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new headsail

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panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/03/2010 : 10:46:16

I'm thinking about a new headsail. When I bought the boat I took the standard hank-on 150 had luff tape and a UV cover put on,and installed a Hood furling system. I am wondering if a new 135 built for a furling system would give me the same performance as the old 150. I have a SR/FK and mostly cruise. I usually singlehand and just enjoy an evening sail. Put some Buffet on open a cold one and enjoy the sunset. When I want speed I work SCCA races at Mid-Ohio and do some autocrossing also. I E-mailed Toby at Kelly Hanson and he said a new loose-footed main would be the same price but need some input on the headsail. KJ

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2010 : 13:46:02

If I understand your question correctly, you're asking if a new 135% jib, that is specifically designed for roller furling, can be expected to perform aas well as your 150% hanked-on jib that you had modified for use as a roller furler?

I don't think we can give you a clear answer to that question, because there are too many unknowns. We don't know the quality of the old sail, that is, whether it was a well-made, well-cut sail to begin with. If it was a bad sail to begin with, re-cutting it probably didn't make it any better. We don't know how badly the old sail is worn or bagged out. We don't know whether or not the alterations were done skillfully.

A good sailmaker will make a sail that is specifically designed for the buyer's intended use. If it's going to be used on a roller furler, then a sail that is specifically designed for that purpose is likely to be more efficient than a sail that is not. The problem is that some sailmakers have only one design for a sail for a Catalina 25, and, if the buyer wants a hank-on sail, they put hanks on it. If the buyer wants a roller furler, the sailmaker puts a tape on it. Otherwise, it might be the same sail.

Personally, if I wasn't a racer, and if optimal performance didn't matter to me, I wouldn't buy a new sail until I felt a compelling need for one. There will be a time when you'll get tired of repairing an old sail, or it'll become too expensive to repair it, or you'll begin to notice too many other boats passing you by or outpointing you, or you might want to try your hand at racing. For each person, the motivation is different, so the decision as to when it's time to buy a new sail is one that only you can make.

A few years ago, I bought a new sail, and it turned out that it wasn't as good as my over 20 year old sail, and, as a result, I rarely used the new sail that I had paid $600. for.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 02/03/2010 14:07:20

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2010 : 20:08:06

Now <u>that</u> is good advice.