I have a 110 headsail which came with my 1982 O'day 23. This sail does not reach all the way to the top of the mast, even though I use a wire pendant extender on the tack. I also looked at a 150 genoa which was supposedly made for the O23 but this sail also has a luff of only 23' (the forestay length is around 26'). I looked at all the O23 photographs on this website and not one shows the head of the headsail where I can see if they reach the top of the mast. If you have an O23 I would be interested if your jib or genoa goes all the way to the top. If not, I'd be interested in opinions as to why not. I'm thinking of buying new sails this winter and don't want to have a sail cut so it reaches the top of the mast if there is a good reason why it should not. Thanks, Chris Hughes
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M
Mike
It is cut shorter
I have the original 110 jib for my '79 Oday 23, and it does not reach the top of the mast either. The sail plan drawings I have for the boat also show it to be short of that mark. Masthead rig boats like the 23 were designed to have powerful jibs, but that doesn't mean the sail necessarily needs to be cut so that it reaches the top of the mast. If you do decide to have a new sail made that is bigger than the original, make sure your sail maker knows your mast and rigging specs. The original rigging on the 23 makes it so that it is inconvenient to impossible to make certain sail adjustments that would make it easier to accomodate a larger jib (no adjustable jib sheet blocks, no traveler, no outhaul, no boom vang, etc.).
I have the original 110 jib for my '79 Oday 23, and it does not reach the top of the mast either. The sail plan drawings I have for the boat also show it to be short of that mark. Masthead rig boats like the 23 were designed to have powerful jibs, but that doesn't mean the sail necessarily needs to be cut so that it reaches the top of the mast. If you do decide to have a new sail made that is bigger than the original, make sure your sail maker knows your mast and rigging specs. The original rigging on the 23 makes it so that it is inconvenient to impossible to make certain sail adjustments that would make it easier to accomodate a larger jib (no adjustable jib sheet blocks, no traveler, no outhaul, no boom vang, etc.).
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Chris Hughes
Thanks, Mike
Previous owners have installed adjustable cars for the jib sheets as well as outhaul and boom vang (didn't realise they weren't original). I am looking at installing a main sheet traveller this winter as well. Do I understand you to say that there is no reason not to use all of the available forestay to get as much headsail as I can? I will certainly make sure the sail loft has all the relevant data. Thanks again for your reply. Chris
Previous owners have installed adjustable cars for the jib sheets as well as outhaul and boom vang (didn't realise they weren't original). I am looking at installing a main sheet traveller this winter as well. Do I understand you to say that there is no reason not to use all of the available forestay to get as much headsail as I can? I will certainly make sure the sail loft has all the relevant data. Thanks again for your reply. Chris
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James
New Sails, Great Idea, fill the space
Chris, I have a 1973 O'day 23. I don't believe our boats are the same exactly since the design was changed. It seems unlikly that the sails that came with my boat would have been original (30yrs) but I noticed the genoa was short also. In fact the main seemed short to the end of the boom also. I was perplexed so decieded to get new sails. My main now fills the boom and silly as it sounds the steering pressure improved. My genoa now reaches the top and the boat and seems to do great. Overall I would say that it feels good to have full size sails, but more importantly is that I am able to achieve great sail shape. The old sails were just all blown out. Now I have something that I can learn to sail on. One sailmaker I talked to said that on older sails the bolt ropes could actually shrink giving the appearance of shorter sails. My boat was so old that most sailmakers could not find my specs. Only one had the correct specs and that matched my measurements. Make sure you know all your options. (draft strip,leech lines, high cut genoa vs low cut, ect.) My front stay length was just over 30 feet. My tall mast is original for my boat and is gold in color. The O'days were once referred to as the gold metal fleet back then. New sails, good idea! Take care, James
Chris, I have a 1973 O'day 23. I don't believe our boats are the same exactly since the design was changed. It seems unlikly that the sails that came with my boat would have been original (30yrs) but I noticed the genoa was short also. In fact the main seemed short to the end of the boom also. I was perplexed so decieded to get new sails. My main now fills the boom and silly as it sounds the steering pressure improved. My genoa now reaches the top and the boat and seems to do great. Overall I would say that it feels good to have full size sails, but more importantly is that I am able to achieve great sail shape. The old sails were just all blown out. Now I have something that I can learn to sail on. One sailmaker I talked to said that on older sails the bolt ropes could actually shrink giving the appearance of shorter sails. My boat was so old that most sailmakers could not find my specs. Only one had the correct specs and that matched my measurements. Make sure you know all your options. (draft strip,leech lines, high cut genoa vs low cut, ect.) My front stay length was just over 30 feet. My tall mast is original for my boat and is gold in color. The O'days were once referred to as the gold metal fleet back then. New sails, good idea! Take care, James
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Chris Hughes
What brand, James?
James, Thanks for the reply, encouragement, and enthusiasm. Glad to hear your decision to buy new sails was such a positive experience for you. Who did you go with to get your new sails? It sounds like you're happy with your choice. Did you go with a roller furler or hank-on genoa? As you can tell, I'm in the advice gathering phase of the process. Chris
James, Thanks for the reply, encouragement, and enthusiasm. Glad to hear your decision to buy new sails was such a positive experience for you. Who did you go with to get your new sails? It sounds like you're happy with your choice. Did you go with a roller furler or hank-on genoa? As you can tell, I'm in the advice gathering phase of the process. Chris
J
James
Upgrades all around!
Hello Chris, I originally started out to replace my mainsail. It seemed as if it was more important?? As much water as there is around here, the nearest sailmaker is a hour+ drive. No problem.....there is always the internet, direct phone order, and boating magazines. My first experience was not so good. I was not looking for the best but quality and price were in my mind. I went with a nationally advertized sailmaker. I called them and placed the order just before spring. (busy season) To my horror, I found out later that the sails were being made over seas and 3 weeks turned into 8 weeks. Now it would be summer. I was able to cancel the order at 3 weeks and started looking on the internet. I was able to locate a new sail off a Catalina 24 that fit just right. Had it two days later. Remember my mast was taller than most 23's. My boom is also on a sliding gooseneck. Saved some money too! The genoa was impossible to find so I searched for a sailmaker. It ended up that my best bet was the nearest sailmaker. He was not cheap but then again the sail is bigger. I upgraded to the roller furler. It is hard to know what questions to ask when you don't know the options available. I am sure I irritated a few sailmakers by being so "green" to it all. A real sailmaker should be a talker and want to know what you (want and need) as well as a quality maker of sails. Kind of a catch 22 when time is money! I still did not get the service I was looking but at least I got a good sail. I opted for a low clew so that I could capture more wind. Thought I may want to enter a race now and then. A higher clew would be nice for just cruising, my next choice. I am sure with your boat being newer, that most any sailmaker will have the specs needed. Compare measurements with them to see what you have. It seems as if it was yesterday that I was in the information finding process also. I think we are always doing that. Always happy to share information and stories, James (direct email is outland@onslowonline.net)
Hello Chris, I originally started out to replace my mainsail. It seemed as if it was more important?? As much water as there is around here, the nearest sailmaker is a hour+ drive. No problem.....there is always the internet, direct phone order, and boating magazines. My first experience was not so good. I was not looking for the best but quality and price were in my mind. I went with a nationally advertized sailmaker. I called them and placed the order just before spring. (busy season) To my horror, I found out later that the sails were being made over seas and 3 weeks turned into 8 weeks. Now it would be summer. I was able to cancel the order at 3 weeks and started looking on the internet. I was able to locate a new sail off a Catalina 24 that fit just right. Had it two days later. Remember my mast was taller than most 23's. My boom is also on a sliding gooseneck. Saved some money too! The genoa was impossible to find so I searched for a sailmaker. It ended up that my best bet was the nearest sailmaker. He was not cheap but then again the sail is bigger. I upgraded to the roller furler. It is hard to know what questions to ask when you don't know the options available. I am sure I irritated a few sailmakers by being so "green" to it all. A real sailmaker should be a talker and want to know what you (want and need) as well as a quality maker of sails. Kind of a catch 22 when time is money! I still did not get the service I was looking but at least I got a good sail. I opted for a low clew so that I could capture more wind. Thought I may want to enter a race now and then. A higher clew would be nice for just cruising, my next choice. I am sure with your boat being newer, that most any sailmaker will have the specs needed. Compare measurements with them to see what you have. It seems as if it was yesterday that I was in the information finding process also. I think we are always doing that. Always happy to share information and stories, James (direct email is outland@onslowonline.net)
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