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110 Headsail on a 250WK?

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/11/2010 : 21:14:13

Most of the surprises on my new (to me) C250 have been pleasant so far: GFCI problem was easily fixed with a new outlet, I discovered a second electrical outlet, cabintop leak was easily located and fixed, missing emergency tiller found, etc.

One surprise which the surveyor did not point out (probably because he did not know it's unusual for this boat) is that it has a 110% genoa (genuine "Catalina Sails"). My knowledge of this boat is that the WB version typically came with a 110, but the WK version came with a 135. It looks like a previous owner either changed it out or asked the dealer for a customization.

I'm not devastated about this, since we are beginners to sloop sailing, and the 110 tacks very nicely with no fouling. Obviously its performance in light air will be less.

The sail will need restitching soon, and perhaps a UV protective edge added, so I will at some point need to decide whether to have this work done or the current sail, or to replace the sail with a new 135.

Any suggestions of what I should do or what other things I should consider?

FYI, the boat still has the CDI #4 furler and the Lewmar #16 winches, so the sail appears to be the only thing that was swapped out - the rest of the hardware and standing rigging appear to conform to the WK configuration.

Rick S., Swarthmore, PA
PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 05:58:27

I'm the third owner of my 250 WK. I bought it with what I was told were the original sails and the headsail was a 110%. I'm pretty sure that's the standard sail for both models.

I replaced it last year with a 135% that I bought from [url="http://www.nationalsail.com/"]National Sail[/url]. I'd suggest sailing a season with your 110% if it's possible and see how you like it before buying a new, larger sail.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 06:25:02

Yes, I do plan to use this sail for the remainder of this season. Do you have any problems with fouling or chafing with the 135?

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windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 06:33:39

My boat came new with a 110. There have been a few days, a very few, when I wished I had a 135. It really depends upon where you sail. It's a very tender boat, and if you have a lot of wind where you sail (as I do), then you could find yourself furling in the 135 more often than not just to get the boat under control. This will hurt sail shape, especially your ability to point. I like John's idea of sailing with the 110 and seeing how often you would need the bigger sail before springing for one. Also, if you don't have a light-air whisker pole, you should get one. It has saved me downwind on those light-air days.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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2980 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 06:49:13

While my guess is that more WK were ordered with a 135, it isn't an aberration that it has a 110. It could mean that the sailing conditions for the original owner were generally breezy.

If that is not the case for your use, when it comes time to buy new, replace with a 135 or perhaps offer a trade as I've noted a couple here in past years.

Another option that is quite common on the 250 is a reacher. A c250 does quite well with a 110 with winds above 8 kts. That means that a light air sail like a reacher or drifter that will handle winds up to 8 kts provides for a full range of wind conditions and that in light air the 155% reacher is more effective than a heavy canvas 135.

And... they are fun to run and can give some personality to the boat and are not that difficult to set and manage. I can set mine without a problem while single handed and having otto's help. They can be handled in one of two ways, with a sock or off wind in the lee of the main.

Having the CDI furler, the jib halyard is used so the additional rigging is fairly minimal with a small block used at the stem for the tack line which is then led to the cockpit and the sheets are led to small blocks at the aft stanchions. More info [url="http://pages.suddenlink.net/arlyn/sailing/drifter.html"]Here[/url]

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superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 07:26:53

I have both the 135 and the 110. Frankly, I would not waste the money on the 135. The 110 is plenty of sail. As for chafing, yes, the 135 can and does chaffe against the rigging as evidenced by several pinpoint holes that I've repaired. 9 times out of 10 if I have the 135 hoisted I'll only pull out half of three quarters of it otherwise the boat is overpowered by too much sail. Save your money and spend it some other project for your 250. Enjoy what you already have.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it..... :)

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 08:49:24

Ours came with a 110 which is a Catalina sail. I have another half dozen sails for it (the PO raced it), none of which I've ever used or even thought about hoisting. On the Puget Sound, the 110 is (so far) always enough, and sometimes too much, so we also added a 70 to our inventory. Of course, we're a tall rig, so we have as much main up with our first reef as the rest of you guys with no reef.

I concur with working with what you've got to see how you like it. I know in about a 10 knot breeze, I can hit hull speed on our 110 w/o the main even up.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 09:17:25

In retrospect, I wish I had followed Arlyn's idea of a 110% and a reacher. Hindsight is 20/20.

No, I haven't had any problems with fouling/chafing. Of course, it was freezing cold when I took down my sails last year and my inspection <i>might</i>

have suffered a little because of it.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 10:51:12

Thanks for your comments. When Bill Swanson showed me his really nice C250 #614 in DC (still for sale AFAIK) he said its 135 sometimes overpowered the boat and I might want to get a 110 instead. So when I ended up with #348 instead & it already had a 110 I was not upset.

I'm in no rush to make any change, but might be tempted to have the restitching done sooner rather than later.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 12:52:47

It really all depends on the winds where you sail. We have the 135 and it works well for us but we do furl it when the wind kicks up above 14mph or so. Sail your 110 for the season and see how you like it.

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2010 : 13:54:14

The only time I would prefer a 110 genoa over a 135 on my C250-WK is in winds above 12 mph. I have found that reefing the main sail is the best first step to reduce overpowering. I have read on this forum that the sequence to reduce power is: 1st reef in main, 2nd reef in main, then reduced headsail. I have followed that advice with good results. On March 13th I raced in 20 mph wind with gusts to 27 and found that playing the mainsheet to control heeling (going upwind) was essential. (My 135 genoa was half furled too.)

To facilitate playing the mainsheet I cleat it with a couple of feet of slack in the rope. Tben take out the slack by pulling on the middle of the sheet between the cleat and the first pulley on the boom. When the boat heels too much the sail handler just releases some of the pulled out rope to reduce pressure on the main sail. It's similar to pulling and releasing the bowstring on a long bow. It's really quick acting and doesn't take much effort.

Edited by - jbkayaker on 04/12/2010 13:56:04

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
843 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2010 : 23:12:23

When I bought my C250WB in 2004 the 110% jib was standard and a 135% was an option.
This was also true for the C250WK

Russ C250WB #793

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willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2010 : 17:56:55

While my boat is water ballasted, I have to say I have never felt the need for more than the 110% jib. If anything, my boat is a tad overpowered. Rick, I see you are from Swarthmore... do you keep your boat in the Delaware? Take Five + Rhythm Doctor = musician? Are you a player? Alto Sax here although I'm no Paul Desmond...who is? Anyway I keep my boat in Dewey Beach DE
Willy

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2010 : 18:15:00

Hi Willy. I am a trumpet player. I used to play regularly (for 20+ years) with a big band in Wilmington call the Rhythm Doctors. I still sub for them occasionally, and still do a lot of other playing.

This year I am keeping the boat on the Delaware in Essington, PA. It's 12 minutes from my house. I want it close by while I get various small projects done on it. We may move to the upper Bay next year - we'll see how we like the Delaware first.

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willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2010 : 18:27:38

I'm pretty sure my neighbor from childhood, Corky Kling was a trumpeter in that band. He passed away some years ago and would be in his 80's if he was still alive but he was GREAT! He could hit that Maynard "C above high C" although he didn't do it just to do it. He worked the Wilmington Playhouse at the Hotel DuPont for the Broadway road shows a lot. When I was a kid, before everybody had Air Conditioning I would lay in bed and listen to him play every evening he was home. As a young man he worked out of the NYC union hall and traveled the country with a couple of big bands. I really miss the stories...

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