Which new headsail?

[Diablito]

Hello everyone.
It’s time to buy anew headsil for my 1997 H376. I have a 100% jib that is in good condition. I need something bigger. It would be really nice to approach hull speed!
Any recommendations?
I’m thinking about a 135%. Adding padeyes and shackles will be required, but I’m up to that. The spinnaker/whisker pole, track and car I installed works well getting the jib out, wing on wing. I’m believe that a 135 will benefit all points of sail.
Thanks.
Tim

 

[Jackdaw]

Because of the design of your boat, your shrouds come out the the hull. You are then limited to a sail that will not contact the spreaders or rigging. So probably a 105-110 will be your max, and you have to have a sail-maker measure to make sure.

A 135% would have to be trimmed outside the spreaders, and would give terrible upwind performance. Then finally rub a hole in the sail. Wanna go fast off the wind? Get a spinnaker!

 

[Dave Groshong]

JackDaw is spot on, 112% is max, but I would stick with a 100-105. We offer Doyle sails at a good price:
https://shop.hunterowners.com/cu/detail-sails.php?bid=1586&a=2

The proven Doyle APC (Asymmetrical Power Cruiser) is a great cruising spinnaker.

Here's the worksheet:
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/measure/demo.php?id=315

 

[VanIslandGuy]

I'm going through the process of looking at new sails now. Consider getting a head sail with vertical battens. You will get better shape and lift from the sail. Also consider better cloth. Your present sail is likely crosscut dacron. A cruising laminate or radian dacron will give you better shape and less drag as a result.

If you need a bigger sail, with your rig, (same rig as mine BTW), then a code zero or asymmetric might be best. Just look at your cockpit and figure out where you will lead the sheets back because if you have coach roof mounted winches, you will need to bring the line back to a point in the middle/stern of the cockpit first and then to the winch. The code zero's sheeting angle is quite wide and usually needs to be lead somewhere just forward of abeam the helm. I would get this sorted out before ordering any light air sail.

 

[FastOlson]

If you look closely at the photo of our boat in my album here --
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?media/o-34-close-hauled.26171/
That is a 95% composite jib with three vertical battens. It fully powers up the boat in TW of about 8 kt or better. The useable shape up higher approximates the drive and upper area of a 105 or a 110, in my opinion.
Note that it sheets inside the shroud base.
For sailing off the wind go with an A-sail as others have suggested here.

 

[Diablito]

Thanks to all.
Jackdaw.
You know the B&R rig on the Hunter 376. You are correct, anything over 110% would have to run outside the shrouds. It sounds like that is a bad idea. I’m wracking my brains to try to figure out a way to sustain near to hull speed, upwind. Downwind she’s still a knot off hull speed, even using the pole.
Ah! I single hand about half the time which makes a use of a chute, for me anyway, impossible.

Dave Groshong,
If going up to a 105% is all I can do I’ll just stick with my 100%.
Based on the H376 fractional rig and taking into account that at least one loft recommends against a spinnaker for the Hunter B&R system.
Gennaker, asymmetric???

Lurker,
Access exists, on my boat, for installation of padeyes and shackles abeam the wheel. Much distance forward can’t be done without cutting the headliner (not happening on my boat).

Fast Olson,

Your masthead rig starts with lots more head sail than my fractional. And you probably have tracks, on the deck, aft of mid ships.

Again, thanks for your input.

Tim