Question on Head Sails

[tgrass462]

First - wishing everyone on this site a Happy New Year!

Second - we've been told that the H-260 with its B&R rig was not designed for a large head sail; that most of the power is generated by the Main. This being the case - what is the largest head sail that Hunter recommends for this boat? A 110%? A 150? Also what about rolling furling head sails? I've seen these on H-26's and 260's - are they recommended by Hunter? What about a Spinnaker? Was the boat design to handle this sail?

Thanks All!

Tom Grass
Creve Coeur, Missouri

 

[Kermit]

The owner's manual talks about using a spinnaker so it can't be a bad idea. I have one that was made for our H23 and plan to fly it on our H260 to see how well it works. Fingers crossed! We have a jib on a furler but not a genoa. Furler works great.

 

[Jackdaw]

Because the shrouds on the 260 come out to the hull/deck joint, your biggest headsail will be a 110%. Spinnakers (poled or asym) will be fine downwind. A good addition is a reaching asym, close reaching is lighter air is a weakness of this type of rig without one.