Measuring my Genoa

Trying to kill two birds with one stone. Measuring to see if there is anything I can do to keep
the old genoa sail or if not measurements for a replacement.

[@AKBoaterChad]

From the pub video to this geometry video-both were entertaining to watch. Great videos! I also bought a used boat with an oversized Genoa. I always had my cars as far back as possible and had a really loose foot. I eventually ripped the end off the track off with a small gust close hauled. Measuring the sail, I found it was about 165%! Luckily, I had the original jib (measures out to 120%) that I was able to sew on a curler luff tape and am now using it. But, I still have my cars at the rear of the tracks and the foot is a little loose, so it isn’t perfect but it points a lot better. Replacing the track that broke was really easy and it would have been easy to lengthen it. If you have reasonable access to the underside of your tracks, replacing them with longer ones will be much much cheaper than a new Genoa; your tracks appear too short anyway. If you buy a replacement track with the same hole pattern, you only need to drill new holes for the extra length and rebed. Make sure to check that the area under the track is strengthened and there are washers on the bolts. Mine didn’t even have washers, so no wonder it eventually ripped out. (Of course, you probably already made a decision and cover it in a future video, but I just wanted to commiserate with you about how frustrating it is to buy a used boat with too big a Genoa and the problems that stem from it). I’ve saved this video and will be following your methods for measuring my jib and boat to see where the ideal car point is relative to my track. Cheers!

[@sailingcosiloveit]

Hi Chad, good read, 165% is a hell of a hand full. Rather you than me with that one. I know what you mean only too well about sails that don’t and won’t fit the boat you just purchased. It takes time for you to fathom out all the problems a boat comes with a second hand boat but we have to start somewhere. It’s great as you get through the problems at hand and the boat gets sweeter and sweeter as you conquer them. Till one day she is exactly what you expect her to be and goes on to even impress you. Mike

[@iSnapbox]

Interesting ........ and gave us a good luff too!

[@sailingcosiloveit]

I like it 😂

[@sailaway4559]

Very informative, great video

[@sailingcosiloveit]

Cheers 👍

[@ChrisWilson-mg1it]

Would it be worth approaching a sail maker for sail sizes, I bet one would have sail sizes for your boat

[@sailingcosiloveit]

Hi Chris, think I’ve asked 90% of them now. They all want me to supply the measurements bar one. He said he has made them before and is not forthcoming with the sizes but will produce a sail at a cost. A good option is to fill in the boat spec sheet with crusader sails but a little worried as my track is so small. Think it was designed for hanks. Mike

[@ratusbagus]

Shouldn't the clew line hit the centre of the track so that you can set twist or no twist? Or even hit the fwd end? Existing sail is way off that. Why not replace with much longer tracks and reposition them to accommodate the existing sail with loads of tolerance to play with? It would also work for the correct size sail in a few years.

[@sailingcosiloveit]

Hi Ratus, centre of the track for Hank on agreed, near the aft for roller cos as you reef you need to move the car forward to keep shape. Soon as the car reaches the front of the track it becomes spent. Think my track is small in length, possibly for just hanks. Long tracks would be great but look like lots of hard work because of interior joinery to dismantle. Think I may be chickening out of that and going for the easy option. Especially as the luff is too long is like a final straw. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want to spend this cash on another sail but feel backed into a corner. Thanks for your input always welcome mike

[@JamieBowenSailingPlymouthUK]

You could run a line from the cockpit forward and through the track block and splice a frictionless ring on the end. Pass the Genoa sheet through the frictionless ring and you can then use it to control the angle of the sheet to the sail. You could go all out and create a twin line barber haulier!

[@SailingInScotland]

​@@JamieBowenSailingPlymouthUK I agree with doing a Barber setup, solves your current problem and gives you a lot more ability to adjust to other conditions.

[@sailingcosiloveit]

Hi Jamie, in the time that has passed since releasing this video I’ve doubled track length and had a new foresail cut and it’s all working sweetly. Thanks for your comments though, kind regards mike