Sail Selection

Listees, I have decided that I need to change my RF headsail from a 155 to a 135. I am a day sailor primarily, and my spouse does not like to go out in heavy wind. My brother does, and we have had some fun sails. I am getting older, and a #2 would probably serve me well as an all-purpose headsail. They say that we have primarily light winds here, but I don't know when they are measuring. I have to reef plenty of times. My 29 likes to mostly sail on it's feet. My #1 can be recut and probably give me another 7 years, for about $800 or I can sell it on e-bay for maybe $500 and buy a new #2 for about 2k. Remember, I only sail 5 months a year so my sails have a long life. I'm undecided right now, leaning toward re-cutting my sail. Thanks, David Dobbs, Cal 29 411

I would sell the 150 and look at Bacon and ascotates to see if you can find a used sail that will fit your boat. I believe that cutting a 150 down to 135 is not the best way to go yes it can be but what will you end up with. 135 is normaly a heavier oz sail than a 150 plus the broadseam curve is different/ Just my opinion. Dave --- On Wed, 12/9/09, david dobbs <tm… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: From: david dobbs <tm… [at] yahoo.com> Subject: [Cal_Boats] Sail Selection To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 5:23 PM Listees, I have decided that I need to change my RF headsail from a 155 to a 135. I am a day sailor primarily, and my spouse does not like to go out in heavy wind. My brother does, and we have had some fun sails. I am getting older, and a #2 would probably serve me well as an all-purpose headsail. They say that we have primarily light winds here, but I don't know when they are measuring. I have to reef plenty of times. My 29 likes to mostly sail on it's feet. My #1 can be recut and probably give me another 7 years, for about $800 or I can sell it on e-bay for maybe $500 and buy a new #2 for about 2k. Remember, I only sail 5 months a year so my sails have a long life. I'm undecided right now, leaning toward re-cutting my sail. Thanks, David Dobbs, Cal 29 411

David, I've found that the best source for used sails in Minney's of Newport Beach, CA; best selection and best prices by a long shot...to the point of I don't bother looking elsewhere. Another idea, perish the thought, is looking at an offshore (Chinese) sail, or a do your own measurement domestic label sail, usually fabricated off shore anyway. Often you can cop a new sail for not much more than outfits like Bacon are charging for one that's half blown out. I use a post PHRF competition 134 Mylar Genoa off of a Nationally ranked Santana 20 as a foresail, a mylar laminate. The fellow gets new sails every two or three years and I pick up his old ones for $100.00, can't beat that! They have a good shape that pulls hard in strong winds yet is still manageable, and is light weight enough to work efficiently in the light stuff, a great all around combination. In Santa Monica Bay, particularly in the Spring, the winds start out light at noon and then build up to 15 plus knots towards 3-4PM, so often a 155 leaves you overpowered, unless you are carrying extra crew. I typically double hand. My main is the original 7 oz. main from 1962, heavily battened. Lately I put my own battens in using pop rivets and epoxy...cheep, huh? It's one way to get out those ugly vertical pleats! [I had the main recut, but it was done inadequately, as the sailmaker kept the big grommet tack of the first and only reef in place. He tried to talk me out of it and I should have listened to him...he suggested I put in better back stay tightening gear if I wanted to flatten my sail, which I did.] But in all practicality putting in all those battens... it was probably more work than it' was worth vs. biting the bullet and getting a new sail. But, off course, experimenting is fun. Getting back to light weight foresails, I'm thinking of getting new, light weight sheets. I've been looking at dyneema polyester blend single braid (Salsa), dyneema polypro blends(Apex), and even a polyester braid over polypro double braid(Polilite), rope featured in Annapolis Performance Sailing catalog. I'm looking for jib sheet that will fly through the blocks easily on a tack, and not get heavy and soggy when wet. I'm also looking for an alternative way to connect the sheet to the clew, like the new "spool" shackles, or dyneema loups, that are less apt to snag on the shrouds. Jerry --- On Wed, 12/9/09, David Brown <dr… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: From: David Brown <dr… [at] yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Sail Selection To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 8:11 PM I would sell the 150 and look at Bacon and ascotates to see if you can find a used sail that will fit your boat. I believe that cutting a 150 down to 135 is not the best way to go yes it can be but what will you end up with. 135 is normaly a heavier oz sail than a 150 plus the broadseam curve is different/ Just my opinion. Dave --- On Wed, 12/9/09, david dobbs <tmft567@yahoo. com> wrote: From: david dobbs <tmft567@yahoo. com> Subject: [Cal_Boats] Sail Selection To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 5:23 PM Listees, I have decided that I need to change my RF headsail from a 155 to a 135. I am a day sailor primarily, and my spouse does not like to go out in heavy wind. My brother does, and we have had some fun sails. I am getting older, and a #2 would probably serve me well as an all-purpose headsail. They say that we have primarily light winds here, but I don't know when they are measuring. I have to reef plenty of times. My 29 likes to mostly sail on it's feet. My #1 can be recut and probably give me another 7 years, for about $800 or I can sell it on e-bay for maybe $500 and buy a new #2 for about 2k. Remember, I only sail 5 months a year so my sails have a long life. I'm undecided right now, leaning toward re-cutting my sail. Thanks, David Dobbs, Cal 29 411

David, Our 150 was marginal, slightly blown out, and in need of replacement. We were able to take advantage of some "boat show discount" and bought a new 135. We also went with a lighter Dacron than the original 150. Our thoughts were we would not be out sailing in the higher winds, and the lighter fabrics would provide better shape in lighter winds. John Cal 33 From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of david dobbs Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 6:24 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Sail Selection Listees, I have decided that I need to change my RF headsail from a 155 to a 135. I am a day sailor primarily, and my spouse does not like to go out in heavy wind. My brother does, and we have had some fun sails. I am getting older, and a #2 would probably serve me well as an all-purpose headsail. They say that we have primarily light winds here, but I don't know when they are measuring. I have to reef plenty of times. My 29 likes to mostly sail on it's feet. My #1 can be recut and probably give me another 7 years, for about $800 or I can sell it on e-bay for maybe $500 and buy a new #2 for about 2k. Remember, I only sail 5 months a year so my sails have a long life. I'm undecided right now, leaning toward re-cutting my sail. Thanks, David Dobbs, Cal 29 411

THanks for that lead. Im always on the lookout for good used sailing stuff and this place seems to be a little gem. Much appreciated. best regards and thanks /ch