head sail

[bobflshmn]

recently purchased an 88, 26d. for the price I did not spend a lot of time looking at sails other than pictures which seemed to be current. Long story short what I believed to be a 150 genoa in need of cleaning was in fact an improperly stored genoa with some pour repairs and some spots worn thin. I am wondering a few things. Prior to this boat we sailed a Hobie 18. When I replace it do I stick with a genoa or go with a standard Jib? I do not plan or racing but we all know what happens when two boats are headed the same direction. If the genoa gets to be to much I am assuming I can all ways reef it by rolling it in. Advise is needed here, thanks

[grady]

I guess you have a roller fuler? If that is the case yes I would go with a 150. If it is a hank on and you are just cruzing then I would go with a 100 percent.

[bobflshmn]

I guess you have a roller fuler? If that is the case yes I would go with a 150. If it is a hank on and you are just cruzing then I would go with a 100 percent.

I do have a roller fuller. Thanks

[dlandersson]

If you have a RF, rolling it in is a way to reef it. Generally, a 150% Genoa gives you the most flexibility. Then the question becomes, are you going to have a strip of UV material added or use a "sock"?

recently purchased an 88, 26d. for the price I did not spend a lot of time looking at sails other than pictures which seemed to be current. Long story short what I believed to be a 150 genoa in need of cleaning was in fact an improperly stored genoa with some pour repairs and some spots worn thin. I am wondering a few things. Prior to this boat we sailed a Hobie 18. When I replace it do I stick with a genoa or go with a standard Jib? I do not plan or racing but we all know what happens when two boats are headed the same direction. If the genoa gets to be to much I am assuming I can all ways reef it by rolling it in. Advise is needed here, thanks

[Cougar]

It largely depends on the average wind conditions. A partly rolled-in genoa doesn't perform as well as a normal jib. Just like a partly rolled-in jib doesn't perform as well as a storm jib. If you live in a windy area like I do, you don't need a genoa at all. And tacking is much easier with a jib too.

[Seapup]

I do have a roller fuller. Thanks

You already have a genoa, for the $350 they cost new a stock jib is hard to beat for the money. You can compare it to the genoa you already have and worse case if its not enough you are not out much money.

A quick search will pull up lots of debates for the jib vs genoa...

BWY has some recommends by boat on their site.

http://bwyachts.com/web%20catalog%20312 ... lsizes.htm

[bobflshmn]

You already have a genoa, for the $350 they cost new a stock jib is hard to beat for the money. You can compare it to the genoa you already have and worse case if its not enough you are not out much money.

A quick search will pull up lots of debates for the jib vs genoa...

BWY has some recommends by boat on their site.

http://bwyachts.com/web%20catalog%20312 ... lsizes.htm

I had no idea they were so cheap. I was willing to pay that much for a used one!. Great infomation on the link. Looks like a standard sail today and a spin when my skills improve!

[Judy B]

recently purchased an 88, 26d. for the price I did not spend a lot of time looking at sails other than pictures which seemed to be current. Long story short what I believed to be a 150 genoa in need of cleaning was in fact an improperly stored genoa with some pour repairs and some spots worn thin. I am wondering a few things. Prior to this boat we sailed a Hobie 18. When I replace it do I stick with a genoa or go with a standard Jib? I do not plan or racing but we all know what happens when two boats are headed the same direction. If the genoa gets to be to much I am assuming I can all ways reef it by rolling it in. Advise is needed here, thanks

We can build a custom fitted 135% for a Mac26D. We've done it many times. It all depends on where you have genoa tracks placed. The OEM boats didn't have genoa tracks installed in the right place, but lots of 26D and 26S (also known as 26C for classic) have tracks that make quite possible to design a good performing 135% that can be sailed as a hank on, or furled down to the size of a small jib.

We custom designed and built a furling 135% for the 26C shown below. When it's being used full size, it sheets to the tracks on the cockpit coaming. The skipper has to move the sheets to the middle track when it's reefed to the 1st reef mark (same area as a 109%), and to the front genoa tracks when reefed to the 2nd reef mark (same area as an 86% jib). It has a foam luff pad to flatten the draft when reefed, so it points quite well in all three configurations.

Please note that it's not usually cost effective to convert a hank on sail to a roller furling one, unless you do it yourself. It's not inexpensive to have somebody figure out where to put the foam luff pad so it works correctly, add the luff tape, and, usually, a UV cover. You're paying for design time, dissembling time, and alteration time.

Also, when converting the genoa to RF, the shape is compromised. You usually have to reduce the luff of a 150% genoa by 1.0-1.75 feet to fit on the furler, so the clew height changes and it may have a funny shape when sheeted, unless you have a lot of genoa track available for adjusting. When you shorten the luff, the draft position changes as well, so it's not going to point quite as well.

Fair winds,
Judy B

[grady]

Fair winds,
Judy B

Man that is sexy looking boat!!!!!!!!!

[bobflshmn]

Judy B thanks for the reply. I do have tracks back at the cockpit but mounted on the sides, but I do not have a set of tracks forward. My 88 does not have sides as high was what you show in the picture; I am guessing it might be an X model? I will keep your recommendations in mind before I make my choice.

[Judy B]

Judy B thanks for the reply. I do have tracks back at the cockpit but mounted on the sides, but I do not have a set of tracks forward. My 88 does not have sides as high was what you show in the picture; I am guessing it might be an X model? I will keep your recommendations in mind before I make my choice.

Hi Bob,

The 26X wasn't built until 1995. So if you've got a 1988, it's not a 26x. It's a 26D, built from 1986-1989. the 26S was built from 1989-1995. The 26S and 26D were almost identical to each other, with exception of the way the keel was attached. The 26D had a lifting daggar board keel and S had a swing keel. The rigs were virtually identical, and the hull moulds were also virtually identical.

Here is another pic of a 1988 MacGregor 26D from an outdated "for sale" ad at the following link: http://www.mostsailboats.org/1988-macgregor-26d-7/ . It's built the same way as the one I showed in my previous post.

Fair winds,
Judy

[grady]

The aft tracks in the cockpit are for a 150. The tracks fwd of those are for a 135. If you want options with your roller fuler to reef you will want the tracks to go fwd. i should get a new pic for Judy B with my new additions. I have put on longer tracks in the front because my 100 or so % is a deck sweeper. (J22 sail) it fits better than I expected and at wind speeds above 8 I have been able to hold off one of my nemeses (a cat 30 with a really goos sailer. We both single hand on our wedeneday night races)

The boat in the pic is a 94 S model. Serial number 4697.

[bobflshmn]

Thanks Grady. The PO stated he went to the original cleats when sailing with reduced sails. I have since concluded he never actually sailed this boat. Have decided to save up and get a new 150. Seems like the most versital option.

[cruiser]

............... My 88 does not have sides as high was what you show in the picture..............

Hi Bob,
My understanding is that some (all?) of the 26Ds built prior to 89 had the lower sides. Sometime in 89 the sides began matching those of the future 26S.

[bobflshmn]

Hi Bob,
My understanding is that some (all?) of the 26Ds built prior to 89 had the lower sides. Sometime in 89 the sides began matching those of the future 26S.

Thanks. As it turns out it looks like I do have the forward slides afterall. Looks like I am good to go with the genoa at any setup.