About that "overlap"
Hello,
New to the site, have had the boat for 3 years now and working through everything and learning a lot. We are now looking at replacing the foresails on our 8.3. Currently has 160%, 110%, and storm jib with all being hanked on. We would like to know what size of foresails would be useful. Not sure if we will go to the expense of a furler but still open to suggestions.
thanks
When we bought our current boat (way back in '94) it came with a headfoil. We put on a new 135% and a Harken furler. If I had known how much we would like the furler, we'd have done it many years earlier on our prior boat!
About the headsail, while it's common wisdom (overused words...) that a 135 is some sort of
great compromise between a 150 and a "working jib" .... I followed the advise of the sailmaker friend last year and replaced the 135 with a 95%. (I would have added a track forward for self-tacking, but the expense was just not in our budget.)
It sheets in very quickly, and uses some short T track just inside the shroud bases. Boat points better than ever and goes to weather at 6 kts plus in winds over 10 kt.
We went with a roll up jib with vertical battens, so that the upper half has about the same area and drive as a 110 or 114, IMHO.
Reaching & running are a tad slower, but we still have the spinnaker for that.
Something to consider when you go shopping. We were lucky in having a helpful local sail loft where they will talk about what's best for us rather than just selling the largest sail they can push off on customers.
.... just one more data point...
Fair winds,
Loren in PDX