headsail type?

[fondymike]

I am going to buy a 135 genoa for my 25 Hunter. Due to economics, I have to wait until next year to buy a roller furling. My question is this; is it advisable to purchase a hanked sail this year that I can use for the furler next year? If I do, should I buy a sail with foam and UV foot and Leech now or have it added next year? I'm not sure if folding a sail with foam and UV protection would be good it.

 

[Geof]

Ask the Sail Loft

I don't know where you are going to get your new head sail but I would ask the sail loft for their recommendation. Who would know better about the performance of the sail?Geofs/v Day-O

 

[Steve Dion]

Put a foil on your forestay now.

Mike:I would suggest that you speak with the sail loft too. There should be no reason to put hanks on the sail. Many racing boats have a foil on the forstay so they do not need to hank on a sail every time they change them. I think with a little planning you can be ready to go for next season.

 

[Joe Ford]

Don't put a foil on your forestay....

....unless you have a crew to go forward to handle the sail. The hanked-on sail will drop more easily, and most importantly, stay attached to the boat so you won't go "shrimping". Besides, the cost of putting a foil on the headstay will cost more than modifying the hanked genoa. I don't know how much you are going to spend on the genoa, but I wouldn't buy a new sail only to modify it one year later. To recut the sail to fit the furler, add a foam luff pad and UV protection border could cost 300-500 bucks. Not a good investment. Buy the furler first and use an old sail til you save enought to get the bitchin' sail you always wanted. or......Borrow some money from your parents or wife and get both. I have seen some complete furling packages for a boat your size for as little as $1200. Check out sailwarehouse.com.

 

[Mike]

Joe's got it right

I went through the same thing last year: I bought a roller furler (with a foil) and was deciding if I should have my 100% jib or my 160% Genny remade to fit the unit. My original plan had been to modify the genny and sail with as much of the sail unrolled as was appropriate. However, my sailmaker told me that if I reefed the genny, it wouldn't hold up as it wasn't cut to handle the loads it would receive if only partially unfurled. That and the fact that I don't have moveable jib sheet blocks on my boat sealed the deal. I went with having my jib done for the furler. Now when I want to fly the big genny I furl the jib and raise the genny with the spare halyard. It doesn't have to be hanked on the forestay as it has a bolt rope in its leading edge. Save your money and buy a new headsail that is cut for what you want it to do.