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"Your boat is alright...."

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/03/2007 : 11:15:26

Those were not the words I wanted to hear from my marina manager when I checked my voice mail this morning. But, I guess it could have been worse.

He went on to tell me that my headsail is shredded. Apparently it came loose in a storm last night. I'm going out there this afternoon to have a look.

I assume by shredded, he means not a tear that is repairable. So, my questions. First, should I expect my boat insurance to cover this? Sencond, should I replace it with another 110 or move to a 135 or 150. Anybody have a good used sail for sale?

Oh, yeah, a jib sock? You know, for closing the barn door after the horses have escaped!

John Russell
1999 C250 SR/WK #410
Bay Village, Ohio
Sailing Lake Erie
Don't Postpone Joy!

Edited by - John Russell on 06/03/2007 11:32:50

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2007 : 11:34:59

Sorry to hear about the loss... and using your misfortune to remind others... when leaving the boat, wrap a halyard around the headsail several times to secure it.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2007 : 13:51:47

John,

To prevent mishaps when I'm away from the boat, when I furl in my headsail, I try to get a reasonably tight wrap on the sail by keeping a little tension on the jib sheets as I reel it in. I'll also continue furling until there are 2 or 3 wraps of the sheet around the sail. Those that leave a small triangle of sail unfurled instead of completely furling it in are just asking for trouble.

As for using a jib sock instead of a sewn on cover, to me that kind of defeats the main purpose of having roller furling...convenience.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2007 : 15:47:33

Well, there's shredded and then there's shredded. Fortunately neither was the case for my sail. Upon closer inspection, it looks like there are several seams blown out but the sailcloth looks to be in good shape. I think it's repairable. The bad news is that it will probably take longer to repair than it would to replace.

I thought I had it pretty well secure. I'm sure there were at least 3 and probably more turns of the sheets around the sail when we left it. Maybe it just wasn't furled tightly enough. I understand your reluctance regarding the sock, Don. I felt that way too. Right up until the marina manager called this morning. I'm guessing I'll be inconvenienced for a few weeks without a headsail. I'd rather take 5 minutes at each end to hoist and retrieve a sock in the future.

I may still be in the market for a used 135, though. If you happen to hear of one.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2007 : 20:31:43

Don, I don't trust getting the jib sheets firm enough around the furler to ensure that the wind doesn't get the sail and the sheets simply don't go high enough to capture the upper area. It is that upper area that starts the slippery slope of the wind getting its way with the sail.

If a jibsock is not available a halyard is. They need held out from the mast anyway when leaving the boat to keep from slapping so it is convenient to wrap one several times around the furled sail and shackle it to the bow pulpit and tighten and cleat. If the jib halyard is not available, the main halyard can be used.

Even at anchor overnight, I wrap the jib halyard to ensure that a thunderstorm doesn't do the jib in. It really paid off on one occasion when we were beset by very severe winds from a thunder head that did drag the anchor and threaten to founder R&R on rocks across the bay.

As I sought to get another anchor out, rain was driven horizontal like ice pellets during the strongest wind this sailor has experienced on or off the water. If there had not been a halyard wrap... who knows? There are many accounts of those who didn't have a wrap and paid the price. This forum sees one or two accounts of it a year.

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2007 : 15:44:37

Sometimes when heavy weather is coming in addition to the halyard wraps I will wrap a bungie or two around the jib.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2007 : 16:16:51

I once watched my neighbor 150 furling jib unfurl in a storm and tear from head to foot. He was not happy. The sail cost a small fortune on his 40 foot Beneteau. Rememberng that, I wrap a length of velcro strap around my furled jib as well as at least two sheet raps.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2007 : 18:25:41

I agree with Arlyn's approach, adding that the logical line is the main halyard, since it comes off the front of the mast, and that it should be wrapped in a spiral opposite to the sail wraps. The issue is the exposed edges on the upper 2/3 of the furler, which are not protected well by the sheets or a bungee toward the bottom. Very high winds can sneak in under the edges and start pulling things apart.

When a major storm (tropical or hurricane) was coming up the coast, I took my sails completely off--including the furled genoa. Saving your sails is worth 20 minutes of work before and after a tropical storm. Several times, that action caused the storm to turn out to sea!

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.