My wife and I purchased a 1977 Hunter 30 last fall and inspected the sails (laid out in the yard) before we purchased it. They appeared to be in very good condition. Unfortunitly, the boat had been dry docked for some time and we could not sail her before buying. After raising sails this spring we noticed that the mainsail appears to be smaller than the standard main. When fully raised, the top of the sail is about 1-1/2 to 2 feet short of the top of the mast even though the luff is tight and fully extended. My question is what kind of sail is this, and would I be better to add a larger sail for general or lighter wind conditions? Thanks for your help Dave
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Jeff
Mainsail
I have heard of sails shrinking but that is extreme. Who knows. I would measure the sail and compare it to the specs. There are other possibilities: A previous owner cut the sail down for whatever reason. Thought the boat was too tender? Wanted more headroom in the cockpit? The boom is sitting too low. The sail is not original. Does it have Hunter logo? AS far a replacing the sail, if you have a 135-150 Genoa on a masthead rig , I really don't think you would find much additional speed if any in light air. I would invest in a drifter of some sort if you don't already have one. This assumes that the main is in good shape and how much light air you get. If the boat sails well, live with it for awhile and then make a decision. Sounds like there is no rush and there are plenty of other toys that can be bought if you have a desire to keep the economy going.
I have heard of sails shrinking but that is extreme. Who knows. I would measure the sail and compare it to the specs. There are other possibilities: A previous owner cut the sail down for whatever reason. Thought the boat was too tender? Wanted more headroom in the cockpit? The boom is sitting too low. The sail is not original. Does it have Hunter logo? AS far a replacing the sail, if you have a 135-150 Genoa on a masthead rig , I really don't think you would find much additional speed if any in light air. I would invest in a drifter of some sort if you don't already have one. This assumes that the main is in good shape and how much light air you get. If the boat sails well, live with it for awhile and then make a decision. Sounds like there is no rush and there are plenty of other toys that can be bought if you have a desire to keep the economy going.
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David Foster
Ask a sailmaker
Sailmakers understand that advising you on a question like this is good for business whether you buy something immediately, or not. Most of them are real experts, and they usually have experience racing different boats. Mine visited our boat, looked at our sails, and listened to the kind of sailing we do (day sailing and cruising on Lake Erie.) Now, I can call him any time and get expert answers based on good knowledge of the Lady Lillie, and her current sails. From our talks, I understand that it is common for the luff and foot of a sail to shrink faster than the rest of the sail with age. I don't know if this can account for 18 to 24 inches or not. Yes, I have bought sails from him - but the result was a dramatic improvement in performance and our joy under way! David Lady Lillie
Sailmakers understand that advising you on a question like this is good for business whether you buy something immediately, or not. Most of them are real experts, and they usually have experience racing different boats. Mine visited our boat, looked at our sails, and listened to the kind of sailing we do (day sailing and cruising on Lake Erie.) Now, I can call him any time and get expert answers based on good knowledge of the Lady Lillie, and her current sails. From our talks, I understand that it is common for the luff and foot of a sail to shrink faster than the rest of the sail with age. I don't know if this can account for 18 to 24 inches or not. Yes, I have bought sails from him - but the result was a dramatic improvement in performance and our joy under way! David Lady Lillie
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Justin Meddock
Bolt rope shrunk ?
Is your sail VERY baggy and wrinkled along the luff, even with gorilla tension on the halyard? If so it may be the same as when I bought my 78 h27, it had a shrunken boltrope that caused a short hoist (short by the same 1 to 2 feet) and short on the foot (by about 6 inches). I needed to have the bolt rope let out by my sailmaker. Justin Meddock
Is your sail VERY baggy and wrinkled along the luff, even with gorilla tension on the halyard? If so it may be the same as when I bought my 78 h27, it had a shrunken boltrope that caused a short hoist (short by the same 1 to 2 feet) and short on the foot (by about 6 inches). I needed to have the bolt rope let out by my sailmaker. Justin Meddock
Sail on.
I agree with most of the comments here so far. The shrunken boltrope sounds extreme to me too but it is NOT unheard of. Maybe it is an H-27 main-? --those are very short by comparison. The one thing I would advise Mr Abbott NOT to do is to raise the boom to be able to peak the sail. Leave it short of the masthead. Under all conditions it will be safer and easier to handle if what sail area you do have is down low. Just learn to duck your head like all the rest of us who ever came up from sailing dinghies!!! In any event Mr Foster's suggestion to enquire at a sailmaker's is very sound. Sailmakers are good guys to know-- and if you ever get a chance to sail against or with one, DO it. The learning experience will be invaluable. --why not invite him aboard? I will say here that I have NEVER known a sailmaker so greedy as to deliberately misguide a sailor in order to earn business. There is not much profit margin in one-by-one sailmaking as a business and if these guys did not truly love their work and love boating in general they would be upholsterers. And these guys are rarely gruff or cold-shouldered either. There are far worse people (perhaps marina staff-?) in whom you can place your trust than your friendly neighbourhood sailmaker. JC 2
I agree with most of the comments here so far. The shrunken boltrope sounds extreme to me too but it is NOT unheard of. Maybe it is an H-27 main-? --those are very short by comparison. The one thing I would advise Mr Abbott NOT to do is to raise the boom to be able to peak the sail. Leave it short of the masthead. Under all conditions it will be safer and easier to handle if what sail area you do have is down low. Just learn to duck your head like all the rest of us who ever came up from sailing dinghies!!! In any event Mr Foster's suggestion to enquire at a sailmaker's is very sound. Sailmakers are good guys to know-- and if you ever get a chance to sail against or with one, DO it. The learning experience will be invaluable. --why not invite him aboard? I will say here that I have NEVER known a sailmaker so greedy as to deliberately misguide a sailor in order to earn business. There is not much profit margin in one-by-one sailmaking as a business and if these guys did not truly love their work and love boating in general they would be upholsterers. And these guys are rarely gruff or cold-shouldered either. There are far worse people (perhaps marina staff-?) in whom you can place your trust than your friendly neighbourhood sailmaker. JC 2
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A.J. Wortelboer
Stock sail
I have the same boat and the main does not go all the way to the top of the mast. I have 2 stock Hunter 30 mainsails and both are short of the top by about a foot and a half. Don't get upset most of the power on these boats is recieved from the genoa. I sail Wind Swept up to Whitehall lots of time just with the genoa for that 3 hour tour....a three hour tour....a 3 hour tour. Good luck
I have the same boat and the main does not go all the way to the top of the mast. I have 2 stock Hunter 30 mainsails and both are short of the top by about a foot and a half. Don't get upset most of the power on these boats is recieved from the genoa. I sail Wind Swept up to Whitehall lots of time just with the genoa for that 3 hour tour....a three hour tour....a 3 hour tour. Good luck
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Sam
Goose neck
Dave, I have a 1979 30. My boom is mounted to the mast with a verticle track I call a goose neck. With the boom in the low position a get better performance and easier sail handleing and the sail is short of the top of the mast about 2 feet. With it in the high position my head will not be struck by the boom and the boom also clears my oversized bimini. I think of it as a cruiser setting and a racer setting. The system seems very simple and could be fitted to your boat easily. If you don't have this let my know. I can take a picture and e-mail it to you. Fair winds, Sam
Dave, I have a 1979 30. My boom is mounted to the mast with a verticle track I call a goose neck. With the boom in the low position a get better performance and easier sail handleing and the sail is short of the top of the mast about 2 feet. With it in the high position my head will not be struck by the boom and the boom also clears my oversized bimini. I think of it as a cruiser setting and a racer setting. The system seems very simple and could be fitted to your boat easily. If you don't have this let my know. I can take a picture and e-mail it to you. Fair winds, Sam
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Dave Abbott
Thanks for the advice
Thanks for all the suggestions,it is good to know that this is a common condition. I'll check the bolt rope this weekend and possibly contact a sailmaker if it is indeed short. Regardless the boat is wonderfull as I have heard from numerous people and does sail very well,inspite of the short main. AJ...we'll look for you next time you are near Whitehall landing. Our boat is "Sweet Pea" Dave
Thanks for all the suggestions,it is good to know that this is a common condition. I'll check the bolt rope this weekend and possibly contact a sailmaker if it is indeed short. Regardless the boat is wonderfull as I have heard from numerous people and does sail very well,inspite of the short main. AJ...we'll look for you next time you are near Whitehall landing. Our boat is "Sweet Pea" Dave
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