It's time to rebed my outside jib tracks. They're one of the last bits of deck hardware I haven't attacked with @Maine Sail's approved approach. But we haven't been using them recently, so it seems it might also be the right time to ask whether I need them at all (perhaps that question is next unto 'What anchor should I buy?'; thankfully that decision is already made).
It's about the same amount of work to rebed or replace them, or to just fill the holes. It seems that the answer is pretty specific to a Catalina 22, and would differ for any other boat (perhaps even to a specific sail size). So I'm hoping for a little input from some of the C-22 experts hanging out here.
Current details:
--3-foot inside track ending right at the cabin bulkhead - 1" track with pin-stop cars. Simple, and they're working well. We use these all the time.
--Stock 4-foot 15/16" outside tracks, centered on the bulkhead (so overlapping the inside tracks, and ending further back). With screw-type cars that are harder to adjust than the pin-stop ones.
--120% roller furling genoa. If I were to replace it today, I'd go even smaller - maybe a 100 or 105 (in light wind, we pull out the code 0). The 120 is only 3 seasons old, so we'll be sailing with it for a long time. But I add that comment to note that we're unlikely to go larger, and might go smaller over time. That would seem to indicate that we don't need the aftmost portion of the outside track (reasonable assumption?).
I see several options. Two likely ones:
1) Rebed the outside tracks I have (2-3 hours including potting the holes with epoxy, and ~$20 in new screws if I don't have enough in my parts bins)
2) Remove the outside tracks completely and use inside tracks only (~1-2 hours, including filling the holes). In this case, I might try to cut down the 15/16" tracks and repurpose them as side-mount bimini tracks (more solid than the tracks sold specifically for bimini usage).
And a few really unlikely possibilities:
3) Replace with 1" tracks and pin-stop cars ($250+? But parts do turn up on eBay)
4) Move my 1" pin-stop tracks from inside to outside and replace the inside tracks with Garhauer EZ-glide tracks and cars (~$325-400)
5) Remove the outside tracks; mount fixed padeyes and use low-friction rings as leads and 'twings' ($25-50)
As described at More on Jibs and Jib sheet Twing. Interesting, but perhaps overly complex for a cruiser.
I enjoy rigging projects, so any of those options are doable. But I'm not good enough at sail trim to evaluate the pros and cons.
It's about the same amount of work to rebed or replace them, or to just fill the holes. It seems that the answer is pretty specific to a Catalina 22, and would differ for any other boat (perhaps even to a specific sail size). So I'm hoping for a little input from some of the C-22 experts hanging out here.
Current details:
--3-foot inside track ending right at the cabin bulkhead - 1" track with pin-stop cars. Simple, and they're working well. We use these all the time.
--Stock 4-foot 15/16" outside tracks, centered on the bulkhead (so overlapping the inside tracks, and ending further back). With screw-type cars that are harder to adjust than the pin-stop ones.
--120% roller furling genoa. If I were to replace it today, I'd go even smaller - maybe a 100 or 105 (in light wind, we pull out the code 0). The 120 is only 3 seasons old, so we'll be sailing with it for a long time. But I add that comment to note that we're unlikely to go larger, and might go smaller over time. That would seem to indicate that we don't need the aftmost portion of the outside track (reasonable assumption?).
I see several options. Two likely ones:
1) Rebed the outside tracks I have (2-3 hours including potting the holes with epoxy, and ~$20 in new screws if I don't have enough in my parts bins)
2) Remove the outside tracks completely and use inside tracks only (~1-2 hours, including filling the holes). In this case, I might try to cut down the 15/16" tracks and repurpose them as side-mount bimini tracks (more solid than the tracks sold specifically for bimini usage).
And a few really unlikely possibilities:
3) Replace with 1" tracks and pin-stop cars ($250+? But parts do turn up on eBay)
4) Move my 1" pin-stop tracks from inside to outside and replace the inside tracks with Garhauer EZ-glide tracks and cars (~$325-400)
5) Remove the outside tracks; mount fixed padeyes and use low-friction rings as leads and 'twings' ($25-50)
As described at More on Jibs and Jib sheet Twing. Interesting, but perhaps overly complex for a cruiser.
I enjoy rigging projects, so any of those options are doable. But I'm not good enough at sail trim to evaluate the pros and cons.
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