Roller furler w/sail

[Don]

I'm planning to purchase a roller furler for my 1978 h27. I've noticed that they come in different sizes, 135 150. I'm assuming that those numbers 135 and 150 means that the 135 is 35% larger then a full size working jib and the 150 means it 50% larger then a full size working jib. So my question is why not buy the 150...that way you have the extra sail area in light windsI've never used a roller furler and I'm hoping that in different wind conditions that I can either use just part of the sail in heavy winds or all of it in light winds. I sail in the Puget Sound area....by Olympia Washington and have notice alot of changing wind conditions. It gets to be a little awkward continually changing from my standard working jib to my Genoa. I was out on the sound just a few days ago and decided to start out with genoa, which is quite a bit larger then the standard jib that came with the boat. Well.. I had my main all up and the Genoa raised and the wind decided to pick-up noticable. I had a west wind and was heading NNW......I estimated that the wind speed at 20 to 25 and it pulled the boat over to about 25.....well after trying to keep a close hauled tack and the inability to steer the boat on a consistant course......I decided this was not going to work, "obviously" to much sail. I was impressed with the boat...."very forgiving", I can make a view errors in judgement and it will take the roll around just fine.From the limited experience that I have sailing I noticed that the boat seems to the best 'as far as speed and the ability to steer at.. 15% to 17%.Anyway would really appreciate some advice or similar experiences.

 

[Steve Dion]

Check with a sailmaker.

Don:If logic would prevail here, you would be correct. Get the biggest sail that you can put on your boat.But, if you check with a sailmaker they will tell you that you are going to loose efficency when you reef the sail. They usually have a percentage of the sail that it is still going to maintain it efficency.I would think that a 120-130 would be a better all around sail. This way you could reef it down to something like 90 percent.

 

[Steve O.]

sail size

Headsail size is determined as a percentage of the distance from the headsail tack to the mast. So your calculations are coprrect if you consider a "full-size working jib" to be 100%. Check with your sailmaker about adding a foam luff which can increase the efficiency of an RF genoa.

 

[Don]

Thanks....Steve Dion and Steve O

Appreciate the information. I will be taking your advice and talking to some local sailmakers. I know its going to be expensive, but I'm sure it will make sailing in various wind conditions alot more easier.