Jib Height Off the Deck

[shank]

I have an 82 Catalina 27 and I believe one of the headsails is original to the boat which is a hank-on 110 working jib. The tack is attached by 2-3 shackles pieced together which raises it a just few inches off the deck. A friend called it a deck sweeper. I'm guessing there's no one answer to this question but is there a general rule about how much a sail this size should be off of the deck? I would like to raise it even just a little for better visibility. I hate the sail because it's completely worn out and like flying a bed sheet and will replace it probably next season but wondering if I could make some adjustments until then.

 

[sail sfbay]

Unless you are racing and want a deck sweeper Genoa with a crew member on bow then get a jib that is sufficiently off the deck to provide a window you can see through.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Lower is better for performance for a few reasons - A lower center of effort means less heeling, having the sail against the deck creates an "end plate" so air can't escape below the sail wasting energy, and it means the sail itself can be larger.

Having said all that, raising the sail definitely can provide better visibility, so it could be a worthwhile compromise in some situations. A new sail could also be cut with a higher clew to make visibility better.

A line as a pendant to let the sail come up higher would be a more elegant solution and probably give more options for height adjustment than that arrangement of shackles though. If strength is a concern use dyneema.

 

[jssailem]

Do you have room at the top to further raise the sail?

You can replace the mixture of shackles with a length of line or wire (sometimes called a jib pendant or painter) it will allow you to raise the jib to the top of the forestay.

If the jib all the way to the top of the forestay, you can take the sail to a loft and have it recut. They use the term “Yankee” for a jib with the foot cut higher

 

[shank]

Thanks for the responses. Yes, I have a good 3-4 ft of space between the head of the jib and the top of the forestay when it's rigged now which makes me think maybe the sail is not the right size for the boat. I'm going out this afternoon and I'll try to rig up a jib pendant to raise it up further. I guess I'll just raise it high enough so I can see ahead while seated in the cockpit without going too high to not reduce performance as @Davidasailor26 described.

Thanks again

 

[RoyS]

For most coastal cruisers, as opposed to racers or blue water sailors, higher is better IMHO. While more speed is available in lower winds with a deck sweeper (as much as a knot or two), this is at the expense of visibility. If you really want to experience uncomfortable, blind sailing, add a dodger. If you can still see where you are going, add a large golden retriever to the cabin top and just hope for the best. As mentioned above, if you have space above your head sail, you can add a pendant line between the tack and the deck and raise the sail. Personally, I like to see the entire horizon in front of me while sailing. I sail in a sea of lobster pots, some cleverly camouflaged to blend in with the sea colors. In a typical cruising day, I have to dodge about fifty lobster pots and need to see them.

 

[shank]

Sounds exciting, Roy! I just got back from Brooklin, ME on Deer Isle to visit the Wooden Boat School and while it truly is a sailing paradise, I don't see how you guys avoid those bouys and all of that gear out there. Seems like you can practically walk across some of those coves they are so choked with traps.

I like visibility too so I'm going to try the pendant this afternoon and see how it goes.

Thanks for the response.