Genoa sail cloth weight

[Don K.]

I am looking into a used 170% genoa that the cloth weight is 4.5 oz. This will be a non furling headsail. When the wind pipes up I would change to my working jib. Is 4.5 oz cloth heavy enough or should I look for a sail with heavier cloth. Just for daysailing and coastal crusing.

 

[Darrel]

Light Air

It would seem to me Don, that you would be using a 170% in light air. That would indicate that a light ounce sail cloth would be to your advantage. A heavier cloth may not work as well in light winds. If the sail is in good condition, priced right and fits your boat, I'd say go for it.

 

[Frank Ladd]

4.5 could be far too heavy

On my boat I'd only use a 170% in winds under 5 knots, so how about telling us the wind speeds and the size of the boat and sail. The weight of the boat matters too. 4 ounce cloth is heavy for a dingy and medium for a lot of boats and still bretty heavy for most 170% sails on most boats. A drifter is nothing but a nylon Yankee cut 150-180% light air sail and it is made from 0.75 - 1.5 ounce nylon so in general the 4.5 ounce 170% genny would be good for any winds you would want to carry that sail in unless you own a really heavy undercanvassed boat like a Wetsnail 32.

 

[Darrel]

To Heavy?

With all do respect to Frank, your 160% jib is not a spinnaker and will be used in different conditions and point of sail. A bullet proof storm sail I have is made from 9 oz kevlar. Your talking half that cloth weight in dacron for a 160%. Still think it will work for your needs if it fits your boat.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Sailmaker question.

Shop for a price you can afford. Then let the loft tell you what weight cloth. I think my jib is around 6.5 or 7. ounces. As for 4.5 being too heavy I don't think so. The most popular sailcloth that North uses, for example, ranges in weights from 4.0 to 9.0. So 4.5 is on the light side.