Replacing Mac 26S jib, considering drifter.

[Stickinthemud57]

First, my questions:

1 - I need to replace my old 100% jib. The boat seems really well-balanced under the current rig (slight weather helm, if any) and keeps pace with even Genoa-rigged boats nicely. Should I go bigger, say 105 or 110%, or stick with a 100%. Would I be glad for the extra power, or do I risk upsetting the nice balance the boat seems to have under its current rig?

2 - I want something for downwind and light-air sailing. I read that drifters are easier to manage than a spinnaker (I single-hand a lot), and can be used sailing to windward up to a point. Anyone with experience using a drifter versus a spinnaker? Also, I have no idea what dimensions to be shopping for or how the rigging would need to be set up for my particular boat. Feedback and resources would be greatly appreciated.

Basic info:

'94 Macgregor 26S. Stock sail rig, new mainsail. Cruising sailor, but performance-oriented. Lake sailing in nice weather, no need to be able to storm sail.

The go-to solution on most boats I see is a roller-furled 150% Genoa, but I am not keen on that solution for the following reasons:

Downsides of a roller-furled 150%:
-Must run outside lifelines on my boat, so won't point as well as I would like.
-More difficult to manage than a regular jib.
-Conversion cost around $2,000 with sail, furler, tracks, and attendant rigging.
-Added maintenance concern, more parts to fail.
-Added weight and wind resistance up high could affect stability at anchor (we like to camp at anchor with centerboard up).

Reasons for staying with hank-on jib:
-Easy enough to take up and down since I use a bow-mounted bag.
-Easier to experiment with different sail configurations.
-Simple, trouble-free, low-maintenance.
-Better sail shape and overall performance (so I read. Right?).
-Less costly.

I greatly appreciate any insights and resources that might be offered. Thanks, and have a great day!

[Jimmyt]

Welcome to the forum. As first posts go, yours is a dandy.

I have the 150 on a Furler. I don't find it to be unreliable, but your other observations are pretty accurate. I do run wing on wing downwind with it and it puts a lot of area up compared to a 100 jib.

A 150 furled to 100 won't have as nice of a shape as a 100 jib. However, I'm not racing, so the convenience of the Furler is a good trade against the sail shape for me.

I don't understand how a 150 on a Furler is more difficult to manage than a jib, unless you're talking about headsail changes. If that's your point, I agree. However, once you've raised the mast and pinned the forestay, hoisting, dousing, and reefing with a Furler are pretty convenient.

I don't think your balance would be a problem with a 105 or a 110 - at least not one you couldn't trim out. Since the S is more of a sailboat, it may be more finicky than mine, but I don't have trouble balancing a 150.

If you need to point, I don't think anyone would argue Genoa over jib. As to which one, where would the 105 and 110 sheets have to run? Are you going to get into the shrouds with the bigger sails? If so, that would be a deal breaker for me - especially looking at single handing.

I've got an asymmetrical, but I'll let some of the S owners chime in for that.

I've been thinking about a jib, but I haven't had the need to sail to a destination yet. I usually go out and pick a comfortable broad reach and go where the wind wants me to. If I have a long beat to weather, I hoist the Etec 60.

Again, welcome!

[Stickinthemud57]

Thanks for the response and the welcome.

By "more difficult to manage" (a 150% Genoa), I am not basing that on experience, but expectation. I'm thinking when coming about one would have to be pulling the sail around the mast as the bow comes through the wind. Maybe the wind does that for you? Also, there's the question of trimming. In any kind of breeze at all, one would naturally need to be using winches, making setting and trimming a double-handed operation, never mind the expense of adding winches and cleats. Perhaps this is why I see so many boats sailing under Genoa alone?

I have learned how to manage my 100% without using the winches, so tacking is simple enough (as long as I remember to cleat of both sides of my traveler and release the jib sheet before the jib backfills). I suppose a lot of what passes for preference is based on what one is used to.

I have a Hunter 170 (17' trailer sailer) with roller furling and lovelovelove it. After stepping the mast, rigging the boom, and all the other set-up needed, it is nice just to cast off and unfurl the jib when I'm ready for it, and have learned how to furl it even in a stiff breeze. Only thing I wish were different on that one would be to have a foil. The current set-up does not allow for reefing.

I expect there will come a day when feel I should not be messing about on the deck while underway and will convert to roller furling (maybe even electric. Ooo!). Come that day I will probably lead everything back to the cockpit.

Thanks again for the response. Nice to have the advantage of other people's thoughts and opinions!

[Jimmyt]

By "more difficult to manage" (a 150% Genoa), I am not basing that on experience, but expectation. I'm thinking when coming about one would have to be pulling the sail around the mast as the bow comes through the wind. Maybe the wind does that for you? Also, there's the question of trimming. In any kind of breeze at all, one would naturally need to be using winches, making setting and trimming a double-handed operation, never mind the expense of adding winches and cleats. Perhaps this is why I see so many boats sailing under Genoa alone?

Tacking is not a problem. You start the tack, leaving the leeward side cleated. As the bow comes through, allow the Genoa to backwind, driving the bow through the tack. It will happen quickly, then release the sheet and let the sail blow through. As it blows through, quickly cleat the other sheet. With practice, you'll do it without needing a winch, or even thinking about it. It does take two hands to do it efficiently - releasing with one hand while cleating with the other. I have wheel steering with adjustable friction, so it stays where I leave it. Maybe you could use a tiller tamer to do the same. Since the Genoa won't point as high, the tacks are longer. Also, your boat may come through a tack a lot better than mine as you have about half of my windage. All that to say, I hope an S owner will weigh in as the boats are different.

Trimming in a stiff breeze is much easier with a winch. Lighter air does not require winches if you are reasonably strong.

I took my friend out that has a j-boat. It was blowing around 15-18 max, and he just unfurled my Genoa and sailed on that alone. I would normally unfurl a bit of Genoa and possibly keep the main partially furled in those condition (I have boom furling). But he seemed happy on just the Genoa, and the boat did fine with it. It's a good way to sail lazy. I was letting him sail the boat as he had never been on a Mac before but had heard the rumors...

Not trying to talk you into a 150, but it's not a horrible sail to live with. Keeping the sheets out of the water and out from under foot can be an issue at first.

[Stickinthemud57]

Thanks for that run-down. Essentially the same process I use when tacking.

I definitely see why it's such a popular sailing solution for single-handing and "lazy sailing". Plenty of power, only one sail to manage.

[Interim]

I have a 26S with a 135 roller genny. I don't think I'd go bigger. It tacks easily, just at jimmy describes. When I single-hand, I just put a line across the stern cleats, and put a pony (an elastic tie) around the tiller. If you're quick and smooth while trimming, no winch handle needed. Otherwise, just luff up a bit and you can pull it in.

Mine has the baffles or foam padding to help keep shape as we roll it in, but I'd agree I don't point as high as I'd like. When it the sail is all the way out, we have the jib cars all the way back and the sheet runs outside the shrouds. If we roll it in (15knts or better), then we move the car forward and run the sheets inside.

--john

[Stickinthemud57]

Thanks to all who responded. Lots of useful info!

I finally decided to replace my old jib with a Rolly Tasker sail through Blue Water Yachts. Todd and his wife are Mac26S owners, and he has experimented with all sort of rigs on that boat.

He has developed a solution that they plan to sell as a package which includes the following:
110% jib
Roller furler
Modified rigging to accommodate and optimize this arrangement

If money were no object, I would probably go with this, but having spent a fair amount on the boat in just a few months, I decided I would try to keep costs down for now and maybe go for this mod in a few years when I no long wish to be working on the deck while the boat is underway. For now, being active on the boat is part of my goal to stay physically active, so adding mods that reduce my activity play against that goal.

I received the sail and promptly applied my insignia to it (the boat is named Excitable Boy):



The sail came equipped with twist-on hanks (not the old-school bronze clips I have become accustomed to). I had some misgivings about that but decided to give them a chance. I can say that for me, twist-on hanks are not a good solution. I have found that when I am bringing the sail down, the hanks come off if the luff gets turned 90 degrees to the stay, which happens for about half of the hanks. This is a bad thing for two reasons: 1 - with portions of the sail no longer attached to the stay, they can end up in the water, a really bad thing if the boat is under steam, which is how I am usually bringing the sail down. 2 - when I hoist the sail out of the bag that I keep it stowed in at the bow pulpit, I have to re-set the hanks as I hoist the sail. I am often doing this under steam and anything that complicates this process compromises my safety on the boat.

Hopefully, BWY will get me set up with some regular clip-on hanks.

[Jimmyt]

Love the insignia! Congrats on the new sail.

I've never used the twist on hanks before. My buddies with Hank-on sails have the clip on type. Thanks for the review of twist-on type. Good to know that they are to be avoided.

[NiceAft]

Stickinthemud57,

I get a kick out of you sail insignia. It looks like those giant inflatable guys advertising sales

[Stickinthemud57]

Thanks for the feedback on the insignia. I wanted to bridge the gap between playful and edgy, and think I managed.

I was originally thinking of putting it on the mainsail, but for some inexplicable reason thought that was a bit too ostentatious. For an equally inexplicable reason, I thought it was perfect for the jib. Go figure.

[NiceAft]

Put it on a spinaker