Oday 25 headsail

[Zephyr2]

I recently purchased an Oday 25. The previous owner told me that rarely used the jib. When I took her out and hoisted the jib, I noted firstly that it was obviously a reconverted main, since there were reefing gromets along aa line on the foot of the sail., I also noted that the luff of the sail made contact with, and bent over the pulpit railing when on any tack. Is this normal for this boat. Would the jib normally fly above the pulpit railing? Thanks in advance.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Having reefpoints does not automatically mean htis is a converted mainsail. Many cruisers have added reefpoints to their jibs.
However, it may or may not be "normal" for the foot of the jib to hit the lifelines. That is a common problem on boats with lifelines and on some boats owners add little "wheels" (like the rollers sometimes seen on spreader tips) to allow the jib to more easily ride over the top lifeline. It may be that a short "tackline" is needed to raise the foot of the jib to contact the lifelines less. Perhaps a 12" piece of lifeline cable with an eye at each end inserted between the jib tack and the stem fitting. The limiting factor though is whether the luff of the jib is short enough to allow room on the forestay to raise the jib further.
Perhaps a pic of the jib under sail would help us advise you?

 

[Erieau]

My furling foresail rides up over the pulpit and lifelines too. Doesn't bother me.

 

[geehaw]

Mine does the same thing. I had some room on the luff to do as Sunbird suggested and added some rope between stem fitting and tack.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yes, very common. My headsail had to be custom cut to clear the lifelines at the clew but it still occasionally rubs near the tack of the sail.