questions on a genoa for a 23

[Wayne Steinhour]

My wife and I spent the past weekend on our 23.
First time out for the year, and it went great in spite of the heat.

We flew the genny (150) that came with the boat for the first time. That went well, allowing us to top 5.5 kts even when sailing close too the wind. (Seemed fast for a couple of novices.)

There were a couple of things that we didn't like about the genny. It effectively blocked our view forward on one side and it tended to hang up on the lifelines when we tacked. I was wondering whether it would make sense to splice about a foot long pigtail onto the tack to raise the sail up off the deck a little. Is that a good idea? Would it make the boat heel much more? (As it was, we were heeling up to around 20 degrees at times, which is about the edge of our comfort zone. The boat might actually heel less if I would replace the main. It must be pretty old because its belly sags more than mine does.) I expect we would need to run with the lead for the sheet a liittle further aft, but that would be ok because we had it set pretty far forward all of the time we were using the big jib.

Anyway, does it make sense to raise the genny up off of the deck a little, or should I just get used to the impaired visibility and the more awkward tacking?

 

[emergpa1]

My wife and I spent the past weekend on our 23.
First time out for the year, and it went great in spite of the heat.

We flew the genny (150) that came with the boat for the first time. That went well, allowing us to top 5.5 kts even when sailing close too the wind. (Seemed fast for a couple of novices.)

There were a couple of things that we didn't like about the genny. It effectively blocked our view forward on one side and it tended to hang up on the lifelines when we tacked. I was wondering whether it would make sense to splice about a foot long pigtail onto the tack to raise the sail up off the deck a little. Is that a good idea? Would it make the boat heel much more? (As it was, we were heeling up to around 20 degrees at times, which is about the edge of our comfort zone. The boat might actually heel less if I would replace the main. It must be pretty old because its belly sags more than mine does.) I expect we would need to run with the lead for the sheet a liittle further aft, but that would be ok because we had it set pretty far forward all of the time we were using the big jib.

Anyway, does it make sense to raise the genny up off of the deck a little, or should I just get used to the impaired visibility and the more awkward tacking?

I don't think it would cause much more heeling. You may not have enuf room at the mast head L to raise it very much. I got a new gennie 155 that the guy at norths sails thought would be best but honestly I have an older smaller jab, maybe a 110, that I like much better.. Reason is that it never hangs up, is easy to sheet, and the boat just seemes to balance much better.

 

[Richard19068]

That should work fine as long as you have the room at the mast head, as the prior poster said.

Also, you might consider moving the lead back anyway if you were healing too much. Moving the lead back will depower the genoa and reduce heal to an extent.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Wayne, I'm thinking through the same issues. I don't like that huge genny blocking so much forward view and tacking is a bit of a nuisance. Though I don't have rollers on my shrouds to help ease the genny across while tacking.

I realize the swapping to my jib may slow me down, but I think the other factors will outweigh the loss of power for me.

I bet we both could stand to pick up copies of Don Guillette's sail trim guide!

 

[Wayne Steinhour]

I think I have a foot or so of room to raise the sail up. It sounds like it's worth a try. Maybe that will give me better visibility and easier sail handling. I didn't notice the genny hanging up on the spreaders when we tacked. The foot of the sail tended to drag along the lifelines. We'll give it a try and see how we like it.

Thanks for your input.