Which sails to buy

[Paul Schroeder]

I plan to buy a 240 soon. Spoke to Tim at Doyle Sails and he said he thought a 135% genny was unavailable for a 240 - but wasn't certain. It shows available in the HOW sails shop. Anyone have a roller furling 135 on a 240? If so, any problems with it? Also, I mostly single hand. Anyone got any suggestions for using a cruising spinnaker singlehanded? How do you handle gybes? Any experience with the Doyle UPS sail out there? How is it downwind and is it hard to take down? I know it's not a spinnaker but with mostly light air here in Arkansas and my main interest being in cruising - not racing - I thought it might work when the jib is too heavy for the air. All comments and advice appreciated. Thanks

 

[Mark Cooper]

135% jib

Ahoy, Paul,I don't remember if I read this in the archives here on this site or somewhere else; but I distinctly remember reading that a jib bigger than the standard 110% jenny on the 240 is NOT recommended. It's a great boat with a larger than normal sailplan anyway- actually, I find that there are often days that I can't fly full main and jib around here; but a 240 with reefed main and full jib still have bigger sail plans than most boats their size. They sail better than most in light winds.I used to live in Little Rock, but never got around to sailing on Maumelle. Went to Ouachita most of the time.Good luck,Mark s/v Caribbean Sould

 

[Big T]

Can't do

The 240 is set up for the 110 only. however, a spinnaker (asymetrical) can be rigged. The reason for only a 110 is because, unlike most boats, the 240 has its power in its large main. Likewise, Hunter has fixed the jib sheet pulleys on the fordeck for just the right sheeting angle. If you had a larger sail, you would have to relocate these accordingly. I suppose you could add cars and tracks but I don't know it that has been done. ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOW? I would be interested as well. If so, how does the boat handle with such new loading, hows the helm on a close reach? Can she be trimed to unload the rudder?

 

[Sean Coerse]

Cruising Chute

I bought a cruising chute from cruising direct. They advertise in most of the sailing mags. I only use it when I'm going to be on the same course for a long. If you purchase the sock for this sail you could jibe it easier by yourself. Simply sock it, jibe the boat and unsock it. I don't have a sock. When I single hand I dont use it if I'm going to be changing directions alot. It is a great sail in winds under 10 knots. Winds over 10 knots you can get haul speed with the 110. I agree with the other post that anything over a 110 is not a good idea. Mainly because of the lack of a track to move the blocks to create an apropriate sheeting angle. I find myself reefing this boat more than I find myself wishing for more sail area. I sail on the Chesapeake Bay. Hope this helps, enjoy the boat.