Stay sail advice needed

[oak]

I am considering scrapping the furler on the stay sail.
when I fitted it the sailmaker put a wire luff in the sail.
My question is.....when I remove the wire should there be a cord/rope in the luff.?
I don't think I can leave the wire as the sail may not "collasp" neatly.
What is in the new stayails.
Thanks for advice.
Oak
"Merlin"

[Dennis]

Hello Jack

When I took delivery of "Mary Ann" it was accidently supplied with a jib sail fitted with wire luff for use with a furler (something to do with a repeat order, mine being only the second boat to be supplied with cream sails, the other previous boat being Mike Brookes' Sea Badger II). Unfortunately, "Mary Ann" was not fitted with a furler for the jib.

Honner Marine got the sail supplier (Hyde) to replace it with a hanked on version. When this arrived it was fitted with a wire bolt luff which was so stiff it was impossible to downhaul the sail. The stiff wire cable caused the hanks to twist and jam on the forestay.

After discussion with Bob Brown (HM) he told me that it should have been fitted with a flexible wire luff (SS wire cable similar to that fitted to the centreboard lifting drum).

I returned the sail and it was third time lucky:). Sail fitted with a very flexible wire cable luff. Sail downhauls freely.

I have to say that the sail sets beautifully especially when beating to windward, with no sagging of the luff. However I do find the hanking on of the sail and the subsequent removal at the end of the day a pain. I am still considering whether fit furling to the jib!

Cheers

Dennis

CC19 #100 Mary Ann

[David Hudson]

Ring Paul Austin who is the sails manager at Hyde and is involved with Cape Cutter.
Tel. 0845 5438949 or mobile 07801 907458 - email paulaustin@hydesails.co.uk

He has helped me with the development of a gennaker for Tokoloshe.


He talks sailor not boffin. I met the Hyde team at the Boat Show they are all very approachable.

[oak]

Thanks Dennis and David.
It would seem that there should be something in the luff,I will have a word with the contact that you have given me.
I agree that its very neat having the furler,saves hanking on and off and stows the sail nicely but it just doesn't,to my mind set very well.or indeed furl particularly easily unlike the genoa.
I haven't given up on it,especially as it has cost quite a lot of money but I am not entirely satisfied with it
Jack

[David Hill]

I have the hanked on staysail too. To avoid the hanking off and on after each sail, I've had a cover made that when the sail is dropped is zipped over it. I think it looks very neat, and matches the mainsail cover.

Cheers,

David

[David Hudson]

Having no luff wire in a foresail is like having no elastic in your knickers: something's got to give.

Hanked or unhanked there will always be a luffwire. It's in the maths.

For a hanked sail, David's solution of a cover is a good one.

Are you a furler or a hanker?

[Dennis]

I have the hanked on staysail too. To avoid the hanking off and on after each sail, I've had a cover made that when the sail is dropped is zipped over it. I think it looks very neat, and matches the mainsail cover.

Hello David

Making some sort of cover for the staysail is on option I am considering. However, after one season of use my mainsail has quite a lot of mildew staining. The mainsail cover seems to keep the moisture in!

Have you had any such problems with the staysail?

My sails are cream and the mildew shows quite clearly.

Who made your sail cover? Do you have the dimensions? How about posting a photo.

Cheers

Dennis

CC19 #100 Mary Ann

[zimp]

Are you a furler or a hanker?

Last Friday first sail with my new hanked staysail (from Jeckells).
My cc19 points much higher now! So I think that I am converted from a furler into a hanker.

[SimonW]

There really should be little or no differential between a brand new hanked on sail or a brand new furled sail, provided that the halyard tension is the same and it is correctly set up for a furler. The furler sail needs a torsion line in to be at its most effective.

Over time, if left furled and under tension, the furled sail will lose its shape faster than a carefully cared for hanked sail. However dropping the furled sails and storing them rolled will reduce that.

Of course if you buy any new sail it should sail better than an old one. If you really want the ultimate pointing (slightly irrelevant on a gaffer) then the sail should be in a foresail attached foil system........