droopy main, need used sails too......

[martin]

i posted this on another forum but didnt get much feed back. the main on this boat seems to be cut very full so that at slow wind speed the boom really sags into the cockpit. is this normal. i was told thats the way hunter designed the main. looks like a head whacker on a tack to me. also im looking for a set(or singles) used sails for the 1985 hunter23, they dont have to be perfect just usable. surely someone has gone to a roller furler or upgraded to new sails and would like to recoop some of the cost by selling their old sails. thanks in advance.....martin 713 861 3234

 

[UnderDog]

Topping Lift

I use the topping lift on my '86 25.5 to keep the boom square to the mast and keep the main out of the cockpit. I find it also gives the sail a better shape and I don't get blown over as much in gusts when hauled in tight.- Mel

 

[Darrel]

Stretched out sail

I had a H23 for many years. Couple of notes.When the sail is up and you release the topping lift the boom should move only a little. Just enough to pull the main sail tight. If it is dropping more than a few inches then you have problems with the main. There is a rope that is built into the luff (the part that the sail mast slides attach to) if this rope is stretched out then your main sail has probably reached the end of its useful life. I had new sails built for my H23 and they were not all that expensive, around $850 for the main and $500 for a 135% head sail. The performance increase in the boat with new sails was dramatic. Made the cost worth every penny.I would recommend that you get a local sailmaker to come out to your boat and look at your current sails and evaluate them. He could then quote you a price for new sails. Buy a new main this year and new head sail next year if that helps take the bit out.Good Luck.

 

[Mike]

droopy boom

I hated the low hanging boom and YES it's a head whacker. Had the foot cut off my main for about $150. They cut a triangle from 0" at the mast to about 10" at the end of the boom. It got the boom up over my head and they claim no compromise in performance since they left it loose footed (which has better shape). I love it.

 

[alan]

Did the luff rope shrink?

This is what happened to a batch of h26 main sails. The leach retains the same length but the head won't go up as high so the boom droops and the sail is wrinkled at the luff. alan