Genoa tracks for H26

[Tom Davis]

I am interested in putting genoa tracks on my 94 h26. Has anyone out there done this? Dosen't seem to be much space for them but it sure would be nice to get the right shape on the genoa for a change. Thanks and Merry Christmas to all fellow 26'ers out there.

 

[Joe C.]

Why?

Hi Tom,Why would you put genoa tracks on a boat that is not designed to run a genoa sail? The sail plan was set up with the mast forward and the mainsail bigger. In anything more than a very light breeze like say more than 5 or 6 knots the boat will be unbalanced with the extra effort forward. I have never heard of anyone having success with a larger head sail on this boat.FWIW,Joe C. in NC'01 h260Windward Passage

 

[Leo Brown]

Go for it!

Bought my h26 used and it came with a genoa-don't know sq ft but in light air it's outside the spreaders tied to the stern cleat with the clew aft the winch. When the wind picks up I run the sheet between the spreaders and when thats too much sail I run the sheet thru the deck mounted block. Good Luck

 

[Ray Bowles]

Leo, Doesn't running the genoa sheets thru the

shrouds or thru the original blocks defeat the genoa shape? I would think it would really roll the leech in like a folded potato chip.For a test, I mounted jib sheet blocks to the outside bottom of both cabin lifeline stanchions on each side. The blocks were held by a caribiner to the support rods at the base of the stanchions.On beam reaches I ran the jib sheets outside the shrouds back to the rear stanchion. On broad reaches I ran the sheets thru the front stanchion and then back. WHAT a difference! It acted like a whole new boat with much better sail shape. I also used the front stanchion when running the jib reefed to 70 and 80 percent and eliminated leech flap. I have a roller furling standard size jib.This set up using a home made whisker pole also inhances running wing and wing. Now I need to spring for real equipment to continue to run my sheets in these areas without using the stanchions.RayS/V Speedy

 

[Leo Brown]

You're right Ray

If the genoa is furled much the sail shape is lousy and gets very bad when it's about equal to the smaller original jib. I'll probably experiment with alternate anchor points for a snatch block to retain a better sail shape this next season but I won't go back to the smaller jib, the run home is worth it.

 

[Marcel Ralbovsky]

It can be done!

If you are serious about installing a genoa track e-mail me at mralbov@yahoo.com. I have a 94 H-26, hull # 61, and I installed 4-foot tracks back in 1995 for my North Sails 150 tri-radial.Why install a genoa? To make it go faster, and it does.