I have a 1983 H34 with a 155% headsail on a roller furler. Last year I was given a storm sail that uses hanks to attach. I was wondering if using parallel beads would be an advisable way to attach the storm sail. Comments appreciated. Thanks, Joe Mullee
- Status
What are they Joe?
Like those roller beads for the toe of some pole-less spinnakers? P.S. We had a storm jib too for our cruise. It was new and slipped into the foil as the genoa does. It's never been out of the bag. Reasons; Roller REEFING really does work. Changing genoas when a storm comes up with roller furling/reefing is nearly impossible for the average cruising crew. At the worst possible time changing headsails to a smaller one isn't going to happen. The first requirement is to fully deploy your genoa, then release the halyard and try to keep the genoa aboard, not to mention the CREW! Then reverse the procedure with the storm sail. That thinking is a throw-back to hanked-on genoas. You don't need that sail.
Like those roller beads for the toe of some pole-less spinnakers? P.S. We had a storm jib too for our cruise. It was new and slipped into the foil as the genoa does. It's never been out of the bag. Reasons; Roller REEFING really does work. Changing genoas when a storm comes up with roller furling/reefing is nearly impossible for the average cruising crew. At the worst possible time changing headsails to a smaller one isn't going to happen. The first requirement is to fully deploy your genoa, then release the halyard and try to keep the genoa aboard, not to mention the CREW! Then reverse the procedure with the storm sail. That thinking is a throw-back to hanked-on genoas. You don't need that sail.
Fred, take a look at this....
I pulled this off the Neil Pryde Sails web site (sorry, I don't know how to do the "Related Link" line you guys use). ______________________________________________________________________________ Product Overview Parrel beads are solid nylon balls with holes drilled through them, through which a wire cable passes. The cable has stainless-steel thimbles at either end that are then shackled to the tack, making a closed loop of beads around the genoa. The parrel beads roll over the furled genoa, allowing the tack of the cruising spinnaker to be raised and lowered with ease. Size 760mm / 30". Fits boats up to 50' feet. For larger boats contact us directly. Material Specifications 32mm / 1.25 inch Plastic balls Stainless Steel wire and thimbles ____________________________________________________________________________ I'd like to use a storm sail without having to take down my headsail. I've looked at an inner stay and that isn't something I want to do. I also looked at the ATN Gale Sail and it uses a sleeve over the furled headsail to attach. The parallel beads appear to use a similiar stategy in that it goes on over the headsail. What do you think? Thanks, Joe Mullee
I pulled this off the Neil Pryde Sails web site (sorry, I don't know how to do the "Related Link" line you guys use). ______________________________________________________________________________ Product Overview Parrel beads are solid nylon balls with holes drilled through them, through which a wire cable passes. The cable has stainless-steel thimbles at either end that are then shackled to the tack, making a closed loop of beads around the genoa. The parrel beads roll over the furled genoa, allowing the tack of the cruising spinnaker to be raised and lowered with ease. Size 760mm / 30". Fits boats up to 50' feet. For larger boats contact us directly. Material Specifications 32mm / 1.25 inch Plastic balls Stainless Steel wire and thimbles ____________________________________________________________________________ I'd like to use a storm sail without having to take down my headsail. I've looked at an inner stay and that isn't something I want to do. I also looked at the ATN Gale Sail and it uses a sleeve over the furled headsail to attach. The parallel beads appear to use a similiar stategy in that it goes on over the headsail. What do you think? Thanks, Joe Mullee
Integrated stay?
The best solution is an inner stay that can be attached when needed. But what about using a storm sail that has an integrated stay? You would not have much tuning ability but that should not be needed in a storm sail. Has anyone every tried this? Tim R.
The best solution is an inner stay that can be attached when needed. But what about using a storm sail that has an integrated stay? You would not have much tuning ability but that should not be needed in a storm sail. Has anyone every tried this? Tim R.
Joe, I think it's a waisted effort.
No matter what size the storm sail, you loose the ability to shorten it further no matter how easy it is to hoist. I don't think there's a substitute for a 'engineered' cutter rig.
No matter what size the storm sail, you loose the ability to shorten it further no matter how easy it is to hoist. I don't think there's a substitute for a 'engineered' cutter rig.
Parrel Beads - Give it a shot
Joe - I'd say give it a shot, what have you got to lose? I'd look at using a loop of parrel beads at every hand point on the storm sail that you have. The one thing that you will still need to address, being that you currently have a furled genoa, is a halyard to hoist that storm sail without dropping the genoa. I got one of the ATN Gale Sails two summers back and would use a spinnaker halyard to hoist when I need it. I haven't had the opportunity to hoist in white-knuckle conditions, but it's pretty straight forward. It was actually designed to allow it to go up over a furled sail so as to avoid the situation that Fred describes. And heaven forbid I disagree with Fred
, but I don't have a cutter rig and am not looking to engineer one on my boat, but I also don't want to give up the ability to hang a small piece of canvas out front when it gets really bad. My understanding is that the storm sail will do its job much better than my current headsail furled down to a sliver. Based on the size of the Gale Sail, about the only shortening down would be to drop it entirely and go with no headsail at all. T J
Joe - I'd say give it a shot, what have you got to lose? I'd look at using a loop of parrel beads at every hand point on the storm sail that you have. The one thing that you will still need to address, being that you currently have a furled genoa, is a halyard to hoist that storm sail without dropping the genoa. I got one of the ATN Gale Sails two summers back and would use a spinnaker halyard to hoist when I need it. I haven't had the opportunity to hoist in white-knuckle conditions, but it's pretty straight forward. It was actually designed to allow it to go up over a furled sail so as to avoid the situation that Fred describes. And heaven forbid I disagree with Fred
, but I don't have a cutter rig and am not looking to engineer one on my boat, but I also don't want to give up the ability to hang a small piece of canvas out front when it gets really bad. My understanding is that the storm sail will do its job much better than my current headsail furled down to a sliver. Based on the size of the Gale Sail, about the only shortening down would be to drop it entirely and go with no headsail at all. T J
Parrel beads
can be a great solution to attach the tack of an assymetrical spinnaker. A line must be run from the foot of the sail to where the forestay attaches to the deck to control how high the sail flys. Our local Neil Pryde loft thinks highly of them and also recommended the ATN Tacker for the spinnaker. For a gale sail it looks like ATN will modify your existing jib for $18/ft. Might be worth checking in with them--or perhaps your local loft could add a tube to the luff. http://www.atninc.com/gale.html
can be a great solution to attach the tack of an assymetrical spinnaker. A line must be run from the foot of the sail to where the forestay attaches to the deck to control how high the sail flys. Our local Neil Pryde loft thinks highly of them and also recommended the ATN Tacker for the spinnaker. For a gale sail it looks like ATN will modify your existing jib for $18/ft. Might be worth checking in with them--or perhaps your local loft could add a tube to the luff. http://www.atninc.com/gale.html
Parrel Beads, not Parallel Beads
Chris, You're right. Thanks for pointing out the spelling to me. I couldn't remember what they were called when I wrote the post. I think I may try to make my own using wooden balls and then give it a shot. Fred, I have to say that I've never been dis-satisfied with my rolled up headsail but the worst I've ever seen on my own boat is winds in the mid twenties. I'm not a racer and I'll never admit to being an expert when it comes to sail shape but I seem to be able to get where I want to go most of the time without the iron genny. So maybe you're right too. Thanks to everyone for the help. Joe Mullee
Chris, You're right. Thanks for pointing out the spelling to me. I couldn't remember what they were called when I wrote the post. I think I may try to make my own using wooden balls and then give it a shot. Fred, I have to say that I've never been dis-satisfied with my rolled up headsail but the worst I've ever seen on my own boat is winds in the mid twenties. I'm not a racer and I'll never admit to being an expert when it comes to sail shape but I seem to be able to get where I want to go most of the time without the iron genny. So maybe you're right too. Thanks to everyone for the help. Joe Mullee
- Status