New Headsail Adjustments
- Thread starter shank
- Start date
What is the situation at the head of the sail? Photos? Of course you can add a pennant at the foot.
It looks to me like the sail needs halyard tension. Is the top of the at the sheave or stopper? If so, I think it may be too long.
Nevertheless it is a deck sweeper and interference with the pulpit or lifeline is normal. If I had a nickel for every jib I've seen with an imprint of a lifeline on it ...
Nevertheless it is a deck sweeper and interference with the pulpit or lifeline is normal. If I had a nickel for every jib I've seen with an imprint of a lifeline on it ...
To me, it looks like, when close hauled, the sail should be inside the lifelines when trimmed. That will give you the best performance when going into the wind. Of course, off the wind, it will have to drape over the lifelines as you ease it out. I assume you have genoa tracks on the deck inside the lifelines. If your boat does not have inboard tracks and there are tracks outside your lifelines, then either the sail has to be modified so the clew is higher and the sail is not a deck sweeper anymore, or you can add a pennant per your suggestion. Your photo shows that the luff of the sail has not been raised the full extent. If the head of the sail is topping off at the top, then the leading edge of the sail is too long and needs to go back to the sailmaker for a proper fit (to shorten the luff). If you just don't have the sail hoisted to its full extent when you took the photo, then that is what we are seeing. Personally I would not put a pennant at the tack if there are inboard genoa tracks.
Too much scalloping on the luff of the sail, which is why we're questioning if the sail is fully hoisted. Looks like the luff is too long for your forestay.
The foot of most general purpose jibs is below the lifeline at the tack. This allows for a larger sail and more power. Some sailors have the sail cut with a higher foot, mostly for visibility or for use as a storm jib.
Your sail is not set correctly or it is too large for your boat. The luff should not have deep scallops in it. The luff should be fairly taut. Make certain you have the sail fully hoisted and post more photos of the sail and the top of the sail so we can see if the sail is fully hoisted.
Your sail is not set correctly or it is too large for your boat. The luff should not have deep scallops in it. The luff should be fairly taut. Make certain you have the sail fully hoisted and post more photos of the sail and the top of the sail so we can see if the sail is fully hoisted.
Hi Shank.
Your I.D photo has a large foresail or a small genoa.
It seems that the new sail that you ordered is not the same.
If you cannot hoist the new one high enough (with a pennant set on the tack) I would send the new sail back and try again.
Sailing with that sail will be a hassle, an eyesore that you will never be satisfied with and will wear at the contact points very quickly.
gary
Your I.D photo has a large foresail or a small genoa.
It seems that the new sail that you ordered is not the same.
If you cannot hoist the new one high enough (with a pennant set on the tack) I would send the new sail back and try again.
Sailing with that sail will be a hassle, an eyesore that you will never be satisfied with and will wear at the contact points very quickly.
gary
With the scalloped luff you boat will not point as a masthead rig should. Masthead jibs really like a nice clean entry to perform well. In light wind some speed wrinkles are OK but not scallops.
In addition, if you can’t tighten the luff you cannot move the draft forward which is generally good for upwind performance. I don’t want to get into the weeds but a draft forward shape is generally considered easier to helm and forgiving. A very flat entry points better but is twitchy. On Average a draft forward shape is desirable for recreational sailing. When I say draft forward I mean the deepest draft of the sail should be around 60% forward.
In addition, if you can’t tighten the luff you cannot move the draft forward which is generally good for upwind performance. I don’t want to get into the weeds but a draft forward shape is generally considered easier to helm and forgiving. A very flat entry points better but is twitchy. On Average a draft forward shape is desirable for recreational sailing. When I say draft forward I mean the deepest draft of the sail should be around 60% forward.
Looking at the photo @garymalmgren posted, the luff on the main looks too short. Or the main is not fully hoisted. Look at the photo below "borrowed" from Sailboatdata.com notice the location of the sail's head, it is just inches from the top of the mast.
If I were you I'd contact Rolly Tasker and tell them your sail is too big. It doesn't fit... the vertical hoist is incorrect. Regardless of the pulpit rail's interference, the sail is NOT hoisted all the way. That is a big problem and you will have serious performance issues if not deat with. \
Before you call, measure your sail, Luff, Leech, Foot and LP (luff perpendicular). Go to the rolly tasker website and read everything in the "how to measure your boat for sail's" section. Get yourself educated on how sails are measure and constructed. Then take a few pictures showing the sail completely.
When you call, you must be ready to present your evidence. Rolly Tasker is the largest sailmaker in the world, based in Thailand, I believe, but they have reps in this country and you should be able to get adequate service... they may offer to re cut the sail or send you a new one. I would insist on having the recut sail or at least a new sail's dimensions verified.
Good Luck..... be firm... I think they will help you.
PS Looking at the website I notice they have a few additional boats associated with the Catalina 27's Standard/OEM jib.... this could be the root of the problem.
I think we need to see the top of the sail before we give that advice. We don't know how much room still remains before the sheave.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,522
The Catalina 27 is a Masthead sloop.
"I bought a stock hankon headsail for a Catalina 27. I put it on for the first sail and it's hitting the bow pulpit and lifelines. Would adding a pendant and raising the tack off the deck help with this issue?"
The simple answer is yes. A pendant that raises the tack will help with the issue of the sail lying against the pulpit and life lines.
The sailors here recognize that the image shows a sail luff that is not tight against the forestay. This implies that the sail is not fully raised. If the head of the foresail is not near the top of the mast, then you can add a pendant to the tack and raise the sail above the lifelines. If there is no room to raise the sail, then the sail may be the wrong size for your boat. I say may because some sails are designed as sweepers. They are intentionally long, and the foot of the sail "sweeps across the deck" to maximize the sail area and capture all of the wind available.
| Est. Forestay Length: | 36.29 ft / 11.06 m |
"I bought a stock hankon headsail for a Catalina 27. I put it on for the first sail and it's hitting the bow pulpit and lifelines. Would adding a pendant and raising the tack off the deck help with this issue?"
The simple answer is yes. A pendant that raises the tack will help with the issue of the sail lying against the pulpit and life lines.
The sailors here recognize that the image shows a sail luff that is not tight against the forestay. This implies that the sail is not fully raised. If the head of the foresail is not near the top of the mast, then you can add a pendant to the tack and raise the sail above the lifelines. If there is no room to raise the sail, then the sail may be the wrong size for your boat. I say may because some sails are designed as sweepers. They are intentionally long, and the foot of the sail "sweeps across the deck" to maximize the sail area and capture all of the wind available.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,522
Surely, @jdhohmann, you have seen a high-cut jib or a yankee sail in your North Eastern waters.
It's not the length of the luff that determines whether the sail's foot clears the lifelines or is a "decksweeper". It's the length of the LEECH. The relationship between the leech and foot determine the sail's shape (not counting the draft depth). It's important to consider all the sail's dimensions before making any changes. Another reason to have a sailmaker examine the sail if you're unsure about the problem.