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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

measurements for roller furling headsail

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/04/2003 : 16:11:37

What would be the measurements off luff, leech and foot for a 135% roller furling headsail (C25 standard rig)? I want this sail cut so it's not a deck sweeper and gives room to see under it to leeward (still looking for a used sail).

Other question - is it worth an additional $100 to have a foam luff? I understand this allows you to roll up 5% to 10% more sail and still point fairly well. I want to be able to adjust this sail from about 90% to 135%

Other question - is the stock 110% headsail 6 oz dacron? What about the mainsail? If so, 6 oz seems very tough and I'd guess my (blown out) 150 roller was 3.5 oz.

San Diego winds are usually light. Do I really want 6 oz dacron? If it's over 20 knots I promise the sail will be rolled and I'll be sailing under mainsail alone.

Do I want spreader patches? I've not had a problem yet snagging the spreaders (have boots installed).

One thing I've observed sailing my hank on headsails - the 135 and 155 are deck sweepers and are so low I can't see anything ahead. Seems very dangerous sailing around a crowded bay solo. The 110 is about 2 feet off the deck and visibility is fine. It seems I can point higher with the 110 because it can be sheeted in much tighter (never touches the spreaders). I could see OK with my old roller. All the hank on sails point higher - especially in stronger winds (when I would have taken a few turns on the roller).

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2003 : 16:55:13

Cruising Direct has 135% Roller Furling Genoa 6 oz. that measures

Luff = 28.5'

Leech = 26.8'

Foot = 15.3'

LP = 14.2'

Here's the link

http://www.cruisingdirect.com/InStockCatalinaSails.htm

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2003 : 19:37:12

So we hankers are loosing you back to sloth and indiffernce?

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2003 : 19:54:09

I'm committed to hanking on all winter. I'd like to go back to the roller before the summer cruise to Catalina. Mainly to get rid of 3 sailbags when I am trying to fit 2 kids, 2 dogs and a wife on board.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2003 : 19:59:00

By the way, thanks for the measurements, what is LP?

I'll bet from the CD web site my old 150 was 5 oz.

The C25 sail is $639 and one for the C27 is $808. Another good reason to have the 25.

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2003 : 21:04:50

LP = Distance from clew to forestay in a line perpendicular to the forestay.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/05/2003 : 08:47:08

LP is short for "Luff Perpendicular" and, as J.B. mentioned, is the distance from the headsail's clew to the luff in a line perpendicular to the luff.

It is the LP distance, in relation to the J dimension, that is used to determine a sails percentage (110%, 135%, 150%,...etc).

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 11/05/2003 : 09:30:13

Hi Jim,

You've already gotten some good answers to several of your questions. So, I'll address a couple that have not been dealt with yet.

The stock fabric for the original sails from Catalina was 4.5 oz dacron for both mainsail and 110% jib. Just about any sailmaker though will advise you to go with 6 oz or 6.5 oz dacron when replacing the original sails. Not only is the heavier cloth tougher (for those heavier breeze days); it will keep its "new" shape longer (ie not blow out as soon). You won't be sorry changing to 6 or 6.5 oz sail cloth.

I'd say yes to the sail patches. You aren't worried about snagging. But, you will appreciate the general lack of chafe when close hauled and when tacking.

As far as the "deck sweeper" cut - a jib on a roller furler needs to have the clew cut higher than a hanked on jib. If you don't have the clew cut higher, you'll get a big bunch of sail cloth in the bottom 25% that will affect the smooth furling of the jib......not to mention sail performance if partially furled. Also, remember that your roller furler jib will be higher off the deck simply because of the furler drum's height off the stem fitting. Both of these contribute to better visibility forward when close hauled.

Finally, while it is easy to completely furl the jib in breezes of 20+, that may not be the best choice for good (and safe) boat handling. Reefing the mainsail will almost always be a better choice. Here's why. First, if you furl the jib, the boat's sailplan will be out of balance. The mainsail - by itself - will act like a giant weather vane and tend to bring the boat head-to-wind. Read that as increasing weather helm even if you are not heeling past 20 degrees. Second, with the mainsail fully hoisted, but with no jib, the center of effort is still about as high off the deck as with both sails up - possibly higher. That leverage in the gusts will still be able to heel the boat excessively. Read that as amplification of the boat's already strong tendency to have significant weatherhelm. Finally, with the 135 jib and a reefed mainsail, the boat will have a balanced sail plan and lower center of effort. Both of these will contribute to a more neutral helm and much easier steering in strong breezes. With reefed mainsail, you can still roll up part of the jib as the breeze goes 25+.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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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.