square top main

[eRIC mATTESON]

BillI have been weighing the possibilities for a new main on my mac 36 catThe peanut gallery is solid in their opinion that a large square top sail is the only good choice for my boat. Cam you offer any opinion with regard to the strength of the boat and lack of a rotating rig. Is it wise to add so much square footage?Are there any good rules of thumb for making a wise choice. My rig is 44' not the 50 footerthanksEric

 

[Bill Colombo]

Squaretop

Eric,I can't say that I have any direct experience sailing the Mac 36 Cat, but I have seen the boat. In general, the square top mainsail is simply a more efficient airfoil and places the additional sail area wher the wind pressure is stroner and less disrurbed. You should expect to see a significant increase in power with a mainsail with a square head. Cats can usually handle the extra power since they are more stable platforms designed to handle higher loads than a monohull. I would ask as many people as I could find who are familiar with this boat. There is nothing better than first-hand experience.Thanks,Bill ColomboDoyle Sails