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Bill O'Donovan
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Mike
Reefing is a genoa is not...
as simple as one might think. If properly cut and fitted to an appropriately sized furling system, either size sail you have suggested will furl properly. Its the reefing that is the wild card. You can't really reef down a big foresail very much. Depending on who you talk to, I have heard you can reef a genny from 10-20% and still retain enough sailshape and strength to make it worthwhile. I was given this somewhat rude awakening by my local sailmaker when I told him I wanted a 150% genny that I could reef down to standard 100% jib. Choose the size of your reefing headsail based on the strength of the prevailing winds in your area and your preferences for how much sail you like to carry. I decided to have my 100% jib put on the furler. My 150% genny has a bolt rope its leading edge, so I just hoist it with the now spare jib halyard.
as simple as one might think. If properly cut and fitted to an appropriately sized furling system, either size sail you have suggested will furl properly. Its the reefing that is the wild card. You can't really reef down a big foresail very much. Depending on who you talk to, I have heard you can reef a genny from 10-20% and still retain enough sailshape and strength to make it worthwhile. I was given this somewhat rude awakening by my local sailmaker when I told him I wanted a 150% genny that I could reef down to standard 100% jib. Choose the size of your reefing headsail based on the strength of the prevailing winds in your area and your preferences for how much sail you like to carry. I decided to have my 100% jib put on the furler. My 150% genny has a bolt rope its leading edge, so I just hoist it with the now spare jib halyard.
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tom
can you fly a foresail without attaching it
to the forestay??? My genoa sucks when reefed. But when the conditions are too much for the genny I can't change it!!! I do have a smaller jib and extra halyard. Would it work without the forestay???
to the forestay??? My genoa sucks when reefed. But when the conditions are too much for the genny I can't change it!!! I do have a smaller jib and extra halyard. Would it work without the forestay???
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Mike
jib w/o forestay
I have used a Harken small boat furler on my Neptune 16 for 3 years now. It has a wire luff bolt seized with thimbles and grommets at the head and tack. I do not hank it onto the forestay, since it would foul and not furl. I had to add a bow eye and reposition the top halyard block. The jib works fine. I just tighten the halyard and the jib seems to hold it's shape well. If anything, there is no chance of scalloping the luff with an improperly tensioned halyard.
I have used a Harken small boat furler on my Neptune 16 for 3 years now. It has a wire luff bolt seized with thimbles and grommets at the head and tack. I do not hank it onto the forestay, since it would foul and not furl. I had to add a bow eye and reposition the top halyard block. The jib works fine. I just tighten the halyard and the jib seems to hold it's shape well. If anything, there is no chance of scalloping the luff with an improperly tensioned halyard.
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Kim V
What are your sailing conditions?
In Long Beach, CA where prevailing winds are 8 - 20, I use a 7 oz 135% genoa. It reefs down to a 100% and hold shape well with the foam luff.
In Long Beach, CA where prevailing winds are 8 - 20, I use a 7 oz 135% genoa. It reefs down to a 100% and hold shape well with the foam luff.
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Mike
You can fly a headsail without attaching it
to the forestay under certain conditions. First, only in light winds (which makes sense since who would fly a lightweight 150% sail in strong winds anyway?); and second if the sail has a strong bolt rope in the leading edge. Sail shape is not very good, but what the heck. It beats having a useless sail in a bag in the basement.
to the forestay under certain conditions. First, only in light winds (which makes sense since who would fly a lightweight 150% sail in strong winds anyway?); and second if the sail has a strong bolt rope in the leading edge. Sail shape is not very good, but what the heck. It beats having a useless sail in a bag in the basement.
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tom
I was wanting to fly a smaller
headsail with the genny rolled up when the wind was high. My genny has an awful shape when rolled part way. But the P323 likes a headsail and I have a small jib in the garage. To change a roller headsail I have to unroll it. This is difficult in high winds. The ideal situation would be to use another forestay and running backstays. But then you get into some $$$$.
headsail with the genny rolled up when the wind was high. My genny has an awful shape when rolled part way. But the P323 likes a headsail and I have a small jib in the garage. To change a roller headsail I have to unroll it. This is difficult in high winds. The ideal situation would be to use another forestay and running backstays. But then you get into some $$$$.
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Kevin
Reefing a 150
After a couple of years with a 6.5 oz. 150 on furling gear I'd never move up to a 170 if used on a furling unit since I don't think I need that much sail for the size and weight of my boat. That's your first consideration. I find in very light winds the 150 is already hard enough to get around the mast and baby stay when tacking, so I can't imagine what it'd be like with a 170. But when it comes to reefing I have often reefed down to the 100-120% range and despite what the sailmakers say, the sail has performed OK. I think its because if the wind is strong enough for me to reef its strong enough to move the boat at hull speed even with the 150 reefed down to a less elgantly shaped 100%. And who can complain if you are doing hull speed? Kevin
After a couple of years with a 6.5 oz. 150 on furling gear I'd never move up to a 170 if used on a furling unit since I don't think I need that much sail for the size and weight of my boat. That's your first consideration. I find in very light winds the 150 is already hard enough to get around the mast and baby stay when tacking, so I can't imagine what it'd be like with a 170. But when it comes to reefing I have often reefed down to the 100-120% range and despite what the sailmakers say, the sail has performed OK. I think its because if the wind is strong enough for me to reef its strong enough to move the boat at hull speed even with the 150 reefed down to a less elgantly shaped 100%. And who can complain if you are doing hull speed? Kevin
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Don K.
Headsail Furling Negatives
From the responses I received to my furling/reefing questions I think I will do just as I have done for many years. Listen to the weather report and decide what sail I should fly and if the wind force changes i'll just change down to my working jib and put a reef in the main or if the wind dies i'll put up my 180 light sail. Adds a little more excitement to sailing instead of just pulling some strings. Is'nt that what we are out there for. My boat is a Chrysler 26.
From the responses I received to my furling/reefing questions I think I will do just as I have done for many years. Listen to the weather report and decide what sail I should fly and if the wind force changes i'll just change down to my working jib and put a reef in the main or if the wind dies i'll put up my 180 light sail. Adds a little more excitement to sailing instead of just pulling some strings. Is'nt that what we are out there for. My boat is a Chrysler 26.
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tom
furling not as great
as I thought!!! With my last boat I hanked on headsails. Sure it got interesting sometimes to pull down the genny and put up the working jib but it worked. With the roller and high winds you are stuck. I plan to put on a smaller sail this weekend and maybe it will work better. I love the roller in some ways. I think that the idea of a removeable forestay to hank on a small jib is the best answer. That way you have all the advantages of both. I plan to explore the cost of such a rig. If it is too much the roller will have to go.
as I thought!!! With my last boat I hanked on headsails. Sure it got interesting sometimes to pull down the genny and put up the working jib but it worked. With the roller and high winds you are stuck. I plan to put on a smaller sail this weekend and maybe it will work better. I love the roller in some ways. I think that the idea of a removeable forestay to hank on a small jib is the best answer. That way you have all the advantages of both. I plan to explore the cost of such a rig. If it is too much the roller will have to go.
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Don K.
Removeable forestay
I used to own a Prairie Passage Maker 32 and I installed a headstay behind my furled headsail for a storm jib. I carried it next to the mast when not in use. It was simple to carry it forward and attach it to a deck fitting with a detent pin. A few turns on the turnbuckle and the storm jib was hanked on. Some mast trunks have an extra hole that can be used for that purpose.
I used to own a Prairie Passage Maker 32 and I installed a headstay behind my furled headsail for a storm jib. I carried it next to the mast when not in use. It was simple to carry it forward and attach it to a deck fitting with a detent pin. A few turns on the turnbuckle and the storm jib was hanked on. Some mast trunks have an extra hole that can be used for that purpose.
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