After sailing M-17 #633 for several months last season, I am in the process of coming to decisions as to how (or if) I would like to modify it for the coming season. I will be sailing most of the time solo, mostly on the Potomac River, but also at times on the Chesapeake Bay. I would also like to race in the local cruising class races. I have 85% and 109% hank-on headsails, but no genoa. My main concern is easy main reefing, but headsails can also be a problem when alone. As an M-boat novice, I'd like to solicit opinions and advice, for which I give my thanks in advance. Here are my options: Headsails: 1) Make no changes, 2) add a 150% hank-on genoa for racing and light airs or 3) put on a roller-reefer with a 130% genny and sell my hank-on sails. Furler: Ease and safety in reducing headsail area when single-handing (most of my sailing). Keeps me off the foredeck. However, less efficiency in headsail performance when partially furled, which would probably be most of the time. I've heard that furlers can fail when you need them most, but present-day designs seem to be reliable. Hank-on sails: Probably I would start with the 109% most of the time. How often would I actually have to change to the 85%, assuming I can easily reef the main? Probably would not start with the 150% very often, since single-handing it will be overpowered in not too much wind, and I want to avoid changing sails when alone. Racing, I will have a crew, and can therefore use the big genny. 2) Reefing - I have seen (Gary O's, for example) neat single-line reefing systems which involve leading the reefing line to the base of the mast and round to the cockpit. How much in ease of operation and performance would I give up by terminating the reefing line at a cleat on the boom after a turning cheek block at the tack? How about falling back to separate lines at tack and clew, both terminated on the boom? Being able to reef the main when alone is probably my most important task. Just trying to make it easy. Any inputs would be appreciated. Thanks, Rick ************** Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
Rick, the one thing not mentioned in our discussion about reefing at the Washington Sailing Marina was the effect of the rudder when the boat is making sternway. It would pay to experiment backwinding the jib, say, to port and jamming the helm also to port. The two then work at opposites and may just balance each other. Anybody on the list? I would think for any headsail roller furler to be reliable, regardless of configuration, should be the failsafe ability to cast off a halyard and get the sail or better the whole apparatus back down on deck in case of a jam. Friend of mine couldn't do that with his and nearly crashed in the Bay. I think the sail was destroyed. Another guy at sea in a full gale had to climb a tall mast and use wire cutters. Fun!> From: JDavies104@aol.com> Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 10:16:15 -0500> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: M_Boats: Winter decisions> > After sailing M-17 #633 for several months last season, I am in the process > of coming to decisions as to how (or if) I would like to modify it for the > coming season. I will be sailing most of the time solo, mostly on the Potomac > River, but also at times on the Chesapeake Bay. I would also like to race in the > local cruising class races. I have 85% and 109% hank-on headsails, but no > genoa. My main concern is easy main reefing, but headsails can also be a > problem when alone. As an M-boat novice, I'd like to solicit opinions and > advice, for which I give my thanks in advance. Here are my options:> > Headsails: 1) Make no changes, 2) add a 150% hank-on genoa for racing and > light airs or 3) put on a roller-reefer with a 130% genny and sell my hank-on > sails. > > Furler: Ease and safety in reducing headsail area when single-handing (most > of my sailing). Keeps me off the foredeck. However, less efficiency in > headsail performance when partially furled, which would probably be most of the > time. I've heard that furlers can fail when you need them most, but > present-day designs seem to be reliable.> > Hank-on sails: Probably I would start with the 109% most of the time. > How often would I actually have to change to the 85%, assuming I can easily > reef the main? Probably would not start with the 150% very often, since > single-handing it will be overpowered in not too much wind, and I want to avoid > changing sails when alone. Racing, I will have a crew, and can therefore use the > big genny.> > 2) Reefing - I have seen (Gary O's, for example) neat single-line reefing > systems which involve leading the reefing line to the base of the mast and > round to the cockpit. How much in ease of operation and performance would I give > up by terminating the reefing line at a cleat on the boom after a turning > cheek block at the tack? How about falling back to separate lines at tack and > clew, both terminated on the boom? Being able to reef the main when alone is > probably my most important task. Just trying to make it easy.> > Any inputs would be appreciated. Thanks,> > Rick> > > **************> Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.> > http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489> _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _________________________________________________________________ Watch “Cause Effect,” a show about real people making a real difference. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/MTV/?source=text_watchcause
If funding isn't a problem, go with roller furling--that from a hanked on sail bigot. I watch my friends easily adjust to conditions in Idaho, and I'm envious. 9 times out of ten, if you can get the headsail under control (down or rolled up), you won't have to worry about reefing the main sail anyway. I believe the roller furling systems available are quite reliable, and a well constructed headsail isn't going to make the boat suffer much from a performance perspective. t
As a guy with an M17 with a CDI roller reefing head sail, I'm very satisfied with it. The only problem I've had is when I didn't keep enough tension on the furling line when I let the sail out and the line jammed in the reel when I tried to roll the sail back in. On Jan 8, 2008, at 10:03 AM, Tom Smith wrote:
If funding isn't a problem, go with roller furling--that from a hanked on sail bigot. I watch my friends easily adjust to conditions in Idaho, and I'm envious. 9 times out of ten, if you can get the headsail under control (down or rolled up), you won't have to worry about reefing the main sail anyway.
I believe the roller furling systems available are quite reliable, and a well constructed headsail isn't going to make the boat suffer much from a performance perspective. t
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--Gary Hyde 2005 M17 sailboat #637 'Hydeaway 2' We can't change the wind, but we can trim our sails.
participants (4)
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edward haile -
Gary M Hyde -
JDavies104＠aol.com -
Tom Smith