Convert hank on to roller jib??

[Roadking Larry]

My roller mylar genoa is getting pretty long in the tooth. The PO of the boat says it was on it when he got it just under 10 years ago. It's got a few patches and a few places that probably should be patched but i ran out of sail tape.

Anyway, I also have the OE hank on jib that probably came with the boat. It looks to be in decent shape.

I'm thinking it shouldn't be too hard to convert it to roller furling but I may not know what I don't know.

Is it as simple as removing the hanks and grommets and sewing on the furling tape or am I missing something critical.

I do have the sewing skiils and a sewing machine that is up to the task.


Thanks

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

I had it done to one jib, for someone. The sail needs to be fairly high cut for it to work. A deck sweeper won't work well.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I had it done to one jib, for someone. The sail needs to be fairly high cut for it to work. A deck sweeper won't work well.

It might be helpful to explain why you feel that way. IMHO any sail can be converted. What you need to do is find out the size of your luff groove, which is usually #6, buy the right length tape and sew it on. Most folks find that the cost of having a sailmaker make the change is not so $ attractive and may choose to buy a new sail. The deck-sweeper vs high cut has little to do with the conversion itself, since the height of your furler drum and your jib sheet fairlead angles may be more important in your decision making. If your sewing ability is good or better, then do some more research on sailmaker and sail websites and learn the issues, which may include things like dealing with removing the wire luff on a hanked on sail and maintaining the propere luff.

Your sail, your choice. Good luck, please keep us posted on this, since we haven't heard too many successful examples.

 

[Nereussailor]

Sailrite has a bunch of free videos. One is about this very subject. Take a look http://video.sailrite.com/Luff-Tape-Conversion-Kit-Video/youtube.html

One thing the video doesn't cover is the UV strip. I believe there's a video for that too. I bought a package of sailrite videos a few years back and it was included with that. There's a bunch more new ones online.

 

[Chris Patterson]

By all means I would suggest learning to sew sun covers on. At 11 bucks a foot usually, foot and leech combined, hoo buddy..

 

[Joe]

Here's an alternative to the luff tape conversion: http://reefrite-na.com/kiwi-slides/kiwi-slide-details

 

[Chris Burti]

ReefRite makes luff slides that you sew on to replace the hanks. They are inexpensive, work like charm and did not pull out in 40 knot gusts. The sweet thing is that if you have a twin groove foil, you can drop one sail, controlled on the deck while the slides are still in the groove held by a stopper and raise another in the other groove.

 

[Roadking Larry]

I hadn't seen the video from Sailrite yet. That actually looks doable. For my little jib, that isn't doing me any good looks like worst case I'd be out less than $100 and several hours time.

As far as the sun cover, I'm using a jib sock on my old mylar sail anyway, no reason not to continue with that till I decide to pop for a whole new sail.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Douglast]

I ordered a anchor sail from sailrite and they seem very good to deal with , I as well have a hank on jib with a CD furling set up in my garage so I am enjoying this thread for my possible options..

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

It might be helpful to explain why you feel that way. IMHO any sail can be converted.

A deck sweeper will pile the foot up down at the furler, making a huge pile, and maybe not even fitting totally. Could wind up with no place for the foot to go.

A higher cut sail will roll with the foot moving up the stay as it furls, so there is an even, smooth roll.

Makes a much smoother operation.

 

[Nereussailor]

Chris, How long have you had the Kiwi Slides? Did you install them yourself? Does the number sizing corespond with luff tape sizing? (Ex. a 6/40 Kiwi Slide= #6 luff tape) Also, does anyone else have these on their boat? I'm thinking a new thread on this might be in order.

 

[Ron20324]

I took my B235 jib to a loft to convert/add the luff tape for the furler. He did it, i took it to the boat, found out the large headboard made a good rollup all but impossible. I should have spent the conversion cost on a new-used sail, which i did (at BaconSails.com).

 

[rardiH36]

If the roller furler luff tape on your old mylar sail is in reasonable condition, then consider taking it off the sail and transferring it to the still OK OEM sail. Total cost of the project might be $0!

Twice I have removed the tape from two of my older jibs in order to re-cut the luff to take out some of the stretched out "belly". Then re-sewed the same tape back on the sail. In both cases sail performance was greatly improved.

Spend some time looking at the Sailrite video that already has been referenced. Then modifications using every day tools, some careful thinking and your sewing machine skills are all you need.

Here are pics of a couple of modified tools that make the process easier. The stapler is used to re-attach the tape to the sail so its firmly in position for sewing. It's a zero cost alternative to double-side basting tape. Raising the "bender plate" of the stapler is necessary so that the staples will bend normally since the thickness of the luff tape cord would otherwise prevent that. (Of course remove the staples after sewing ... they will rust and stain the sail if left in place.) Sharpening the knife in the manner shown greatly speeds up cutting the threads of the tape for removal from the old sail.

As evidence this can be done, the picture of the sail attached is result of the described process. Luff is 44'. I've been using it on San Francisco Bay for a couple of years now.

 

[rardiH36]

... Good luck, please keep us posted on this, since we haven't heard too many successful examples.

Hi Stu:

I referenced in my post to this thread that I have had success rejuvenating a couple of blown out furling jibs by removing the luff tape, re-cutting the sail luff in a straighter line and then re-installing the luff tape over the new luff cut. The process for this isn't much different than converting a hank-on to a #6 roller furler jib. Both my sails have performed noticeably better hard to to wind.

And right now stretched out across my garage and driveway is a heavy wind 52' luff mylar/kevlar racing sail abandoned by a one design Farr 40 racer. I have just reduced the sail size to 43' 9" luff for my boat by removing the #6 tape, cutting the luff to the right length by "tangenting" at a harder angle between the clew and the new head location, then re-attaching the luff tape. Hope to have it on my boat in just a few days. The sail is in great shape, but since it will stay on the furler 24/7, I expect UV damage will limit its life to just a couple of years. I am sure the sail won't perform anything like a new sail ex the loft when it had a computer specified luff curve ... but I will feel pretty cool sailing around with it. If the boat is still slow, I'll blame the hull design. (Certainly not my sailing skills!)

rardi