini 44 and we never had roller-furling either!

sandpiper10471 · Dec 11, 2009

If one goes to a 115% staysail then the jib boom must be discarded. Granted there will be overlap and probably slightly improved upwind performance. Also, you get rid of that heavy piece of flying weaponry when on the foredeck in bad weather. On the other hand, you need more winches, turning blocks, fairleads etc. I agree from past experience (MacGregor 65 cutter) that one quickly learns to manage the extra sheets etc. However, for me, the small club footed jib is the best. I will forgo the expense of adding tracks, furler, extra lines etc. and a more cluttered deck for the elegance of simplicity.

Bill1565 · Dec 27, 2009

Re: Alternative Sail Set Up

My 37 c came with Lewmar 42 primaries. I used 40'self tailers on my S-2 7.9 with a 150. My wife had trouble sheeting in in a breeze on the 26 footer. I don't know for sure, but I'd bet you need 54's with extended winch handles to control a sail with an LP over 25 feet.

Changing Yankee Jib to 150 Genoa on H37 Cutter

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