Just a quick question, not technically about sail trim. We have a 1989 Hunter Legend 37. Our current mainsail is the originalone htat came with the boat (we think) and has just disintegrated along the reefing line. It was fully battened. We are looking at buying a new mainsail, the loft we are dealing with keep telling us that they will make one to the "exact spec that a Hunter 37 has with a fully battened main". We were asking for a fully battened main as that is what we had currently. They also tell us that the roach will overlap the backstay by about 4 inches, which is apparently again to Hunter spec. The measurements they want are the IEP and J - which are on the brochure. Our current main doesn't overlap the roach, and I am not so keen on this idea. I am told this is "usual", but I have never seen it. I am told that it will make the sail more powerful, but this model (we have a shallow draft keel) is already overpowered, we spend a lot of time with the toe rail in the water, or the main de-powered already, so again I am not keen. They also mention a "universal standard size (there is a sail plan for every boat)" to my suspicious mind that sounds like they have a basic one-size-fits-all sail pattern, and don't want to change it (at least not in the price range I am talking). Can you give me any information on a fully battened main with a roach overlap - I would be very grateful. If anyone knows anything about the "universal sail plan" I would be very interested as well. Many thanks, Linda
new mainsail shape
- Thread starter David 22613
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Besides asking here...
My H23.5 was 7 years old when I bought it. I had questions about the sails so I called Doyle Sails directly. You could call there even if your original sails weren't made by Doyle. When researching important purchases like this I like to make sure I get the same answer from more than one source! The two numbers that I have written down are: 800-717-1406 (didn't work from Canada) 727-461-0022 I think I got these numbers from Hunter themselves. The Doyle website lists locations world-wide: http://www.doylesails.com/maps-world.htm
My H23.5 was 7 years old when I bought it. I had questions about the sails so I called Doyle Sails directly. You could call there even if your original sails weren't made by Doyle. When researching important purchases like this I like to make sure I get the same answer from more than one source! The two numbers that I have written down are: 800-717-1406 (didn't work from Canada) 727-461-0022 I think I got these numbers from Hunter themselves. The Doyle website lists locations world-wide: http://www.doylesails.com/maps-world.htm
Universal sail plan sounds odd to me
If you're going to the trouble of working with a local loft, they should be willing to make sail that is custom made to your rig _and_ your needs as the boat owner. There is no such thing as a 'standard" sail for that boat. The OEM sails are made on a pretty severe budget, and while they're decent sails, they are not necessarily the ideal. If you want a less customized sail buy online and at least save some money. That's my 2 cent's (or in the case of sails, 2 buck's) worth.
ph.
If you're going to the trouble of working with a local loft, they should be willing to make sail that is custom made to your rig _and_ your needs as the boat owner. There is no such thing as a 'standard" sail for that boat. The OEM sails are made on a pretty severe budget, and while they're decent sails, they are not necessarily the ideal. If you want a less customized sail buy online and at least save some money. That's my 2 cent's (or in the case of sails, 2 buck's) worth.
ph.More input
I think you feel you are overpowered moslty because the main you had has out lived it's life and it is now ready to be a drop cloth. The extra sail that will over lap the backstay is ther for better shape and more sail area on those light air days when all the sail up is not enough. You will be blown away buy the new sail and how well it moves the boat. You will finally see what the shape is supposed to be vs what you have been looking at. A sail that is that old and has stretched out of shape and it is just time for a new one. Remember a sail has 2 lives one is the shpe and the other is the cloth. You could look at the sail and think " It's nice and white and looks pretty good from a cosmetice point of view" But the draft has moved alomost to the stearn and it is causeing almost as much heel as it is driving the boat forward. Over lapping the backstay is not a problem in all wind ranges excipt really light air and it may need some help getting past the backstay. The roach with being part of the shape will make the boat faster and you will not be disapointed. So many people think go into it as they don't race so why buy new sail's? The sail's are the engine of the boat and I have seen so many times where boats look great at the dock with the Bimini GPS Chart Plotter, Knot meter wind somthing or other and spend a chunk of $$ on stuff and go out sailing and seem to motor more then they sail because the sail's are blown out ands the boat heels to much crew is screaming about the toe rail being in the water boat does'nt seem to point all that well and so on. Talk to your sailmaker take the sail to the loft have him/her look it over or better yet get them on the boat have them look at the sail and see how it look's. Some people will think he will tell you it needs replaced no matter what then talk to 2 or 3 other sailmakers and get ther input. Research it till you are talking to your better half and you both know the lingo and you both can look at the sail and see it's shape. Better yet go to the loft have them hold up a new sail so you can see the shape then the light bulb goes off. Cliff H 28.5 "Red Dog"
I think you feel you are overpowered moslty because the main you had has out lived it's life and it is now ready to be a drop cloth. The extra sail that will over lap the backstay is ther for better shape and more sail area on those light air days when all the sail up is not enough. You will be blown away buy the new sail and how well it moves the boat. You will finally see what the shape is supposed to be vs what you have been looking at. A sail that is that old and has stretched out of shape and it is just time for a new one. Remember a sail has 2 lives one is the shpe and the other is the cloth. You could look at the sail and think " It's nice and white and looks pretty good from a cosmetice point of view" But the draft has moved alomost to the stearn and it is causeing almost as much heel as it is driving the boat forward. Over lapping the backstay is not a problem in all wind ranges excipt really light air and it may need some help getting past the backstay. The roach with being part of the shape will make the boat faster and you will not be disapointed. So many people think go into it as they don't race so why buy new sail's? The sail's are the engine of the boat and I have seen so many times where boats look great at the dock with the Bimini GPS Chart Plotter, Knot meter wind somthing or other and spend a chunk of $$ on stuff and go out sailing and seem to motor more then they sail because the sail's are blown out ands the boat heels to much crew is screaming about the toe rail being in the water boat does'nt seem to point all that well and so on. Talk to your sailmaker take the sail to the loft have him/her look it over or better yet get them on the boat have them look at the sail and see how it look's. Some people will think he will tell you it needs replaced no matter what then talk to 2 or 3 other sailmakers and get ther input. Research it till you are talking to your better half and you both know the lingo and you both can look at the sail and see it's shape. Better yet go to the loft have them hold up a new sail so you can see the shape then the light bulb goes off. Cliff H 28.5 "Red Dog"
Thanks for the input
Thanks for the advice, we have no choice but to replace the main - we have only had the boat a year, and it the main literally disintegrating - we can only use it on reef 2 currently as there is a big rip just underneath the batten pocket where the fabric gave up the ghost. We are keen to get a new one, but as with all relatively newly purchased 2nd hand boats, the little spare money goes to what is absolutely necessary - (I would love to have and be able to spend some "chunks of $$"!!) currently the sails are the focus. Cheers, Linda
Thanks for the advice, we have no choice but to replace the main - we have only had the boat a year, and it the main literally disintegrating - we can only use it on reef 2 currently as there is a big rip just underneath the batten pocket where the fabric gave up the ghost. We are keen to get a new one, but as with all relatively newly purchased 2nd hand boats, the little spare money goes to what is absolutely necessary - (I would love to have and be able to spend some "chunks of $$"!!) currently the sails are the focus. Cheers, Linda
My suggestion..
Since you live in an area with abundant sailing resourses, why not talk to 5 or 6 sailmakers and work with the one who seems interested in your particular needs. If you want to save money and are not super performance oriented, go to one of the online sailmakers like thesailwarehouse.com or cruisingdirect.com. and see what they have to offer. Shop around.
Since you live in an area with abundant sailing resourses, why not talk to 5 or 6 sailmakers and work with the one who seems interested in your particular needs. If you want to save money and are not super performance oriented, go to one of the online sailmakers like thesailwarehouse.com or cruisingdirect.com. and see what they have to offer. Shop around.
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