New Main for 1985 23

[peptobysmol]

Has anyone ordered a standard main for the 23? Did the boom sag or was it horizontal to the cabin? I had an old main that sagged horribly into the cockpit. I understand that it was probably blown out with a shrunken bolt rope.
However, I have read on the archives that some who have bought new mains find that the boom still sags slightly. Some have even had a new main made with the luff/foot angle at 85 degrees to avoid this sagging to allow for a bimini and extra clearance.
What I don't want is to order a new main with factory specs that has the boom dipping below horizontal. I don't want to sweep the cockpit of my guests

Thanks,
Brad

 

[Vickie Fantozzi]

We just bought a '87 hunter 23. We have the original sails. We took them in to be looked at by a sailmaker. He said they still had some life in them but he did comment on the odd cut the main had. We also are going to add a bimini. The sail maker said he could cut a new sail so the boom would rest a bit higher (level) in the back if we did not mind loosing a small bit of sail area. I am also leaning toward a full battened main. Let me know what you find out! Vickie

 

[Roy G]

I'm a newbie to these forums and to sailing but shouldn't there be some droop in the boom with only the sail holding it up? The extra length would let the sail form a nice curve with the main level which is what I thought a main should do. To keep my boom level I have a topping lift which keeps the boom level and out of my way.

Just wondering if your's is right the way it is.

Roy G

 

[peptobysmol]

I'm a newbie to these forums and to sailing but shouldn't there be some droop in the boom with only the sail holding it up? The extra length would let the sail form a nice curve with the main level which is what I thought a main should do. To keep my boom level I have a topping lift which keeps the boom level and out of my way.

Just wondering if your's is right the way it is.

Roy G

Having a big "belly" in the main creates more power. Thats good for lighter air days but on heavy air days you want to be able to depower the main by flattening your main.. Typically you use the outhaul to reduce the belly in the lower part of the main. I suppose you could drop your topping lift to accomplish the same effect, however, the problem of having a low swinging boom would still remain. When I sail, I relax my topping lift after raising my main.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Roy,
When the main is up the topping lift should be slack so that all your sail trim lines shape the sail.

Most boats I've sailed on the boom was level, or a bit above level, when the mail sail was supporting it.

As peptobysmol pointed out, lifting the boom with the topping lift when under way will change the shape of the main sail. That shape is desirable only on very light wind days.

 

[Chris14830]

Hi Pepto!
I was just looking at some pictures that someone took of my 1986 Hunter 23 original main. Pretty baggy looking. I am the original owner, and only sail about 10 days per year, but I guess its been a lot of years...

So I read your post about the KH mainsail with interest. I got a quote from their website, but did you get any options, or are there options you would suggest? One or two reef points? Better performance in higher winds?

I read in one of your other posts a discussion about the mainsheet traveller. I just did an inexpensive one on my boat using the original car. I'll post pictures if you are interested. I also added a cam cleat on the jib, very big help in tacking.

Thanks for the info,
-Chris in North West Ontario, Lake of the Woods

 

[C Jones]

Pepto, did you get the h23 printed on your sail? Glad to hear its square with the main.

Chris, Go ahead and post your traveller pics. We would all like to see them. I put the cam cleats on my h23 and had to put 1" blocks under them. I have pics of it in my profile.

 

[peptobysmol]

I didn't get the h23 on it nor any numbers (cause I'm a COB). I still need to get reinforcement patches where the main rubs the spreader bars. I have jam cleats that I'll post pics of tomorrow as well as my new main. I'd rather have cam cleats where the jam cleats are but this works fine. I'd like to see the pics of the traveller mod thanks!

 

[peptobysmol]

Hi Pepto!
I was just looking at some pictures that someone took of my 1986 Hunter 23 original main. Pretty baggy looking. I am the original owner, and only sail about 10 days per year, but I guess its been a lot of years...

So I read your post about the KH mainsail with interest. I got a quote from their website, but did you get any options, or are there options you would suggest? One or two reef points? Better performance in higher winds?

I read in one of your other posts a discussion about the mainsheet traveller. I just did an inexpensive one on my boat using the original car. I'll post pictures if you are interested. I also added a cam cleat on the jib, very big help in tacking.

Thanks for the info,
-Chris in North West Ontario, Lake of the Woods

Hi Chris,
I only got 1 reef point. I lake sail but I get out about 10x a month :dance: Since I only live about 2 miles from my boat, I pick and choose the days I sail and don't go if its blowing too hard. Consequently, I could never foresee a time when I would need 2 reefs.
Funny thing about this main is that it is much louder than my previous one. Really sounds off if it is luffing.

 

[peptobysmol]

Posted the pics of my main with the jib sheet jam cleat mod in my profile album. The nice thing about the jam cleat position is that I can sit back by the tiller and easily adjust the sheets.

 

[C Jones]

Good pictures, your new main looks great. My new genoa was/ is loud now that you mention it. I guess its just the new crisp material. I'm just 4 miles from my boat so we have an advantage over some of these guys. I like your clam cleats as well. I bet you took a 1/2 hour trying to find the best position to mount them. Thanks for the pics

 

[Chris14830]

Hello again Pepto, thanks for the pictures. I took some shots of my main and my traveller system yesterday but they are still in the camera, and I am at work. I will try to get them posted tomorrow. Wow, your main looks a lot flatter than mine! And I like the higher boom, even if it means sacrificing a few square feet of sail area.

Your main seems to be a few inches from the end of the mast. My main is about 8 inches, even with a tight halyard, not sure what it was new. I have heard of the rope on the luff shrinking, repairable? Or time to order a new sail... Pictures to follow.
-Chris

 

[peptobysmol]

Hey Chris,
A shrunken bolt rope is repairable/replaceable. Just take it to a sail loft you like or have heard that is reputable. A shrunken bolt rope will not allow the leach to lift the boom as much as it should. If the fabric is just weathered and needs to be "freshened" up then a sail loft could make it crispy again. Again check with a sail loft and have them look it over. They could tell you the best approach.

 

[Chris14830]

Hello Pepto and all,
I have posted an album in my public profile. Pictures of my mainsail, traveler, and other stuff. Anyone's opinion of the mainsail's fate is welcome. Pepto's new main is $545 US at Kelly-Hanson. It may be worth it just to not get hit in the head anymore...
-Chris

 

[peptobysmol]

Hey Chris,
Nice pics. I like all of your mods. The inside of the cabin looks far better equiped than mine. I'm in the process of fitting a cuda fishfinder. I have to ask you, the pic that show's your entire main looks like your mast has some Serious bend to it (using the cabin top as a frame of reference). If it is Not an optical illusion then you need to get that sorted out. Looks like that could be a source of your problems. Your main, from the pics, looks nice to me. The main goes up to where it looks like it is supposed to go and looks like it has a nice shape in the light wind. HTH.
Brad

 

[Chris14830]

Thanks Pepto, the mast bend is the fault of my wife's Elph camera at wide angle. It gets serious barrel distortion, I should have got the good camera and shot from further away like in your album. I may do that next week.

You are right, the main does great in light air, especially off the wind. But upwind in a blow its not good. My wife also seems to like the idea of not getting hit in the head. I may go with the K-H this winter because of that alone. How does the new main compare in heavier airs? You mentioned pointing higher?

I found mounting the sonar on that swinging board worked well, it restricts going into the cabin a tiny bit while under way, but not much. And if you do step on it the bungy gives way.

I edited the traveler notes tonight, giving the names of the blocks I used. This project did not take long, as I used the original car, and the stop pins are still on the track, just moved out as far as they go. The traveler system just goes about 1/4" above them. After 22 years of dumping the main with the main sheet, I have to admit the traveler system spills the wind better, and less physical effort. Sitting up on the combing, I give the line a tug upwards to uncleat it. You do need gloves on a high wind, though. I got these blocks cheap at a automotive chain called Princess Auto that we have up here.

Sorry to change the course of your thread here, but thanks again for telling us about your new sail. I had no idea the price was so low.
-Chris