New jib for 367

[SV Alfresco]

I want to replace the jib on my 367. The present one was replaced by the previous owner and was made from another sail. I understand the original jib was 95%. I read that Garner replaced his with a 110% some years ago and was thinking about going smaller.  I'm not sure what to get, so I'm asking for opinions here. Also, is there any standards for a yankee jib pertaining to how high the cut should be?  Any recommendation for the staysail? The present staysail is hanked and I prefer not going to the expense for a furler.  I replaced the main last year and it made a huge difference. Can't imagine how good it will be with all new sails.

Thanks,
Mike

[Dale Tanski]

Mike,

I can't tell you how good it is to hear a cruising sailor state "I replaced the main last year and it made a huge difference."  I continually spout that sails die over time and because of that their waning performance is not noticed.  Its kind of like when you put a brand new set of tires on your car, oh what a difference in the ride. It's almost like you bought a new car.  New properly designed, cut and properly trimable sails can add many many miles on to a days sail. That of course can mean the difference between arriving at a destination in time for dinner or after dark.  Groping for an anchorage with a flashlight or watching the setting sun with an adult beverage in your hand while reading a good book or hearing the pitter of rain drops on the overhead or donning your foulies. It can also mean the life or death of your ride trying to crawl off of a lee shore with a line wrapped around a fouled prop shaft in continuous lightning strikes and 35 kts.

I switched to a yankee cut headsail when I ditched our 150% years ago.  For the most part I didn't like to grind all of the cloth back every time you tacked.  It got caught on the spreaders, the inner stay and whatever else it could find.  I also wanted to see forward, and the 150% was basically cut as a deck sweeper.  Carrying the bag to and from the boat each season was also a problem and the weight issue seemed to get worse every year even though I wasn't getting any older! Must be the spiders.

The yankee cut replacement (simply a high clew) has been a wonderful thing.  It passed easily through the headstay gap and provides excellent vision forward to the lee side.  As I recall mine is somewhere around a 120 and it is just the ticket up to 16 knots true.  At that point the boat really wants to round on up to unload but that is exactly what you want.  Once we decide that the 16 kt mark is here to stay, we roll it completely up and just sail on the staysail and the boat balances nicely.  Keep in mind my setup is the ketch with the staysail but all things will be equal as your higher rig is balanced out by the deeper fin and rudder. 

The height of the clew is a function of the lead angle and the size of the sail.  It must be designed to allow the same type of twist of the top of the leech that you are accustomed to now within your lead cars adjustability range.  A well designed sail will basically keep the car about where it is currently located. 

As for the staysail, what ever you buy, keep the construction and cloth strength up as that becomes your go to when the wind is blowing dogs off their chains.  Staying with the hanks will keep about $3k out of the equation for a well made furler and the added luff tape required to mount the sail to the extrusion, not to mention replacing the labor intensive UV protection every 5 years.  It does seem an overkill for about 100 sqft of canvas. 

If you would like, we would be glad to recommend and quote you a North.  All you need to do is send me your E-mail address under private correspondence and we will provide you a thorough quote and specification sheet as well as competitive pricing.

Dale Tanski
Obersheimer Sailor Supply
North Sails Buffalo
Maruska hull#40

[SV Alfresco]

Thanks Dale,

Here's what I'm thinking: The original design called for a 95% jib on the 367. The 365's mast is 1.5' forward of the 367, so a 110 on that is smaller. I read somewhere on that is site, that Garner has a 110% on his 367 and thought about going smaller the next time around. He also upgraded ro bigger winches and mine are the original smaller ones. So I'm thinking about going with a 95 or 100 jib and getting a new staysail also. 

Mike

[Dale Tanski]

Mike,
Send me your E-mail address and I will get you a quote together for headsails.

Dale
Obersheimer Sailor Supply
North Buffalo

[kevin barber]

The 95% jib is perfect for the Cutter.  I always use the staysail in conjunction with the jib.  Personally, I wouldn't want anything bigger than 100%.

[SailingSeaDragon]

Mike,

My plan when replacing the head sail on Sea Dragon is to replace it with a 95 or 100. This is likely my last season with the 110.

Like Kevin, more often than not I sail with the staysail.

For what it is worth
Garner

[SV Alfresco]

Thanks guys. I'm going with the 95%. No sense trying to outsmart the naval architect that originally designed the boat.

Mike