Furling genoa cover seems too small?

[Qorgyle]

PO said he never used it as he took the sail down in the off-season and the boat out of the water. I'm not doing that, so thought I'd cover up the genoa with the provided cover and ... it doesn't seem to fit. It's a good 1/2" from closing around the highest point (above where the jib sheets are holding it closed) I can reach on tippy toes, so not even close.

Could it have been for another sail? This one's a 135%, at least according to its bag (looks about that). Am I doing it wrong, although I don't see how? There isn't like ... a way to force a furling sail to furl different (if the thickest point was at the bottom, it might at least fit most of it!), is there? I suspect it was just for a different sail but figured I'd ask to see if I'm missing something obvious.

 

[sail sfbay]

Your guess is as good as mine...........made for a smaller sail, missed measurements (need at least two finger clearance on the circumference), not cut to the measurements or was not made by a local canvas shop who guaranteed it would fit.

 

[jssailem]

Is this a slip on cover? You hoist the cover to the tope of the sail with a halyard? Zipper down the center line?

A picture would help...

Winters here in the PacificNW can be very hard on sails. If the rain and ice don't break down the sail material the wind and sleet will work the sail off the furler and rip it to shreds. Taking your sail down in the winter and storing it in a dry space will give you a sail ready to go next spring. If you get a great winter weather window to go sailing, raising the sail and putting it away again are just good seamanship. The first winter gale that blows down the gorge will have you sitting quietly by a fire sipping a hot drink saying: Thank Goodness I dropped that sail.

 

[PaulK]

If the cover isn't closing up it sounds like it was made for a smaller (100%) jib, which would have fewer wraps around the forestay and not have as big a circumference. The 135% genoa you have may have been made with a protective UV section on the outside and not need an additional cover. The sailmaker would probably be able to tell you if you give him a call or show it to him.

 

[jssailem]

If the cover isn't closing up it sounds like it was made for a smaller (100%) jib,

This is entirely possible.
Another possibility is that genoa is bunching up as you furl it. Some sail makers ad a length of foam to the luff to even out the wraps. Some sails as they age and "blow out" change their shape adding like a beer belly. This can fold and bunch putting a more full sail bulge in the middle of the sail.

I would test rewinding the sail to see if you can get a tighter wrap. That is if you really want to leave your sail on the furler through the winter.

 

[Tally Ho]

I have never seen one that slips over the furled sail… a photo would be helpful.

The only other thing I can think of is whether or not you have sail furled TIGHTLY? When I furl mine in heavy winds, it is way tighter than when I furl it in light winds.

Maybe you can get it furled tighter and get the cover to fit.

I personally pull my sails off for the winter…but I have no chance of sailing in January on the Great Lakes.

Greg

 

[jssailem]

Greg here is what one looks like... by Rolly Tasker

 

[Tally Ho]

Greg here is what one looks like... by Rolly Tasker
View attachment 210477

Is that so you go sailing once in a while over the winter months? And protect your sail the rest of the time?

Otherwise, why not just pull the sail down?

Greg

 

[Qorgyle]

Is this a slip on cover? You hoist the cover to the tope of the sail with a halyard? Zipper down the center line?

Yep, that's the one. It's just a wee bit too tight around the thickest part of the furl.

test rewinding the sail

Yeah, that was the first thing I did. I made sure it was a calm wind day and cinched it up. I think it was just made for another sail. Guess that's the "fun" of getting a box of parts from the PO.

Otherwise, why not just pull the sail down?

A local sailor here just wants to protect his sail all the time, so he pulls it up. It's a lot faster than taking the sail off the furler itself - when properly fitted it just glides up. I'm pretty sure it's more of a sun than a rain cover though.

His and mine look more like the gent illustrating here:

I'll take mine off when I know I'll be away, otherwise I was hoping to cover it so that it's faster to get going when ready. But since it's not the right fit, well ... may be removing it more often than I had hoped, and revisit the cover issue next season.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Does the sail have a sacrificial UV resistant layer on the leech? The covers like that I've seen are used on pretty serious racing sails that don't have the sacrificial layer. If you have the sacrificial layer I probably wouldn't worry about the cover in general. I'd just take down the sail if any strong storms or very high winds were expected. If you don't the cover is a pretty important part of preserving the sail cloth.

 

[Qorgyle]

Does the sail have a sacrificial UV resistant layer on the leech?

I don't think so, it looks the same as the rest of the sail. I'll look tomorrow but pretty sure no - same as the other sailor here that covers up his.

 

[Kingjim91]

Take the sail down if you can’t get the cover to fit.
Here’s what our Lake Michigan winds can do.

 

[Qorgyle]

Holding it as tight as I can fairly high up. It would probably fit ... another 6ft higher.

Next time I unfurl it I'm going to check what it looks like at the luff; maybe there's something folded badly there but I'm inclined to think it's just not for this sail.

 

[All U Get]

Maybe a stepladder to get above the thickest part of the wrap, does your cover have a wider section or just one continuous diameter?

 

[jssailem]

Your image shows one end of the wrap.

• How does it go up to the top of the sail?
• Could it be upside down?
• It may zip closed lower down and have more cloth in the middle where the sail bulge gets a bit more cloth.
• It may be the wrong size , why the PO didn’t use it.

 

[sail sfbay]

Consider sewing on a permanent sun cover.........then once furled your done.

 

[Qorgyle]

Maybe a stepladder to get above the thickest part of the wrap, does your cover have a wider section or just one continuous diameter?

Continuous. I tried both sides, it's identical - was my first thought as well. I think even with some way to get above the thickest part I'd still run into trouble down here. The covers I've seen have way more slack, and a gap in the middle for the sheets to egress. This is definitely weird because it is in fact one continuous zipper. I guess that would work if you slack your sheets to run out the bottom but that doesn't feel particularly secure either.

How does it go up to the top of the sail?

Those holes are where a halyard would go, I assume. Your guess is as good as mine.

Consider sewing on a permanent sun cover.........then once furled your done.

You assume way more equipment (a sailrite, I assume) and expertise than I possess. I think we'll just be taking this one down once we get into the more unlikely sailing weather. Not there yet, though.

 

[jssailem]

taking this one down once we get into the more unlikely sailing weather. Not there yet, though.

nice statement. Saturday was a bit sketchy, but Sunday was brighter.

 

[All U Get]

Steve from Sailrite always makes it look easy, they have some very good ideas.

 

[sailme88]

My understanding is that the foresail covers are made for boats with performance sails that aren't protected by a sun guard. Using as a winter cover might not be the best solution.. Driven rain will still get inside and stay..clingy wet snow, freezing rain and ice will all add weight aloft..

Why not drop the sail, inspect, repair and wash it it?