small mainsail

[Airlandsea]

I have a 25' hunter and the mainsail is slightly short on mast and boom....is it a bad idea to use this until I buy a new sail?

 

[wonkodsane]

I don't know what the real experts here will say, but I sailed all summer with a main that's about a foot short in both of those (P&E) dimensions. The boom dimension should be a little shorter, so you can adjust outhaul.

 

[Hermit Scott]

It will make you look tough, You won't have to reef as soon as everyone else.

 

[Ross]

The only time you will notice is in very light air when you need all the sail you can hoist.

 

[Jim Kolstoe]

Extending the prior replies, you are, in effect, sailing with your first reef in. The result is a bit less power, a slightly lower, slightly more forward center of effort. If you put a full sized main on, you will note that the balance between sails changes to give you a bit more windward helm, which is easily compensated for by the way you trim your main. If short, take your undersized mainsail and go sailing. Have fun.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo

 

[Airlandsea]

Thanks for the replies

 

[JoeWhite]

When I bough my 1984 Hunter 25.5 it still had its original main and jib. I tore the main in a strong wind one day. So I ordered a new one. The sailmaker send me something that had a large roach and it interfered with the topping lift. So I sent it back. The origianl sail was over a foot shorter from the top of the mast and about 9" shorter from the aft end of the boom. I had the sail maker send me of this size. It now works well. So I think it is supposed to be shorter. I found that the jib of 135% is what makes the boat move forward - the main acts a rudder only. I even use the jib to sail into the slip.

 

[Ron20324]

If you had a sail the same length as the boom, and the same luff as the halyard hoist, when the sail stretches over time, there is no place for it to stretch to. Then it will never trim right. Keep the sail the length you have.