Minimum Effective Sail Size

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ibero

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Nov 20, 2011
2
Rhodes 22 22 Seneca Falls, NY


Sell one like this
21' Luff 7' 9" foot North Sails Sailboat Sail New Roller Furling Jib



I have a Rhodes 22...Need to replace sails. The mainsail measured 22 on the luff and 8.8 on the Foot...Will a replacement sail with a 21 ft. luff and a 7' 9'' foot work well with it? what is the smallest sail I could get that will not look stupid?....Sorry for the novice question...
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
What size will it be with a double reef?
 
Ted

Ted

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Jan 26, 2005
1,272
C&C 110 Bay Shore, Long Island, NY
The size of the sail is not your problem. You can't replace a mainsail with a roller furling jib even if the sizes are similar. And yes, it would look stupid. :eek:
 
rardiH36

rardiH36

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Jun 21, 2007
2,117
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
Are you talking about purchasing a full price brand-new sail, or a great condition second hand $150 bargain your local sail loft?

Certainly if buying/ordering new -- get the correct size sail for your boat.

If its a great condition second-hand sail just a little bit small at a price you can't resist, and you don't need those few extra 1/10's of a knot for the typical afternoon weekend day sail, then why not?

For used sails, pay attention that the sail to mast/boom attachment method matches your boat. Converting a sail, such as buying and installing new sail slides can add considerable $'s to the original cost.
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,164
CC 30 South Florida
Considering that you would be replacing the main sail and that slugs fit and that it would have at least one reef point you can use that sail. It will just be one foot short. Perhaps you could raise the boom to increase headroom if needed. Storm sail are way smaller than that and they don't look stupid unless being used in calm weather. You will just be short a few square feet of canvas but should hardly be noticeable unless you intend to race.
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,708
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
Of course it will look a bit small on your boat and you will sail slower. If you are willing to live with those caveats, go for it.
 
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Doug L

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Sep 9, 2006
80
South Coast 22 MI
I would thing that a sail that is a foot short on luff and foot would be OK, you loose a little speed in great conditions, but do not have to reef so soon in less great conditions. I will say, my idea of what is OK and what looks stupid is not the same as my wife's. She tends to think that more sail always looks better. Who says that size is not important?!
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,175
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
ibero said:


Sell one like this
21' Luff 7' 9" foot North Sails Sailboat Sail New Roller Furling Jib



I have a Rhodes 22...Need to replace sails. The mainsail measured 22 on the luff and 8.8 on the Foot...Will a replacement sail with a 21 ft. luff and a 7' 9'' foot work well with it? what is the smallest sail I could get that will not look stupid?....Sorry for the novice question...
Click to expand
Go to any online sailmaker and read up on how to measure your boat for sails and make the correct selection. A head sail is cut way different than a mainsail.... on a mainsail the leading edge (luff) is at right angle to the bottom edge (foot) the part that connects to the boom. A headsail, however, rarely has any right angles and also requires a different attachment mechanism for the luff...... Here's a good sight to get started with your education: www.thesailwarehouse.com
 
I

ibero

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Nov 20, 2011
2
Rhodes 22 22 Seneca Falls, NY
Thanks for the responses...In summary I could use a furling jib that is one foot shorter on luff and foot to replace a larger headsail which is also a furling type.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
YUP! the sails that you get with a boat are sized for the average weather. They are much to big for winds above 18 knots and much too small for winds less than six knots.
 
B

Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,792
- -- -Bayfield
I wonder if anyone reads the original post. Jib for a main? Did he say that? I don't think so. That main you mentioned would work ok, but it would be a little smaller than spec, but it would work. So, if it is a budget issue and the sail is in good shape, then go for it. You should look at Bacon and Associates (Bacon Sails) in Annapolis, MD on Legion Avenue. They have thousands of sails to search through and you can do it by boat model or sizing. They are a great source for used sails.
 
R

Ray Bowles

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Oct 6, 2008
857
Hunter, Island Packet, Catalina, San Juan 26,38,22,23 Kettle Falls, Washington
On the original post Ibero said the sail is a roller furling jib headsail. If that is correct and this sail is to be used as a mainsail then there are a bunch of problems. When you stand a jib up so the luff is vertical then the foot is going to run uphill at a fairly good angle. That won't work on a boom.
Ibero, if you could come back and clarify what the use will be that would help. If indeed it is a jib and you want to use it as a mainsail the cost of modifications to make it work would be high verses buying a good used mainsail from one of the used sail dealers.
Ray
 
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