Need Advice

[sailsomeday]

Greetings All, I'm looking at a new suit of sails. I'm going to a furling system and was wondering if a 150 headsail with the foam for added shape will be to much for the 1985 H-23 ? Any thing I need to be aware of other than having to add a genoa track and adjustable cars. I have to get the furler above deck. That model has the anchor locker. I appreciate all advice !!!!

 

[isaksp00]

I would not think the 150 would be too much, especially with roller furling. I have a genoa, but since I bought it used, I don't really know what size it is - I'd guess 130 to 150.

On mine, the prev owner or more likely rigger attached two pairs of stainless straps to get the furler drum above the anchor locker. One pair is about half the length from the chain plate up to the deck, and the two straps (about an inch wide, maybe 1.5) straddle the chain plate, with a clevis pin and cotter pin attaching these to the chain plate. Think of a sandwich, with the chain plate the "meat." These are bolted to each side of another pair of straps with a pair of stainless bolts and friction nuts. I suppose you could use one longer set of straps; I don't know why they did it this way, other than maybe they only had shorter lengths of strap in stock. The lower end of the drum attaches to the upper straps. I think there's an extra set of toggles, I can't recall, but that would depend on the way the furler you buy works.

 

[Deucer]

I'm not familiar with the 23, but from pictures I've seen, it appears to have a B&R rig. If that's correct, you might want to rethink your use of a genoa. According to one source (Hunter?), " This backstayless design allows for a more efficient mainsail with a larger roach for increased performance. This means less work for the crew in that the power sail is the main."

Adding more headsail might make the sail plan unbalanced. My H260 is wonderfully balanced with a roller furler jib. If the current sail plan pushes you up to hull speed in 9-10kt winds, a larger headsail won't make it any faster.

 

[John A12737]

Deuces: aren't you thinking of the 23.5? I thought the 23 had a back stay, and is the little sister to my 26.5. If so, go for the 150, it will make a difference in lighter air.

 

[isaksp00]

My 23 (a '91 hull) does have a split backstay. I am pretty sure these are B&R rigs, in that the spreaders are swept back and the forestay is not at the very top of the mast.

 

[sailsomeday]

Your right isakspOO, Its an 85 and I appreciate the advice. I just applied the bootstrip this weekend and a few other items. I've been sail shopping and still haven't settled on a Loft. I know I can bundle the headsail with a furler as a package and that's a good deal.

 

[C Jones]

I was advised to not go over a 135 on my h23 and that was good advice. Mine is on a furler and easily furls when needed. My 3 year old genoa is a "Gus sails" 135 and my new main is a FX. Good luck with yours, Charles

 

[sailsomeday]

Thanks

Yeah I think your right. They do have their limitations. I know Lake Pontchartrain can get rough. It's shallow (20ft) or less. I think I'd be dumping a lot of $ with a 150. The deck gear installed now will handle a 135.
I can't wait to get on the water.

 

[Brian M H23]

You could always get a wire-luffed 150 and hoist it with the now-free jib halyard if you want a "drifter"

 

[C Jones]

Or you could do the 200 Gennaker on a furler like mine. The last pictures in my profile show it. Charles

 

[Deucer]

Deuces: aren't you thinking of the 23.5? I thought the 23 had a back stay, and is the little sister to my 26.5. If so, go for the 150, it will make a difference in lighter air.

John, I Googled 23 and the picture looked like it was a B&R rig. With a little more research, I found that early B&R rigs had a back stay. That being, you lose some of the advantage of the rig (a larger main unhindered by a back stay). I'd still be a little cautious about getting a genoa too big for the boat. While you could reef, a reefed sail is a lot less efficient than one that's fulling deployed (matter of air flow over the fore stay). Guess the real question is, "How much time to you think you'd use the Genoa all the way out?" With a smaller boat, it wouldn't take much wind to overpower and you'd have t furl. Even in a larger boat like my 260, much above 12kts, and I'm thinking about either furling or enjoying the terrified look on the admiral's face.

My advise is to find out what came with the boat and stick with that. If you really want to go fast, then by a dedicated one class boat that has a lot of history with racing (e.g. J24).

 

[Brian M H23]

A B&R Rig has diagonals; the Hunter 23 is a fractional rig, but definitely not B&R. Those masts can have the curvature tuned into them sitting on sawhorses because they're strung like a bow, the stays that connect it to the boat just keep it upright.