Mainsail/Headsail

[oldiesrocker2001]

I would have to agree with Bad Obsession. While my Venture is considerably smaller than most of the rigs in this thread, I use the main first and then add the jib. Despite being a masthead rig, the jib is too small for anything other than running with the wind and I was never able to point the boat enough to complete any tack. Perhaps a larger sail would generate enough force of effort midships to be more effective, but I use the jib mainly to balance the rig in all but the heaviest wind(when the admiral is already giving me that "the next turn better be towards the dock!" look) when the jib gets furled. :stirthepot:

 

[David in Sandusky]

Mainsail supports the mast

It's my understanding that the mainsail supports and stabilizes the mast by putting a smooth pressure on it from the rear, reducing the chance of buckling.

It doesn't much matter which sail in light winds. But flying a 150 on a reach in heavy winds puts a tremendous compression pressure on the mast without the support of the main - buckling is more likely.

Our main is always first up and last down. So we almost always have the genny deployed to some extent unless we are motor-sailing.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I think that the main stabilizes the boat a lot. I noticed that I develop a roll in my boat when I am sailing downwind with just the jib. I believe it is because the clew is unsupported and the rigidness of a boom helps in those situations.

 

[Benny]

It depends on the boat and configuration. A working jib will render different results than a 155% Genoa and a high aspect main will render different results than a large roach main. Whether the headsail is on a furler or not will influence the choice and nowadays whether the main is on a furler will also will also add to the choices. The advantage of lazy sailing with the main is that it can act as a self tending sail just requiring slow tacks. With the headsail you still have to man the sheets. I find that manuevering in close quarters is done a lot easier with the main.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Saildog- I measured the track on my boat. There are 4 tracks. Two short ones on the coach roof and two long ones above the rub rail. They are all 1' wide by 3/32" thick.

 

[sailingdog]

That makes sense, as those are the lighter tracks, usually found on smaller boats. One reason I probably have the heavier 1.25" track on my boat is because it is a multihull, and as such has higher loads on the sheets... since it can't bleed off excess pressure by heeling to any great degree.

Saildog- I measured the track on my boat. There are 4 tracks. Two short ones on the coach roof and two long ones above the rub rail. They are all 1' wide by 3/32" thick.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

Scott,

Did you make a decision on which sail you will use first?

Jon

 

[Hermit Scott]

I think I am going to put the jib on first just because it's a roller furler and it will be protected. The main sail cover I have is pretty ratty.
I haven't been working on my boat because where my boat is in the marina there is no power. I think I am going to move it to one with power just so I can work on it. There is only a handful of people in this whole marina. Those that want power have extention cords ran 100' or more down the docks.

 

[NC-C320]

Wire/Rope Halyards

Hermit,

Just a question....if you have wire/rope halyards now, why are you changing them to all rope (with the added expense)? Why not use the ones you have now? I suspect that the existing ones may be old, dirty, even green in color (if they are like the ones I used for 22 yrs. on my previous boat). But that doesn't mean that they won't work. I've noticed on lots of threads on a number of different forums, that when people purchase an older boat, especially those that fit into the project category (and I'm not sure yours does), that one of the first things they do is to spend lots of money on new standing rigging (wire shouds and stays) and all the running rigging (halyards, sheets). In most cases, I doubt that these owners even have a clue as to whether these need to be replaced....sure, nice new shiney stainless steel rigging and good clean, and probably color coded sheets are nice, but they cost lots of money. If one has the money to spend, fine, but if one is, at the time, constrained by a tight budget, why not use the old ones until money becomes more available. Also, I curious as to where the original jib lead blocks are...it seems odd that you have a boat without these (unless some previous owner, like the second owner of my old boat did, decided that these were not really needed and did away with them)? After I sold my old boat (a 28 ft. Kells), the next owner used it for 3 years with the same halyards and sheets (except he did add a roller furler for jib and associated equipment to that). Those dirty old halyards and sheets worked fine, looked like heck, but worked fine. Also, I never recognized any problems with the wire/rope halyards..they worked fine. The next (third) owner, was going to upgrade the boat...true to form, the first thing he did was to replace all the halyards with pretty new all rope halyards. Next, he decided that he really didn't need the jib block cars and the associated tracks...then there was lots more, took off the rudder for some reason (it worked fine), but he did lots of sanding, grinding and such. But he never, ever took the boat sailing and it lies abandoned in one of the local yards. If you can, use the old gear until you can replace it. Good luck and hope you get to sail soon. Also, either mainsail only or jib only will, in my opinion, keep things tamer until you and wife are comfortable with sailing. Then add the second sail.

 

[NC-C320]

Your Boat

Hermit....

P.S. I went to your My Space site. You've done a really good job and the boat looks great. Now, go sailing (even if it means using the old halyards and sheet temporarily).

 

[Cpt. Jon]

NC-C320 - you make a good point. I haven't seen his halyards and don't know the condition. I recently purchased a H-30 with some pretty old running rigging. In fact, when I first saw it I figured it's the first thing I need to replace, but we've sailed with it a number of times now and it's holding up. I have ordered new mainsail and headsail halyards (from this site) and they will hopefully arrive in the near future, but in the meantime, I continue to use the old ones on the boat even though they are in fairly rough condition. It would suck to have on fail and then have to go up top to put the new one in, but I already need to get up there to check things out and to install a new windvane, kinda scared me tbh.

I think NC-C320 is right and maybe you can re-evaluate your running rigging and if it looks good enough just give it a try. Don't go out sailing your first time in small craft advisory, take it out on a nice and easy (not the forum member) day with 5-10 kts wind and get used to the boat under sail.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I don't have any running rigging. I could continue to use the wire halyard, I could just replace the rope section though. I think the PO took the jib cars off and used them on another sailboat he refitted.

 

[Joe]

Well, I'm going to throw a wrench in the gear box here and advise Hermit to get both sails rigged before going out. Or at least take some sailing lessons.... or at least catch a ride on someone else's sailboat. My experience on my little Cat 27, very similar in design to the Cat 30, is that it tacks like a pig under main only in light air. Very difficult.

Hermit should use the smallest headsail at first, because it is the easiest to handle. When he tacks the boat he can center the traveller, cleat the mainsheet and let the untended boom come accross on its own. That way he can concentrate on getting the jib accross.... then put his attention on the main.

 

[MrBee]

Dont NEED

I want to get my sails up. I have some work and parts to buy for both sails, so I want to get one up at a time, and sail with just one in the meantime.
For the jib I need sheets, a halyard and the cars that the sheets go through before they get to the winch.
For the main I need a boom vang, main sheet and halyard.
Since we have plenty of wind where I am, should I get the main up first or the jib up first?

You don't "NEED" a boom vang ! yes it is a nice addition but it is NOT a must have to raise the main. Do I want one... yes but not sailing because you don't have a vang is like not driving the car because you don't have a stereo..

If you have to choose, raise the sail first that will be the cheapest to get you on the water !!

Bee

 

[Hermit Scott]

MrBee-I am on the water. I use my sailboat like a real slow power boat.
I have one headsail that is bigger than the other. It is labeled 130. Is this a genoa? or still just called a jib?

 

[MrBee]

Hermit, i'm also still learning.
Glad your on the water even if it is motoring, but sailing is the objective.
I'm not sure but I think the 130 would be considered a genoa. that's about the size that's on my boat. Also, we just bought our boat a few weeks ago and it has wire-rope halyards. I have them on the list to replace but have moved them WAY down to the bottom. They work fine and there are other more important items to spend our limited budget on. We are interested in Comfort sailing first then fast sailing, so comfort items like a bimini and swim ladder are ahead of new (used) sails and running all lines to the cockpit. Right now I go to the mast to raise the main.

If you have ZERO running rigging, but do have the Halyards (I think they consider Halyard as running rigging) then add the Main sheet and go sail with the Main. If you HAVE to replace the rope part of the Halyard then you just have to, but if it just looks rough it might be ok. Mine don't look very nice but they are large diameter and even though they look rough they seem strong and have plenty of life left in them.

Happy sailing/motoring. Keep you eye's on Craigslist and ebay. I just bought 3/8" sta-set for my furler off ebay, brand new at about 40% off. Also just got a Safty tether for less than half of new price and it is new, well known brand name.

It is difficult for me to stay in the budget, so many things we "Want" it's hard to just look for what we Need.

Brian
Keep us posted on what you do and how it works for you, I'm interested.

 

[MrBee]

just checked out your myspace, lot's of work going on there. looking good.
I lived in Longview, Tx (north/East) for several years but never made it down to your area. Didn't sail back then. Now live back home in South east Pa. and sail the Chesapeake bay.
Brian