Raise my jib foot?

Joe · Sep 17, 2013

Go for it.... lot's of sailors get their sail off the deck for various reasons. Decide how much you want to raise it and make a wire pendant to connect the tack and stem fitting. Most west marine stores have a workspace right in the hardware dept with all the parts and tools you'll need for the project.

Another option is to build an adjustable tack line.... attach a small block to the stem, run a 1/4 inch line with a shackle for the tack (or you could just tie it to the sail tack) back to a cleat in the cockpit. The you can play with the hoist or use the tack line as a jib cunningham.

Ted · Sep 17, 2013

Raise my jib foot

Raising the jib tack will also raise the center of effort of the jib. This will cause your boat to heel slightly more. Probably not too much more being that it is a jib. If it were a 150% masthead genoa, you may actually feel the difference.

windcat · Sep 17, 2013

Don Guillette

I was thrilled to learn that Don owns a Catalina 30. We also own a Catalina 30. We bought her 13 years ago and, it seems, have been working on her ever since. Last week my husband and I attended the Boats Afloat in Seattle. We were doing homework in an attempt to determine what would be the best boat for going off shore and explore the world in. There were a lot of pretty boats with hefty price tags. The next day we went to do a little work on ours, even in her current interior torn up state, it just felt so good to be aboard. Of all the boats we saw, I just felt better when I was on-board the Catalinas. I just ran across a book: "Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere" by John Vigor. I was surprised that a catalina 27 was listed among them. My question is if a Catalina 27 can be made "seaworthy" why not a 30? Our hull # is 959.

Don Guillette · Sep 17, 2013

Re: Don Guillette

Windcat: How far off shore are you considering? A C30, or a Hunter etc, can be upgraded to go off shore and but it depends how far off shore you intend on going (LA to Catalina Island or around the world) and your sailing experience level.

Many times you have to take the opinon of sailing writers with a grain of salt. In other words, if it doesn't seem to add up you just move on. I could say that the Newport to Ensenada race, which is all down hill, could be sailed on a 55 gal drum with a broom stick for a mast and a bed sheet for a sail. Actually, I think it could be done but who would want to try it?

Brian M H23 · Sep 17, 2013

Salty; given that your forestay is at about 20 degrees from vertical, going 8" up with the sail is only gong to bring is backwards less than 3. I wouldn't worry about balance compared to your sheeting angle, which will change rather dramatically in comparison. Your "45 degree" track position will go back 3" along with the sail, and then go back equally as much as the clew went up vertically; another 7". If you find yourself using that end of the track now, you might not have the proper sheet block positions for a raised clew.

Clark · Sep 18, 2013

A couple of suggestions. You don't have to use wire for your trial pennant. A short length of line will suffice. Also, most jibs are tacked to a fitting with the first hank up 1 - 1.5'. When you move the sail up, you wont have the sail tack secured to the forestay so use a spare shackle or piece of small cordage to tie the sail tack to the forestay.

windcat · Sep 18, 2013

Don Guillette said:
Windcat: How far off shore are you considering? A C30, or a Hunter etc, can be upgraded to go off shore and but it depends how far off shore you intend on going (LA to Catalina Island or around the world) and your sailing experience level.

Many times you have to take the opinon of sailing writers with a grain of salt. In other words, if it doesn't seem to add up you just move on. I could say that the Newport to Ensenada race, which is all down hill, could be sailed on a 55 gal drum with a broom stick for a mast and a bed sheet for a sail. Actually, I think it could be done but who would want to try it?

What would you recommend? I would say our skill level is moderate, but want to stay alive. We would like to sail down the west coast, thru the Panama Canal and over to Europe

Don Guillette · Sep 19, 2013

Personally, I wouldn't recommend a Catalina 27 or even a Catalina 30, even though both boats might work. I'd be looking at a blue water type boat and I'd visit the cruising forum on this site for suggestions from sailors who have actually sailed those waters.

My rear end has "puckered" a few times over the years just sailing from LA to Catalina Island on a C30 and I could see LA in the distance. I can just imagine what it be like 400 miles off shore in tough conditions.

I'm not sure what moderate experience means but the first thing I'd do is have a honest conversation with myself about my ability -- I couldn't do it with just my wife and myself. In other words, "a man has to know his limitations". My wife wouldn't be up for it in the first place but that's just us. A few times she's suggested I sail the boat to Catalina Island and she'll take the Catalina Express over and back. What a crappy deal that is for me!!

Holland America (our favorite cruise line) has nice cruises down the west coast and through the Canal. In fact, we're taking one in April. The also have nice cruise to Europe!!

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Sep 19, 2013

Don Guillette said:
Personally, I wouldn't recommend a Catalina 27 or even a Catalina 30, even though both boats might work. I'd be looking at a blue water type boat and I'd visit the cruising forum on this site for suggestions from sailors who have actually sailed those waters.

My rear end has "puckered" a few times over the years just sailing from LA to Catalina Island on a C30 and I could see LA in the distance. I can just imagine what it be like 400 miles off shore in tough conditions.

I'm not sure what moderate experience means but the first thing I'd do is have a honest conversation with myself about my ability -- I couldn't do it with just my wife and myself. In other words, "a man has to know his limitations". My wife wouldn't be up for it in the first place but that's just us. A few times she's suggested I sail the boat to Catalina Island and she'll take the Catalina Express over and back. What a crappy deal that is for me!!

Holland America (our favorite cruise line) has nice cruises down the west coast and through the Canal. In fact, we're taking one in April. The also have nice cruise to Europe!!

While that may have made you "pucker" there are plenty of people who have done the trip that windcat is suggesting and more with C30s.

Its a matter of personal preference and commitment. Boat prep and experience of the skipper always become the issues. Taking an unprepared Island Packet with an unprepared skipper is just as fool-hardy as doing it with a C30.

That being said, you do have to know your limitations and your boats. The C30 would require more prep then say a Westsails, but it could be done.

To windcat, I would suggest you do some research. I would recommend you start with Fatty Goodlander's book Buy, Outfit and Sail. Then go from there.

Fair winds,

Jesse

Stu Jackson · Sep 19, 2013

I agree with Don. One of our C34 skippers took his boat down the coast from Vancouver, BC to Mexico. Here's his report:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5270.0.html

It can get wicked out there and a C30 just isn't the vehicle for it. The C27 was really beefed up. I believe Patrick Childress was the skipper's name, Google it.

Don Guillette · Sep 19, 2013

Stu: Thank you for the article, which I just finished reading.

I got a couple of things out of it. The first thing is to get offshore experience (maybe a 100 miles out or something) in a coastal cruiser, if that's your boat of choice, and then decide if you're an offshore sailor. After 3600 miles, your friends, who obviously prepared well for the voyage and know what they're doing, decided they're not. The second thing they did was spend a lot of time and money preparing the boat and then they missed a few things, which always happens.

I've always had a lot of respect for the sea -- it can kill you and I know my limitations. I'm not the type of guy who hops into a boat with a radio that only picks up channel 6 and has an outboard motor that has a coat hanger for a throttle and heads out to sea -- I'm describing my young dock neighbor. He was banned from Catalina Harbor after motoring through the anchorage when his anchor dragged and he ended up with 4 boats following him as he hooked their anchor lines!! He then ran out of gas. He also had other stupid sailing adventures and could talk my head off about sailing even though he was full of crap. He was a mortician in Long Beach and I thnk he had a death wish!!

The last and most important thing I picked up from the article, and we see it sometimes on this forum, but more so on the other forums --"people have opinions but no experience". They're dangerous listers because newbies follow their advise and then get themselves up to their ass in trouble and have no idea how to get out of it.

With all due respect and no disrespect intended and only based on the few lines of info he provided, Windcat, at this time, is no more prepared to sail to the Canal and then to Europe than the man-in-the-moon. Just my opinion.

Stu Jackson · Sep 19, 2013

C30 offshore?

Don, glad you enjoyed it. Before he took off on his trip, Steve and I talked a lot by phone, specifically about his electrical system, since he'd already embarked (pun intended

) on his canvas work and rerigging. He and his family then stopped off and visited with us on their way down. He's contributed quite a lot over the years to our C34 Forum, and this is one of his highlight posts that answers a lot of these kind of recurring "can I take my Beetle Catboat across the Pacific?"

questions. Since he's returned (he trucked the boat, that's a whole 'nother story!) he continues to sail his C34 and is now repowering with a Beta.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Sep 19, 2013

Don Guillette said:
Stu: Thank you for the article, which I just finished reading.

I got a couple of things out of it. The first thing is to get offshore experience (maybe a 100 miles out or something) in a coastal cruiser, if that's your boat of choice, and then decide if you're an offshore sailor. After 3600 miles, your friends, who obviously prepared well for the voyage and know what they're doing, decided they're not. The second thing they did was spend a lot of time and money preparing the boat and then they missed a few things, which always happens.

I've always had a lot of respect for the sea -- it can kill you and I know my limitations. I'm not the type of guy who hops into a boat with a radio that only picks up channel 6 and has an outboard motor that has a coat hanger for a throttle and heads out to sea -- I'm describing my young dock neighbor. He was banned from Catalina Harbor after motoring through the anchorage when his anchor dragged and he ended up with 4 boats following him as he hooked their anchor lines!! He then ran out of gas. He also had other stupid sailing adventures and could talk my head off about sailing even though he was full of crap. He was a mortician in Long Beach and I thnk he had a death wish!!

The last and most important thing I picked up from the article, and we see it sometimes on this forum, but more so on the other forums --"people have opinions but no experience". They're dangerous listers because newbies follow their advise and then get themselves up to their ass in trouble and have no idea how to get out of it.

With all due respect and no disrespect intended and only based on the few lines of info he provided, Windcat, at this time, is no more prepared to sail to the Canal and then to Europe than the man-in-the-moon. Just my opinion.

Don, I don't disagree with anything you wrote above. But this is a slightly different message than what you had before.

The most important thing is knowing your own limitations and that of your boat.

Jesse

Don Guillette · Sep 19, 2013

Jesse: Not to belabor the point -- but isn't that what I said regarding knowing one's limitations? To extend the thread, where did I go wrong with my first statement? Other then your first sentence regarding "pucker" you've added nothing.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Sep 20, 2013

Don Guillette said:
Jesse: Not to belabor the point -- but isn't that what I said regarding knowing one's limitations? To extend the thread, where did I go wrong with my first statement? Other then your first sentence regarding "pucker" you've added nothing.

Don,

IMO, your first post suggested that the C30 is not capable of coastal cruising down the west coast, through the canal, over to the Caribbean and a possible southern Atlantic crossing. I disagree with that and pointed out that people have done that trip and more with C30s.

I also added another reference for windcat to look into to begin his research on what type of sailing and boat he may want. And the resource I provided was from a proven cruiser, not a "dangerous lister" on a forum.

Your next post provided more detailed recommendations/information than your previous post. So I said I agreed with this post. Hopefully pushing windcat to follow what I thought of as good advice.

Sorry you feel I added nothing, but I thought I was adding some help to a potential cruiser who all to often hear that a particular boat or size can't do it. Which can likely result in people giving up their dream of cruising because they think they need a 50 foot, $600K boat to do it. There are many "dangerous listers" on this side of internet forums too; listers that kill dreams by giving advise that is overly conservative and often from an uninformed position as well.

Windcat has suggested a trip that is primarily coastal cruising. That is what a C30 was designed for and a reasonably well founded one can do most of the trip he suggested. Certainly it will mean more compromises then doing it in a boat that can hold 200 gallons of water and 100 gallons of fuel. But with shorter hops, smart rationing, intelligent upgrades, etc. it can very easily sail down the west coast through the canal and cruise the Caribbean. By that point Windcat would have significant miles under his keel and be in a much better place to decide if crossing the Atlantic is right for him.

I guess I am just one of the "dangerous listers".

Fair winds,

Jesse

Calif. Ted · Sep 20, 2013

I've only sailed the "easy" part of the west coast between San Francisco and San Diego but Don's comments seem accurate to me. A C30 once floated unaided to Hawaii when the sailor was lost somewhere between Dana Point and SD. Anyone COULD sail downcoast in almost anything, just hang on and the wind and current will get you there. 90% is an easy coastal cruise but the other 10% can make an atheist break out in prayer.
The west coast is really divided into regions by various empty coastlines and points, Southern California is really south of Point Mugu (and therefore Pt. Conception). This is where the C30 was born and designed for, they are not really optimal for crossing into other regions.
I know experienced sailors who have transited from Washington in PSC's and they often say "if I ever do that again it's gonna be in a bigger boat."

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Sep 21, 2013

Calif. Ted said:
I've only sailed the "easy" part of the west coast between San Francisco and San Diego but Don's comments seem accurate to me. A C30 once floated unaided to Hawaii when the sailor was lost somewhere between Dana Point and SD. Anyone COULD sail downcoast in almost anything, just hang on and the wind and current will get you there. 90% is an easy coastal cruise but the other 10% can make an atheist break out in prayer.
The west coast is really divided into regions by various empty coastlines and points, Southern California is really south of Point Mugu (and therefore Pt. Conception). This is where the C30 was born and designed for, they are not really optimal for crossing into other regions.
I know experienced sailors who have transited from Washington in PSC's and they often say "if I ever do that again it's gonna be in a bigger boat."

I would just offer that at least one Catalina 30 has finished the Baja HaHa almost every year it's held. And there are not a lot of C30s for sail in Mexico, so those boats are either bashing back up the coast or continuing on to other areas.

I also know of at least one C30 that was not significantly modified that has crossed the pacific and is currently in New Zealand.

Fair winds

Jesse