Sail question

[Lori1818]

First of all, let me say that I am a COMPLETE newbie at this sailing thing. My roommate wanted a boat, so we bought one last March. Had it in our little lake until August, when the water level went too low to keep her in. So...she has been in the dry storage since then. Today they are putting her into her slip again, and we are hoping to get out on her MUCH more often than the 3 times we were able to last year. Here's the problem...last night when I was checking things out, I realized that the place on the sail that was repaired by the previous owner with sail tape has completely torn apart. My little boat is an O'Day 22. A few weeks ago I did a good deed and was rewarded with a Catalina 22 mainsail...so basically my question is this...are sails for 22' boats interchangeable, or do I need to spring for a new sail for the O'Day? Cause if that is the case, then I might as well tell them to leave her in dry-dock...can't afford a brand new sail.

I read the new threads in this forum weekly and you guys give great advice, so I am hoping that you can help us too.

 

[Dave D]

what year model boats are we talking?


I'm no expert, but I think if you take the two sails and compare measurements, (all three sides) and they are reasonably close in size, then you should be able to use them for fun. Boats of the same length from different manufacturers can have vastly differing sail sizes, so a mismatched sail will definitely effect performance and I suppose if overpowered for your vessel, could become dangerous. For education you could do a search on the sail plans of each of the boats and compare measurements there. Just as an aside, I doubt you will be able to use it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Should be close

so why not just bend it on and see if it fits. You're the ONLY one who can do that... It might be somewhat confusing to have a C22 logo on an O'Day, but heck, that's not the first time that's been done. Good luck, welcome aboard, enjoy your season.

 

[Lori1818]

Well, my boat is an 82. I have no idea what year the Catalina is/was. I had kind of thought that if this didn't work and the Catalina sail was in good shape, I could sell it and use the proceeds to get started on a new one for the O'Day.

My new plan is to take the main sail off my boat and lay it out and lay the catalina sail over it and see just how close they are...that should be helpful, I think.

I didn't know what the safety issues would be if I had the wrong sail on, but I do hope that it works out. Thanks y'all for your help.

 

[kloudie1]

First is to make sure the sail slides or bolt rope is the same. The part that goes in the mast slot.. Then the length along that side should be the same or shorter than the original. If longer, it will not set correctly.. next, the foot or the part that runs along the boom. It must be the same or shorter in length and its mounts must be the same. Again, if shorter, it is OK .. If longer, it will not set correctly. Don't worry about the back edge that goes up from the boom to the top of the mast .. if the battens are in it, it will be fine.. I hope it fits.. Have fun! Oh.. if it doesn't, a sailmaker can probably cut it to fit for notmuch money.. don't give up..

 

[Lori1818]

I hadn't thought about having it modified. Being in the metroplex, we don't have many people around who do work like that. I bet I could find someone though, what a great idea! Tonight I am going to oil teak and get rid of dirt dauber nests, basic housekeeping chores. I am hoping to be able to take her out on Saturday. I do have a storm jib, I can talk to the kid at the marina who uses his jib all the time about that. I probably need experience with that sail anyway, eh? I really want to do this right, and not mess up anything if possible.

 

[Tim R.]

Why not just get the original sail repaired? A local upholstery shop could probably repair it if it is not too big.

 

[Lori1818]

The tear in the original sail is about 3' long, and about 7" wide, there are just threads left, and it is all kind of being held together with sail tape (that was there when we bought the boat). The last time we took her out, the sail tape popped loose, so there is just a big gaping hole in the middle of the sail now. Perhaps we could have an upholstery shop use a piece of the Catalina sail to patch the O'Day sail, is that something that could work, do you think?

 

[tommays]

We really need a GOOD picture of bad area of the sail to make a guess if repiar is the way to go


There are places that trade sails and sell used so iF the other sail does NOT fit and is in good shape i would NOT cut it up BUT look for a trade

 

[Lori1818]

I don't have a camera to take a picture of the tear. I was kind of kidding about cutting up the Catalina sail, it is in very good shape...trading would be a much better option. I appreciate all the input I have gotten today...I will update y'all in the next few days once I figure it out. I just talked to one of the guys who runs the marina and he thinks he can sew the tear, if the new sail won't fit. I will just have to come up with cloth for it, but he says that won't be too difficult.

 

[C'est La Vie]

I hadn't thought about having it modified. Being in the metroplex, we don't have many people around who do work like that. I bet I could find someone though, what a great idea! Tonight I am going to oil teak and get rid of dirt dauber nests, basic housekeeping chores. I am hoping to be able to take her out on Saturday. I do have a storm jib, I can talk to the kid at the marina who uses his jib all the time about that. I probably need experience with that sail anyway, eh? I really want to do this right, and not mess up anything if possible.

Lori:

Try Mariner Sails in north Dallas (just off I-35 and Walnut Hill). Excellent folks to either repair or replace your main.

 

[TimCup]

reparing a sail is the way to go-

On MY Oday 22, I ahd a rip about the size of yours in my mainsail. A local sailshop sewed in a reinforced patch. He also restiched the jib all along the sailcover area(FURLER!).

Total bill was $100.00.

Fixing tears just isn't expensive. I would bring it to a sailmaker anyway because you are new to sailing. It's possible the sail isn't worth repairing, because like clothes, they wear out. He can tell you whether it's any good. Also bring the catalina sail- if yours can't be repaired, he can price resizing it for you...



cup

 

[s sauer]

from a quick on-line check of both boat measurements:
Catalina 22 Mainsail : P Mainsail luff is 21'-0" E Foot is 8'-0"
O Day 22 Mainsail : P Mainsail luff is 20'-6" E Foot is 8'-0"
Therefore, if the sail slides are the same diameter the Catalina mainsail needs to be slightly cut down by a sailmaker (shorten the luff by 6") to fit the O'Day 22.
If the Catalina Mainsail has a set of reef points, have someone show yu how to tie in the reef and sail withthemain reefed!
Or

 

[Timo42]

How much work would it be to lower the boom 6"?

 

[Mike Holibar]

It is amazing what a good sailmaker can do with a damaged sale.I was on a delivery voyage late last year coming down the East coast of New Zealand. We ran into strong winds and at about 40 knots the luff furler jammed leaving the fore sail half out. The wind continued to increase, gusting over 55 knots, seas around 15 feet, we were well over powered and eventually had to head off directly down wind, let go the sail, and wind it in with a bar attached to the furler drum. The sail was already damaged but took a real battering fllying free in 50 knots for the five or ten minutes it took to wind it in. It was badly ripped in several places and I thought it was a gonna. The local sailmaker, however, had it fixed as good as new for about $200 nz - $100US. Amazing what they can do.

 

[Joe]

use the cunningham to pull out the slack.

Just hoist the sail up to the black line at the top of the mast, then use the cunningham to pull the luff down to proper tension, it's only an extra 6 inches. There may be a little fold under the cunningham but that's okay, especially if you're just learning. Or..... you could sail with it reefed, as stu sauer suggested. The main issue is how the sail attaches to the mast and boom... if those parts match up then you can work with what you have...

My overall opinion is to take the good Catalina sail to a sailmaker and let them give you their opinion on the best way to go.

If you're on the real cheap...... well, there's always duct tape.

 

[Mike M16608]

I'll bet you might even have the extra 6" of space between where the O"Day sail would go and the top of the mast. Then, you need absolutely no mods assuming the slugs and bolt rope fit. I doubt an extra 6" on the main on this boat (if it fits) would cause any issues performance or safety-wise.

 

[Dick Westwood]

Used, not new

I agree with the folks above who suggested that - by all means - try the replacement sail, see if it works, and get a quote for modifying it at a loft if you need to.

If none of this works: don't think about $1,000 for a new sail. Buy used. You'll spend less than half that. I did a quick search, and found mains for an O'Day 22 that were around $400. You'll probably get a better price if you put in the time for a thorough search.

Google, of course.

Or: some of the lofts to consider are Sail Exchange, Sail Warehouse, Minney's Used Sails, North Sails used… and there's plenty of others. Perhaps post to get everyone's recommendations for used sail vendors if you decide to go this route.

 

[Lori1818]

Wow you guys! I am LOVING the support you have given me, and I have decided to try either reefing or using the suggestion about tightening tension to the correct luff. I am going to take the damaged sail to that guy in Dallas and see about getting it fixed. Did a quick Google search and also found several sets of used sails in great condition, and may consider buying one as backup.

Now, if we can figure out why there was 2" of water in the boat when we dropped her in last night (sadly we didn't open the companionway before putting her in the water, so there is no way to know if the water was already there when she was in dry dock); I will be SAILING!

I am sure I will have many more questions as this process goes forward, but at least now I know where to go to get great ideas and positive help, without flames and fussing.

Thanks again!

 

[bffatcat]

what to do?

First and foremost: Find someone that knows something about it to evaluate the sail. If you cant do that Take the sail to a reputable sailmaker to have it evaluated. They can fix it or tell you its not repairable. Either way you can probably use the catalina sail. Have it recut to make it fit. The cunningham idea is a good suggestion. Its an easy way to shorten the luff. If you have to use the catalina main make sure the bolt rope fits the mast slot. If it dosent you can get slugs that will fit the track. Either way you will get going.

About the leak That could be a bigger deal than the sail. Put the boat in the water. Pump it out. Come back in a couple of hours and check it. Many boats leak a bit. Its not a big deal unless its 4 or 5 Gallons a day. Then your going to have to find the leak and get it fixed. You didnt tell us if the boat is a keel or Keel CB. most centerboard trunks leak a bit.
If the boat is a keel there should not be much water in the bilge, condensation ect. More
after a rain. In either case a boat taking a lot of water cannot be ignored.