New Genoa Advice

[MarkStanton]

After struggling for too many years with a far too small a Jib the budgetary approval has been gained (the wife said yes) for the purchase of a shiny new Genoa. (150%)

This is duly ordered from the nice men at Doyle and my thoughts turned to what else I needed to make the new kit work.

I already have the Genoa cars (used occasionally for the cruising chute).

I assume it will fit the existing furling drum OK (the standard one from MacGregor) If anyone thinks otherwise please shout.

I think the only thing I need to do is buy a new sheets. On our Jib we have one line attached in the middle to the Jib which seems to work well.

So I was planning on doing the same thing but to save me trying to work it out and getting it wrong can anyone advise me on the correct length required ? I am assuming 12mm is a good thickness again shout if you think something else.

All the above is for a 26x.

Thanks all, Mark

[They Theirs]

MarkStanton
Hi Mark, You Failed to mention if you were purchasing a custom made #1 genoa sail, and what you were going to use it for. The Genoa on the Mac is a light air sail is limited in its ability to point, and when partially reefed the genoas ability to sail on the wind does not improve as the wind picks up. It does reduce the amount of sail presented, but shape is compromised and there is a very compromised shape along with the inevitable forestay sag. The spreader length combines with the outboard chain plates to limit the sheeting angle for the genoa. (Not a problem with the #3 Jib) A Custom made genoa may be ordered with heavier Dacron cloth, or upgraded to lightweight composite sails that hold their shape better in stronger winds. You can also order a higher clew for better visibility and a flatter or fuller shape to better your sailing area. Dont count on the reefed genoa to be a lampshade Do All sail, providing sailing in all winds, they do not work well reefed more than 10 or 15%. If you are purchasing your sail for light air sailing and do not intend to spend too much, I suggest a stock sail from a dealer for about $330 on a good deal. They are cut for general sailing and will not perform like a custom made #1 genoa of low stretch material and a drive shape to benefit your sailing in more conditions. You get what you pay for in sails; a custom sail cost three times the original but provides better performance and control if constructed properly. You can have the loft install tell tails, stripes for depth, upgraded leach and foot cord controls. Think about your genoa tracks and how your powering up or down the sail can benefit its performance along with the lack of an inboard/outboard track to benefit point of sailing and the difficulty in changing headsails and their CDI FF2 Roller reefing's lack of a genuine halyard to benefit any luff tension for improved sailing.

[Night Sailor]

For a standard factory Doyle, 150% genoa for the X, 50' of line for the sheets is adequate. 12mm (1/2") is too large and heavy for the standard weight of sail, which is basically a light air sail. I suggest that 8 or 9 mm is good enough.

If you are not racing or hyper about speed, the standard genoa is good for cruising from 0 to 15 knots, but can handle 25 knots easily, depending on direction intended. The more it's furled, the less it likes to go upwind as it loses it's best shape.

[Frank C]

If you refer to the Inventory of Lines that dealer Bill offered on his parts list, you'll get 66 feet for the Genny sheet. The factory-issue is 5/16" but I'd probably use 3/8" for a replacement - StaSet would work best for me, easier to handle & coil ... light-wt lines aren't a priority where I'm sailing, and a whisker pole is very close to top of my "imminent" goodies list.

The furler can handle your Genoa but depending on how you selected line-length for your furling line, it may or may not be enough to reel-in the longer sail. The Inventory shows 43 feet will be enough to furl the factory Genoa, and the economy-braid used by the factory would be fine. Don't try to cheat with quarter-inch furling line - BTDT, it won't fit onto the drum. If I could find a small nylon 12-braid in West Marine's bargain store, I'd go ahead & try it for the furler, guessing that the soft, stretchy braid might wrap the drum better than StaSet.

On Edit: oops - that Inventory of Lines was from Powersailing Center. The lengths shown for jib sheet (46') and Genoa sheet (66') refer to the single line that can be doubled at the clew to form both sheets, port & starb'd.

From PowerSailingCenter's Replacement Parts List:

5/16" White Economy Polyester Yacht Braid
Mac324 Furling Line (3/16" x 43ft) $13.75 ea
Mac325 Genoa Sheet (66 ft) 26M-X $33.00 ea
Mac326 Jib Halyard (50 ft) 26M-X $25.00 ea
Mac327 Jib Sheet (46 ft) 26M-X $23.00 ea
Mac328 Main Halyard (60 ft) 26X $30.00 ea
Mac330 Main Halyard (64 ft) 26M $32.00 ea
Mac329 Main Sheet (46 ft) 26M-X $23.00 ea
Mac331 Spinnaker Sheet (70 ft) 26M-X $35.00 ea
Mac332 Mast Raising Line (48ft) 26X $25.00 ea
Mac333 Boom Vang (12ft) 26M-X $6.00 ea

[Chip Hindes]

I assume from your post you've already ordered the standard Mac Genny from Doyle. If so, telling you all the things you might have done instead is quite a waste of time. If not, and you still conclude the stock genny is what you want, I'm about 95% sure if you order one from a dealer the selling price includes the correct length sheet. The 26M and 26X gennies are identical, so all dealers should have them. Check Bill@Boats4Sail on this website for AFAIK the best prices.

To answer your questions:

The CDI FF2 furler is standard for genny as well as jib-equipped Macs. Make sure you get the genny designed for the furler rather than the hank on. You'll need quite a few more wraps on the drum to fully furl it, so if yours is set up for the 100% jib, you may need a longer furling line. Can't help you with the length on that but I believe it's been published on this site a number of times.

A single sheet folded in half and looped once through the clew is fine as well; otherwise you'll need to tie multiple knots which in my experience tend to foul. I'm 99% sure the "standard" sheet is not 12mm but 3/8", closer to 10mm but I think 9mm would probably be OK. Can't help you with the length but I believe that's been published previously as well.

[delevi]

Mark,

Unless I misunderstood, using just one sheet doesn't sound like a good idea. A single line, looped through the clew gives you two different sheets, each running to port and starboard. The sail will probably come with sheets already, but 5/16" line is standard and should work just fine. I think the rest have answered your other questions.


Night Sailor Wrote

the standard genoa is good for cruising from 0 to 15 knots, but can handle 25 knots easily, depending on direction intended.

Are you kidding? At 25 knots, I have my main reefed and 100% jib furled in part way. I have never used a genoa, but can't imagine using 210 sq ft of headsail in those conditions on anything but down wind. The boat would be completely overpowered on a beam reach or higher.

Leon