I just recieved my new head sail from a sail maker and the foot is way to big for my hunter 25.5. I ordered a 155%. The foot is 15.5 which goes way past the end of my jib track. The sail maker says the sail is the correct size. He says the J for my boat is 10.0. So J 10.0 X 1.55 is 15.5 feet. I replied that the bow-to-jib-track measurements I gave in the beginning should of been a tip off that the sail he was building would not fit. Even if I added more track the sail would still be way to big. Something is wrong somewhere?? Either the J measurement (10.0) is wrong or did Hunter build a boat that could not fly a 155% head sail?? HELP ted
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Who Took the Measurements of the boat?
Most sailmakers supply or use a fairly standard measurement form to get correct specifics on the exact boat they're making a sail for. The better sailmakers will came and check the sheet against the boat just to be sure. Are we to assume no measurements were taken?
Most sailmakers supply or use a fairly standard measurement form to get correct specifics on the exact boat they're making a sail for. The better sailmakers will came and check the sheet against the boat just to be sure. Are we to assume no measurements were taken?
Sail is right size
According to the way most sails are measured, you have what you apparently ordered based on the J=10' on your 25.5. Your problem may be one of rigging opposed to wrong size of sail. When the jib track was added to your deck, it's likely it was not necessarily set up for a 155% genoa; not all boats are designed to necessarily fly that large of a jenny and it may be that yours is not, either. Providing you have the anodized aluminum toe rail, you can add a shackle block to the toe rail and fly the jenny through the that block, by-passing the deck-mounted track altogether. I do that for a variety of sails on my 78h30 including my cruising spinnaker...pretty much the same way you'd likely have to fly a cruising 'chute, too. Hope this helps.
According to the way most sails are measured, you have what you apparently ordered based on the J=10' on your 25.5. Your problem may be one of rigging opposed to wrong size of sail. When the jib track was added to your deck, it's likely it was not necessarily set up for a 155% genoa; not all boats are designed to necessarily fly that large of a jenny and it may be that yours is not, either. Providing you have the anodized aluminum toe rail, you can add a shackle block to the toe rail and fly the jenny through the that block, by-passing the deck-mounted track altogether. I do that for a variety of sails on my 78h30 including my cruising spinnaker...pretty much the same way you'd likely have to fly a cruising 'chute, too. Hope this helps.
Sam.....
Yes the sail maker required measurements. As his web site says " to ensure a custom sail made for your boat". I took several dozen measurements. All accurate. The key measurement as I see it, was from bow-to-beginning-of track. (11 ft) and bow-to-end-of-track. (15ft) I asked what size of sail do I need, and he said "a 155". Later, after, I found out the sail would not fit my track, I pointed out to him the track measurements, he said "oh, my boat track was set up for a 110%". I shipped the sail back and asked him to build me a sail to fit my boat based on my measurements. I guess we are both a little at fault. I am new to sailing and didnt know enough to question the sail maker when he said I needed a 155% and ASSumed everything would be ok since my measurements were accurate. Dont get me wrong he does great work. The main he made for me is awesome. And yes I feel like an IDIOT. I guess what I will end up with is a 110% for the price of a 155%? Ouch!! Pentex material is expensive! Ted
Yes the sail maker required measurements. As his web site says " to ensure a custom sail made for your boat". I took several dozen measurements. All accurate. The key measurement as I see it, was from bow-to-beginning-of track. (11 ft) and bow-to-end-of-track. (15ft) I asked what size of sail do I need, and he said "a 155". Later, after, I found out the sail would not fit my track, I pointed out to him the track measurements, he said "oh, my boat track was set up for a 110%". I shipped the sail back and asked him to build me a sail to fit my boat based on my measurements. I guess we are both a little at fault. I am new to sailing and didnt know enough to question the sail maker when he said I needed a 155% and ASSumed everything would be ok since my measurements were accurate. Dont get me wrong he does great work. The main he made for me is awesome. And yes I feel like an IDIOT. I guess what I will end up with is a 110% for the price of a 155%? Ouch!! Pentex material is expensive! Ted
Seems You Should Be Okay
If you originally gave him the dimension to the end of the track as being 15 feet from the tack on the furler drum (I assume not the bow unless you have a hanked on sail and the forestay is attached to the bow) then I would say you should be okay. He can't ignore it and throw the number out. If the measurement was from the bow and he asked for it, and you measured it and specified it was from the bow, then I would say you're in a good position. If the car was placed in the last hole on the track the sheave should be a few inches forward of the track end - he should take this into account. Also, the sheet should go upward and forward at something less than 90-degrees to the tack to the car to the clew. Depending on how high the clew is the foot of the sail would be even shorter and he should take this into account. The sheeting angle from the car should aim approximately to the middle of the luff. If he was working that close with the numbers I would have expected him to ask more questions. All the sailmakers I have ever worked with all drew up the sail plan). It appears he totally forgot about the end of track measurement and built it just to the horizontal mast-to-tack measurement x 1.5. Also, if it were my sail there should be some adjustment for the car, for and aft, for adjusting sail trim for wind strength, and a good sailmaker would have this designed in too. His cheap fix is to cut of an appropriate amount of leach and give it back to you. Is it a tri-radial or cross-cut? Deck sweeper or Yankee (how high off the deck is the clew)? It's not uncommon to see brand new sails advertised because of a mistake.
If you originally gave him the dimension to the end of the track as being 15 feet from the tack on the furler drum (I assume not the bow unless you have a hanked on sail and the forestay is attached to the bow) then I would say you should be okay. He can't ignore it and throw the number out. If the measurement was from the bow and he asked for it, and you measured it and specified it was from the bow, then I would say you're in a good position. If the car was placed in the last hole on the track the sheave should be a few inches forward of the track end - he should take this into account. Also, the sheet should go upward and forward at something less than 90-degrees to the tack to the car to the clew. Depending on how high the clew is the foot of the sail would be even shorter and he should take this into account. The sheeting angle from the car should aim approximately to the middle of the luff. If he was working that close with the numbers I would have expected him to ask more questions. All the sailmakers I have ever worked with all drew up the sail plan). It appears he totally forgot about the end of track measurement and built it just to the horizontal mast-to-tack measurement x 1.5. Also, if it were my sail there should be some adjustment for the car, for and aft, for adjusting sail trim for wind strength, and a good sailmaker would have this designed in too. His cheap fix is to cut of an appropriate amount of leach and give it back to you. Is it a tri-radial or cross-cut? Deck sweeper or Yankee (how high off the deck is the clew)? It's not uncommon to see brand new sails advertised because of a mistake.
Do you need a 155?
A 155% is a big light air sail. If you only sail in heavy air, you don't need it. But when it goes light, or you start downwind, you'll love it! You, not your sailmaker need to decide if you want a light air sail & are willing to set the boat up for one. If you are, I strongly suggest you get the sail back from your sailmaker & tell him you want to know where to put the new track. He should give you the off centerline dimensions at both ends of the track, a track length, & a dimension to either the front or rear of the track. Adding track is easy & cheaper than recutting sails. Maybe you just need to run next to the toerail. The last jib I did new track for was a 90% & it required a track that ran at an angle to the boat's centerline. That's why you need so many dimensions. With a 155% you may just need to extend the existing track farther aft. If you don't want to set the boat up for a 155% you may be money ahead selling it as a new 155% & buying a 110% if that is what you need. Cutting a large sail into a much smaller one doesn't always work well. The bigger sail is usually built for lighter air & is cut differently & made from lighter material than a heavy air sail. So it won't be a good 110% even if it is a great 155%. I'd do a little more research before I let him cut that sail down very much. It could possibly be a great 150 or 145% that would fit on the existing track. I don't know how much too short the track is. Get advice from several sailmakers about cutting it down and/or extending the track. Then decide.
A 155% is a big light air sail. If you only sail in heavy air, you don't need it. But when it goes light, or you start downwind, you'll love it! You, not your sailmaker need to decide if you want a light air sail & are willing to set the boat up for one. If you are, I strongly suggest you get the sail back from your sailmaker & tell him you want to know where to put the new track. He should give you the off centerline dimensions at both ends of the track, a track length, & a dimension to either the front or rear of the track. Adding track is easy & cheaper than recutting sails. Maybe you just need to run next to the toerail. The last jib I did new track for was a 90% & it required a track that ran at an angle to the boat's centerline. That's why you need so many dimensions. With a 155% you may just need to extend the existing track farther aft. If you don't want to set the boat up for a 155% you may be money ahead selling it as a new 155% & buying a 110% if that is what you need. Cutting a large sail into a much smaller one doesn't always work well. The bigger sail is usually built for lighter air & is cut differently & made from lighter material than a heavy air sail. So it won't be a good 110% even if it is a great 155%. I'd do a little more research before I let him cut that sail down very much. It could possibly be a great 150 or 145% that would fit on the existing track. I don't know how much too short the track is. Get advice from several sailmakers about cutting it down and/or extending the track. Then decide.
Bigger is Better
You can use a 155 on a Hunter 25.5, I had a sobstad made up for my boat. The trick is you have to use some turning blocks attached to the toerail waaaaaaay back past where the jib tracks end in order to flatten the foot. You also have to be wary of chaffing on the lifelines, and it helps to have someone walk it across when tacking. It's a little bit more of a hassle to use but when the wind is light it's well worth the effort.
You can use a 155 on a Hunter 25.5, I had a sobstad made up for my boat. The trick is you have to use some turning blocks attached to the toerail waaaaaaay back past where the jib tracks end in order to flatten the foot. You also have to be wary of chaffing on the lifelines, and it helps to have someone walk it across when tacking. It's a little bit more of a hassle to use but when the wind is light it's well worth the effort.
thanks guys......
Thanks for your comments and ideas. My sail maker is checking with the other 25.5 owners he has built 155's for to see what they did to fly their 155's. You guys are right. I should of did more home work. Ignorance is no excuse. Also there is no way to cut a 155 down. It's looking more like I'll have to keep this sail and add a bunch of track to the boat so I can sail it in light air. Then fork out a another $grand to get a 110% made for heavier air conditions. What a mess...what a bummer... Ted
Thanks for your comments and ideas. My sail maker is checking with the other 25.5 owners he has built 155's for to see what they did to fly their 155's. You guys are right. I should of did more home work. Ignorance is no excuse. Also there is no way to cut a 155 down. It's looking more like I'll have to keep this sail and add a bunch of track to the boat so I can sail it in light air. Then fork out a another $grand to get a 110% made for heavier air conditions. What a mess...what a bummer... Ted
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