Jib Tack Extension Cable

[tomgrigsby]

On my 79 Hunter 30 the PO installed a cable about 18" long for the jib tack to lift it off the deck. I presume this is to improve forward visibility. I used to to the same thing on my previous boat, a Catalina 22.
I am now doing a little gentlemanly racing on weekends, and a crafty old fellow with a 82 Hunter 30 is cleaning my clock. (his has a roller furler btw). What is the prevailing wisdom regarding the tack point. Should I put it back on the deck, at least for the races?

 

[Todd Smith]

You would need to get a new jib that is full hoist from the tack point to the mast. That's a lot of area to give up. Maybe the PO had a full size jib before he added the cable, if you got it with the boat, use it.

 

[Don Guillette]

Tim: I’m not sure if your boat is a masthead or fractional rig. Let’s assume it is a masthead rig (for you masthead rig guys). The jib halyard controls, along with a couple of other controls, draft position and draft depth. Unfortunately, most sailors do not use the jib halyard for anything – they merely set it and forget it. I don’t blame them because I hated using the jib halyard for adjustment because my jib halyard is not led back to the cockpit. I had to adjust it at the mast. My solution was a jib cunnigham. I had Garhaurer build me the smallest soft vang they could and I installed a small pad eye on the bow for an attachment point and the other end attached to the jib tack. The other end was led back to the cockpit. This setup allowed for minute jib adjustments.

Here’s my suggestion – eliminate the 18” pigtail and install a jib Cunningham. Then spend a couple of practice sessions learning how to trim the jib with your new control Then go out and give your friend a GO.

 

[tomgrigsby]

Guilty. I set the halyard and rarely adjust it because I have to go to the mast. I really like the cunningham idea. Great, Thanks!

 

[Joe]

Why don't you remove the pendant and tack the sail down to the deck and see if you can get more speed. I'll bet you competition's doing more than that though. How often do you clean your boat's bottom? What is the condition of your sails? What size headsail are you running, and what size is the other guy using? Check the fore and aft trim and redistribute ballast if need be.

 

[tomgrigsby]

Joe
To be sure, that crafty old devil is doing all sorts of things. I sailed with him for two races before taking my own boat out. That was very helpful, but of course age and treachery will overcome youth and skill. I'm trying to isolate things a bit at a time and wondered if anyone had specific info on putting the tack on the deck. I'm trying the relatively inexpensive things at this point. I had a diver scrub the bottom, and I sweep it about once a month. I just added a boom vang. I'm running a 130 genoa. Don't have a track for the jib/genoa sheet blocks, but I just picked up an idea from one of the other threads about running another line up through a turning block further forward and to a free block on the sheet to effectively STEP on it and pull the point forward to tighten the leech without having to move the block forward.
I'm just really curious if the tack point makes a difference. Most of the roller furlers that I see put the jib/genny effectively up off the deck by necessity. I have a choice, and it's free! I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions, Thanks!

 

[Jim Kolstoe]

I think you want to use a shorter pig-tail, at least for racing. Because the foot of your jib is up so high, the air is free to spill from the higher pressure side (windward) to the lower pressure side along the foot. If you have a deck sweeper or semi-deck sweeper sail, then this problem is reduced or eliminated, making your sail more efficient. Additionally, you'll be lowering your center of effort for that sail, and ultimately for your entire sail plan, making your boat feel more stable. However, I have to agree that the better idea is using a bigger (ie full hoist) jib or genoa.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo

 

[tomgrigsby]

Thanks Jim. I was wondering about that too. I can put the tack right on deck and will give that a go next race. No budget right now for more sails - just trying to get the best out of what I have.