I've decided to replace my mainsail which is the original sail that came with my boat vintage 1981. My question concerns the merits of a (1) vs (2) reef point sail. I purchased an new jib last year from an sailmker online which I was very satitisfied. Their (2) reef point sail costs almost $300 more than a (1) reef sail. The (2) reef sail has a heavier sail cloth & cunningham. Do you think the (2) reef sail is worth the extra cost and is there a justifiable advantage to this sail vs a (1) reef sail? I've only sailed a few hours so I'm hardly an expert to make this descision. Thanks for your input. Pete
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Spend the money
I feel the Hunter 22 is over "canvassed," and the second reef point comes in handy. It's easy for them to add it now rather than later. garyg
I feel the Hunter 22 is over "canvassed," and the second reef point comes in handy. It's easy for them to add it now rather than later. garyg
You seem
to have mixed up reef points with sail cloth weight. If you are buying a new sail from a loft, you, the buyer, ought to be able to specify a number of factors, like numbers of reef point and cloth weight. What you specify if a function of how and where you sail, and of course your budget. For example, I sail a H28.5 on the Chesapeake, which mostly has light winds and I don't formally race. I replaced a 2 reef point main with a single reef point main as I hardly ever reef and when I do, one reef point works well -- or the sail just comes down. I also specified 6.5 oz Dacron cloth as that has the performance, cost, and longevity characteristics I desired. If you are having a sail, made, disucss all this with your sailmaker who, if he is any good, will be delighted to go over the pros and cons of all the options you can order on a new sail.
to have mixed up reef points with sail cloth weight. If you are buying a new sail from a loft, you, the buyer, ought to be able to specify a number of factors, like numbers of reef point and cloth weight. What you specify if a function of how and where you sail, and of course your budget. For example, I sail a H28.5 on the Chesapeake, which mostly has light winds and I don't formally race. I replaced a 2 reef point main with a single reef point main as I hardly ever reef and when I do, one reef point works well -- or the sail just comes down. I also specified 6.5 oz Dacron cloth as that has the performance, cost, and longevity characteristics I desired. If you are having a sail, made, disucss all this with your sailmaker who, if he is any good, will be delighted to go over the pros and cons of all the options you can order on a new sail.
is it beyond the point of no return?
Why not repair it or is it in that bad of shape? I'm going to be sending my main sail out at the end of the season to be repaired. Its is also a fraction of the cost of replacing the sail.
Why not repair it or is it in that bad of shape? I'm going to be sending my main sail out at the end of the season to be repaired. Its is also a fraction of the cost of replacing the sail.
It is hard to envision a 1981 mainsail . .
that is good enough to clean/repair without doing a recut too. The exception is maybe one that has been in storage about 10 years. I had the main on my Cal 2-25 cleaned and repaired (minor stuff) and after using it for a few months, realized it was really stretched out and should have been recut. The expense of doing that would have been just a few boat units from a new one so I consider what I did a mistake. IOW, I now have a very clean main in good repair that doesn't sail worth a tinkers dam. My advice would be to get a new one with 2 reef points in the same weight as the single-reef version (I used to own an H22 and agree that she gets over powered quickly) Good Luck!
that is good enough to clean/repair without doing a recut too. The exception is maybe one that has been in storage about 10 years. I had the main on my Cal 2-25 cleaned and repaired (minor stuff) and after using it for a few months, realized it was really stretched out and should have been recut. The expense of doing that would have been just a few boat units from a new one so I consider what I did a mistake. IOW, I now have a very clean main in good repair that doesn't sail worth a tinkers dam. My advice would be to get a new one with 2 reef points in the same weight as the single-reef version (I used to own an H22 and agree that she gets over powered quickly) Good Luck!
Warren...
Warren, Admittedly, I'm a novice sailor but I do know the difference between the wieght of sail cloth and a reef point. The sailmaker I purchased a jib from last year has sails available for almost any sailboat but you purchase them from the specs they offer. Examples for an H22 are sails w/one reef & full battens @ 5 oz to (2) reefs and 6 oz cloth, cunningham, double, triple stitch & reinforcing, etc etc.. They have hundreds of sails ready to ship for almost any sailboat but the tradeoff is buying from their specs. They categorize their sails in three categories, Standard OEM, Coastal & Offshore. As you go from OEM to Offshore you gain reefs, weight, reinforcing and stitching etc. etc. The jib I bought last year cost me around $400.00 for a 110%. A 30 year sailor I met last year on a lake asked me about my jib and told me it was a great sail and when I told him what I paid for it he said it was an absolute steal. Then asked me where I got it. I told him that I ordered it online and recieved it within 10 days. I haven't sailed enough to appreciate reef points etc. and that's why I posted the question but with the feedback I have recieved I will go with the 2 reef mainsail and also a storm jib. The storm jib costs around $200.00 and from what little I already know I think it would be nice to have when the wind kicks up. Thanks to all here for their feedback. I really do appreciate it. Pete
Warren, Admittedly, I'm a novice sailor but I do know the difference between the wieght of sail cloth and a reef point. The sailmaker I purchased a jib from last year has sails available for almost any sailboat but you purchase them from the specs they offer. Examples for an H22 are sails w/one reef & full battens @ 5 oz to (2) reefs and 6 oz cloth, cunningham, double, triple stitch & reinforcing, etc etc.. They have hundreds of sails ready to ship for almost any sailboat but the tradeoff is buying from their specs. They categorize their sails in three categories, Standard OEM, Coastal & Offshore. As you go from OEM to Offshore you gain reefs, weight, reinforcing and stitching etc. etc. The jib I bought last year cost me around $400.00 for a 110%. A 30 year sailor I met last year on a lake asked me about my jib and told me it was a great sail and when I told him what I paid for it he said it was an absolute steal. Then asked me where I got it. I told him that I ordered it online and recieved it within 10 days. I haven't sailed enough to appreciate reef points etc. and that's why I posted the question but with the feedback I have recieved I will go with the 2 reef mainsail and also a storm jib. The storm jib costs around $200.00 and from what little I already know I think it would be nice to have when the wind kicks up. Thanks to all here for their feedback. I really do appreciate it. Pete
2nd Reef Point
There's another maybe less obvious reason to get a sail with two reef points:Flexibility. A sail with one reef may be a realy 'deep' all purpose reef, while a sail with two reefs gives you an intermediate position as well as a little deeper 2nd reef. With the extra flexibility, you may mostly use the first reef, keeping a little more power in the rig than the deep single reef and have the second for serrious conditions. I have never gone out with my 2nd reef tied in, because those conditions made me question being out at all; but sure enough the day did come when we were out overnight and the next morning it was seriously blowing like stink. I tied in the 2nd reef and was glad to be able de-power the sail that much. With a 22, I asume you are outboard powered,and if you are sailing out of Tampa Bay there may be times when it's safer to reef and sail back in than try to punch thru waves with an outboard cavitating.
There's another maybe less obvious reason to get a sail with two reef points:Flexibility. A sail with one reef may be a realy 'deep' all purpose reef, while a sail with two reefs gives you an intermediate position as well as a little deeper 2nd reef. With the extra flexibility, you may mostly use the first reef, keeping a little more power in the rig than the deep single reef and have the second for serrious conditions. I have never gone out with my 2nd reef tied in, because those conditions made me question being out at all; but sure enough the day did come when we were out overnight and the next morning it was seriously blowing like stink. I tied in the 2nd reef and was glad to be able de-power the sail that much. With a 22, I asume you are outboard powered,and if you are sailing out of Tampa Bay there may be times when it's safer to reef and sail back in than try to punch thru waves with an outboard cavitating.
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