Storm sail or furler

[Bill Dunn]

I purchased a 1986 Catalina 27 this fall. The boat has harken roller furling. I would like to know if it makes sense to have the storm sail altered. I'm told that roller furling allows one to leave the storm sail home. I never had roller furling on my Tanzer 22. On more than one occassion I was thankful I didn't as the wind was so strong a furler might have been ripped. How dificult is it to remove head sail and add storm sail. Is it worth it? Thanks for any reply.

 

[L. Neufeld]

adding another sail

I, too, have a Cat 27 (1985 model) with roller furling. When I purchased it, the genoa was on the furler, and the previous owners included a hanked-on jib. I took the jib to a sailmaker and had them alter it to fit the furler. It is not difficult at all to lower one sail and replace it with the other. I find that if the winds are stronger, the boat will sail MUCH better with the jib than with a partially furled genoa. I usually try to make the decision -- jib or genoa -- before I leave the dock. If you also get a second set of shackles and sheets for the second sail, it makes changing sails even faster and easier. I found that it was definately worth it.

 

[Brad Williams]

By all means, have the hanks removed from ....

your storm sail and get luff tape added. I'm certainly no purist when it comes to sail shape, but after about 50% reduction in the headsail, you begin to notice it.Also, as you furl in the headsail, you are essentially raising the sail off the deck -- and raising the center of effort......something you don't necessarily want in a good breeze. The storm is lower at the start AND it too can be furled to further reduce sail if necessary. All with a much lower center of effort.As L. says, it's a whole lot better making a sail change decision at the slip. While changing the furling sails isn't all that hard, its a couple of minute job and there are times when you don't want to be up on the bow that long (at least I don't).....it's a lot longer than changing out hanked sails....do it before you leave, or at least as soon as you think that you ought to think about reducing sail..Brad