I am replacing the genoa on the new to me 1990 H33.5. I had a 150% on my 1981 H33 and it worked great, and wonder if a 150% is OK on the 33.5 since it is a fractional rig. Ken Palmer, S/V Water Colors
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Genoa Size
Ken, The workhorse genoa on my 335 comes out of a sail bag that says it's a 150. I've never done the measurements to verify the calculation, but it seems smaller than that to me. Assuming it is a 150 as advertised, it works great in light to moderate winds. With roller furling we roll it up a bit when the winds get too frisky or swap it out for our working jib. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Ken, The workhorse genoa on my 335 comes out of a sail bag that says it's a 150. I've never done the measurements to verify the calculation, but it seems smaller than that to me. Assuming it is a 150 as advertised, it works great in light to moderate winds. With roller furling we roll it up a bit when the winds get too frisky or swap it out for our working jib. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Depends where you sail!
If you are in an area with heavy air you might want at 110. Light air you might was a 180. Make sure you have room for a bigger sail.
If you are in an area with heavy air you might want at 110. Light air you might was a 180. Make sure you have room for a bigger sail.
perhaps a tad large
I went with a 135% on my '88 33.5. I thin that with a 150% you would be furling a lot and then would sacrifice sail shape.
I went with a 135% on my '88 33.5. I thin that with a 150% you would be furling a lot and then would sacrifice sail shape.
How do you sail?
For upwind sailing shape is so much more important than size that I'd rather have a 110% unfurled than a pratially furled 135%. So if you do a lot of upwind sailing in medium winds I'd say 135% is the maximum I'd go. It depends on the style of boat too. The Catalina's I've sailed on were under powered without at least a 135% where most hunters in our area use a 110% headsail. For my money on a B&R rigged Hunter I'd have a 110% and a wiskerpole and if I sailed in light winds or raced I'd add a drifter of 1.5 oz nylon or an assymetrical spinaker.
For upwind sailing shape is so much more important than size that I'd rather have a 110% unfurled than a pratially furled 135%. So if you do a lot of upwind sailing in medium winds I'd say 135% is the maximum I'd go. It depends on the style of boat too. The Catalina's I've sailed on were under powered without at least a 135% where most hunters in our area use a 110% headsail. For my money on a B&R rigged Hunter I'd have a 110% and a wiskerpole and if I sailed in light winds or raced I'd add a drifter of 1.5 oz nylon or an assymetrical spinaker.
Thanks for responses
I was hoping more 33.5 owners would come forward with what they are using. From the posts already, I am not sure if they are 33.5 owners except for Steve. Also, the spreaders are swept back, but I don't believe they are B&R. As I mentioned, my 1981 H33 had a 150%, and it was a great sail for Lake Ontario. Of course there were times I had to furl it in a bit, but mostly I would use the whole sail. The 33.5 is a fractional rig, and I know it has different sailing characteristics. I have a 110 that is practically new to use in a blow, and believe the 150 would work great in winds up to 15 knots or so. Any other 33.5 owners out there with advice? Ken Palmer, S/V Water Colors
I was hoping more 33.5 owners would come forward with what they are using. From the posts already, I am not sure if they are 33.5 owners except for Steve. Also, the spreaders are swept back, but I don't believe they are B&R. As I mentioned, my 1981 H33 had a 150%, and it was a great sail for Lake Ontario. Of course there were times I had to furl it in a bit, but mostly I would use the whole sail. The 33.5 is a fractional rig, and I know it has different sailing characteristics. I have a 110 that is practically new to use in a blow, and believe the 150 would work great in winds up to 15 knots or so. Any other 33.5 owners out there with advice? Ken Palmer, S/V Water Colors
headsail for 33.5
Ken, Very timely question. I have a 1992 Hunter 33.5 with a working (100%) jib, and am going through the throes of deciding whether to order a larger headsail. In fact, I was at my sailmaker today, and arranged to have him sail with me next week tolookat my jib and determine if a larger size headsail made snse for me. I'll report the results after the test sail. By the way, I purchased a cruising spinnaker and sock a coouple of months ago. I can't say enough good things about the sail! It transforms the boat going downwind into a steam roller! I purchase my sails from a local sailmaker (Eggers sails in South Amboy, N.J.) and cant'say enough good things about them. My advice to anyone desiring to purchase quality sails WITH after sale service is to establish a relationship with a local sailmaker. price is important, but having someone local who stands behind the product is more important. I'll report back to you next week. Mike
Ken, Very timely question. I have a 1992 Hunter 33.5 with a working (100%) jib, and am going through the throes of deciding whether to order a larger headsail. In fact, I was at my sailmaker today, and arranged to have him sail with me next week tolookat my jib and determine if a larger size headsail made snse for me. I'll report the results after the test sail. By the way, I purchased a cruising spinnaker and sock a coouple of months ago. I can't say enough good things about the sail! It transforms the boat going downwind into a steam roller! I purchase my sails from a local sailmaker (Eggers sails in South Amboy, N.J.) and cant'say enough good things about them. My advice to anyone desiring to purchase quality sails WITH after sale service is to establish a relationship with a local sailmaker. price is important, but having someone local who stands behind the product is more important. I'll report back to you next week. Mike
Question for Michael
Tell me more about your cruising spinnaker please. Did you install a halyard for the spinnaker, or was one already on the boat? Ken Palmer, S/V Water Colors
Tell me more about your cruising spinnaker please. Did you install a halyard for the spinnaker, or was one already on the boat? Ken Palmer, S/V Water Colors
cruising spinnaker
Ken, The boat came with a spinnaker halyard, although evenif your boat does not have one, it should be straightforward to add. (I think that all masts from the factory are equipped with h spinnaker sheave just above the halyard sheave). My halyard is led from the base of the mast back to a set of halyard stoppers that I mounted on the port side of the cabin, with a self tailing halyard winch. The tack of the spinnaker is attached to one of the bow (mooring) cleats with a line that I run under the anchor anchor (I stow my anchor in the bow lockerr unless I plan to use it). I have a set of blocks attached to the toe rail just aft of the last lifeline stanchion to lead the spinnaker sheet to the genoa sheet winches, and use an ATN spinnaker turtle to control the sail when raising and dousing it. I find the sail ideal to use when reaching, particularly when the wind is from about 80 to 150 aft of the bow. The ATN spinnaker sock makes it easy to raise and douse the sail. My daughter picked the colors for the sail, and I have received many compliments on it. Let me know if you have any specific questions about the sail. Oh yes, price- the sail, spinnaker sock, sheets and blocks cost me about $1,800. I could have gotten it cheaper, but as I mentioned in a related post, I would rather keep the business with my local sailmaker and have him available dor post sale (no pun) service. Mike
Ken, The boat came with a spinnaker halyard, although evenif your boat does not have one, it should be straightforward to add. (I think that all masts from the factory are equipped with h spinnaker sheave just above the halyard sheave). My halyard is led from the base of the mast back to a set of halyard stoppers that I mounted on the port side of the cabin, with a self tailing halyard winch. The tack of the spinnaker is attached to one of the bow (mooring) cleats with a line that I run under the anchor anchor (I stow my anchor in the bow lockerr unless I plan to use it). I have a set of blocks attached to the toe rail just aft of the last lifeline stanchion to lead the spinnaker sheet to the genoa sheet winches, and use an ATN spinnaker turtle to control the sail when raising and dousing it. I find the sail ideal to use when reaching, particularly when the wind is from about 80 to 150 aft of the bow. The ATN spinnaker sock makes it easy to raise and douse the sail. My daughter picked the colors for the sail, and I have received many compliments on it. Let me know if you have any specific questions about the sail. Oh yes, price- the sail, spinnaker sock, sheets and blocks cost me about $1,800. I could have gotten it cheaper, but as I mentioned in a related post, I would rather keep the business with my local sailmaker and have him available dor post sale (no pun) service. Mike
Thanks Mike
I thought that was what I was seeing looking up that tall mast right above the sheave for the jib (I think that is what you meant). I sailed our 1981 H33 with a cruising spinnaker and really enjoyed it. You have provided the information I needed to pursue this next sailing season. Ken
I thought that was what I was seeing looking up that tall mast right above the sheave for the jib (I think that is what you meant). I sailed our 1981 H33 with a cruising spinnaker and really enjoyed it. You have provided the information I needed to pursue this next sailing season. Ken
335 Genoa
I have a 1992 335 that I have owned for 7 years and recently worked with the local sailmaker to choose the best sail combo for our area as the OEM sails were well past their prime. I bought both a new main and genoa, I sail on Lake Champlain in upstate NY / VT where our spring and fall winds blow staedy 15 to 25 knots and mid summer or 5 to 10 knots. The 335 being a fractional rig derives the majority of its power from the mainsail. That being said, carrying a smaller (ours is a 130%) means that we do not furl the genny until after putting a reef in the main, which occurs at ~15 or 18 knots of apparent wind. The boat does very well in light wind and I am not sure that a 150 genny would give you a lot more. I rigged a spi halyard this past year in preparation for the next purchase for really light air. As mentioned getting used to trimming the main to perfection brings much greater performance gains than the genoa. Mainsheet tension, halyard tension, outhaul, vang and traveller position (not in that order mind you!)are critical. I found that to be my biggest challenge after changing boats from a mast head to fractional rig. The other element that you must remember with this boat is the mast is extremely tall therefore you will be one of the first to reef. She will not tolerate being overpowered at all. Feel free to contact me directly if you want further details
I have a 1992 335 that I have owned for 7 years and recently worked with the local sailmaker to choose the best sail combo for our area as the OEM sails were well past their prime. I bought both a new main and genoa, I sail on Lake Champlain in upstate NY / VT where our spring and fall winds blow staedy 15 to 25 knots and mid summer or 5 to 10 knots. The 335 being a fractional rig derives the majority of its power from the mainsail. That being said, carrying a smaller (ours is a 130%) means that we do not furl the genny until after putting a reef in the main, which occurs at ~15 or 18 knots of apparent wind. The boat does very well in light wind and I am not sure that a 150 genny would give you a lot more. I rigged a spi halyard this past year in preparation for the next purchase for really light air. As mentioned getting used to trimming the main to perfection brings much greater performance gains than the genoa. Mainsheet tension, halyard tension, outhaul, vang and traveller position (not in that order mind you!)are critical. I found that to be my biggest challenge after changing boats from a mast head to fractional rig. The other element that you must remember with this boat is the mast is extremely tall therefore you will be one of the first to reef. She will not tolerate being overpowered at all. Feel free to contact me directly if you want further details
Headsail size for Hunter 33.5
Ken, Sorry I did not respond earlier. I pulled my boat for the season earlier this week and did not get a chance to have my sailmaker sail with me to select size for a new headsail. However, i did have a conversation with them, which convinced me that s sail in the 125-135% range is probably appropriate. Because of the size of the foretriangle on the 33.5, the difference in actual square footage between a 125% and a 135% is minimal. Since I now have a great reaching-downwind sail in my new cruising spinnaker, I will probably order a 130% headsail. Please let me know if any of your investigations yield different results. For the record, most of my sailing is in 10-16 knot winds. i dont tend to be a heavy air sailor, and will rely on reefing the main to control the boat if the wind pipes up when going upwind.
Ken, Sorry I did not respond earlier. I pulled my boat for the season earlier this week and did not get a chance to have my sailmaker sail with me to select size for a new headsail. However, i did have a conversation with them, which convinced me that s sail in the 125-135% range is probably appropriate. Because of the size of the foretriangle on the 33.5, the difference in actual square footage between a 125% and a 135% is minimal. Since I now have a great reaching-downwind sail in my new cruising spinnaker, I will probably order a 130% headsail. Please let me know if any of your investigations yield different results. For the record, most of my sailing is in 10-16 knot winds. i dont tend to be a heavy air sailor, and will rely on reefing the main to control the boat if the wind pipes up when going upwind.
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