Any Sadler 290 owners here?

[jow]

Hi All,

I am considering 'up-trading' from my Sadler 26 to a 290.
I had a look at one this week and found it ok and nice (Boat was sitting high and dry in a yard).

The only thing which really stroked me was the mainsheet arrangement. The mainsheet is arranged over blocks onto a cleat on the coachroof.
There was no traveller on this boat.

Last year I sailed a Bavaria charterboat in Croatia who had the same arrangement and I have to say (as beeing a racing person who tries to get every little thing out of the sail) I found it to be very bad and hard to adjust in a rush. But on the other hand the sailing down there was more of a long-run type and we didn't adjusted the mainsail extremely often (steady wind )

If there is an 290 owner here can you share some experiences with me?
Is it possible to adjust the mainsail fast enough in a race?
How do you cope without traveller? I found a traveller on my 26 extremely useful for fine-tuning on a beat.

Any thoughs are highly appreciated, as this will influence my decision.

Regards
jow

 

[dt4134]

Not a Sadler 290 owner, so not in a position to fully answer your question, but...

...I believe that they have a separate winch for the mainsheet so it is not as bad as the stereotypical AWB where you have to set up the mainsheet on the winch before opening the clutch.

You should be able to keep the sheet on the winch and the clutch open and treat it as a variant of the German system. So the mainsheet likely won't be as efficient as a cruiser racer but should be effective enough for club racing.

 

[anniebray]

I am a 290 owner but my no means a racer ! Just as JCP says, the main sheet has its own winch (not self tailing) and a jam cleat and also a clutch which of course would be left open if you are using the jam cleat (the jam cleat is handily placed on the side of the companion way for speedy release). I find the arrangement quite satisfactory and am pleased not to have a mainsheet track in the cockpit or on transom. If you so desired I see no reason why you shouldn't fit a track on the cabin roof with extra control lines for the traveller but I should think that the components would need to be quite heavy duty because the mechanical advantage decreases as the mainsheet attachment point goes forward.
Perhaps Wherry will write on this thread...he has managed 10knots on a reach in his 290 !

 

[Slipperman]

Sadler 290 mainsheet

I agree entirely with anniebray. When I took delivery of my Sadler 290, the recommendation was to sail with the clutch open, one turn around the dedicated mainsheet winch and then use the jamcleet. When you need to haul in the sail under tension, another couple of turns go on the winch quickly enough. The lack of a traveller does not worry me, but then I do not race - although the 290 sails so brilliantly that I regularly chase, and catch, 36ft fin keelers! And all the other sail controls really make a difference, giving great overall control.

 

[maxwell edison]

It is certainly possible to fit a traveller and Rampart Yachts were prepared to do so. But I was told that with only one exception no owner saw the need for one. The exception being that one was apparently fitted on Tusitala the 290 that did so well in the Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Race 2006.

I am very happy with the arrangement but then I too am not really a racer or tweaker. All I know is that she sails incredibly well and, as Slipperman has said, catches and passes boats that are considerable larger.

 

[Habebty]

I can only agree with Anniebray, Slipperman, and Max in that I have never felt the need for a mainsheet traveller and can get good sail shape and speed from just a bridle and dedicated mainsheet winch. It is very easy to dump the main for quick manouvering and strong gusts, and just as easy to crank the main in on the winch. I sail mostly singlehanded and can reach everything from from the end of the tiller often sticking the end of the tiller where it fits best - even in heavy weather whilst using both hands to adjust kicker, main,or putting in a reef.

If the size of the boat suits you, which is tardis like below I would recommend anybody jumps at the chance of getting a 290.

The PBO review in I think it was Feb 04 does not exaggerate the performance of these boats.

If I was going to get competitive, I might consider some laminate sails but the Doyle sails that came with mine in July 04 are still keeping a pretty good shape after about NM10k.

John (I think) on Tusitala tried some laminates I believe, and put up a fine fight against some serious competition in the Shetland RBI leading the race after a gale then losing out to light airs down the East Coast if memory serves. It would be interesting to hear his views on tuning a 290.

I would also like to meet Stephen Jones again (he came for a sail with me when I took delivery of mine) knowing what I know now about the 290 so I could put some sensible questions to him about tuning a 290.
If I had more cash and a regular crew, I would love to race this boat. I will be keeping mine for the forseeable.

 

[Habebty]

And now a few gratuitous pics of Habebty, well I like them!!
Harwich (pic courtesy Sailorman - there is that better )

River Orwell (pic courtesy Bellatrix I think)

Pic courtesy me

 

[sailorman]

And now a few gratuitous pics of Habebty, well I like them!!
Harwich

River Orwell

i or 2 "quite nice" ones ( as they say in Norfolk ) who took them

 

[jow]

Hi,

thank you for your response. I just had a short look at the pictures I took from the boat and it had the cleat in the companion way. But it was hidden by the coiled sheet
Thanks for your explanations, the whole setup makes more sense than the Bavaria I've sailed.

I certainly like the boat, so we will see.

Thanks again,
jow

 

[Certes 2]

As a Sadler 290 owner I would add one extra point where the 290 differs from many: the tiller places you right at the front of the cockpit where it is easy to adjust or dump the main sheet without letting go of the tiller.

Certes 2

 

[jwillis]

Sadler 290 Upgrades

Hello,

I have a 2007 Sadler 290 and am having a Harken mainsheet track fitted. I am also investigating the installation of something like a Selden cruising chute bowsprit, as my chute's luff is a little long and anyway, it fouls the forward nav lights.

An extended bowroller to take the Rocna is also being looked at.

If anyone would like to know more about these upgrades, I would be happy to pass on details as things progress.

If any other 290 owners out there have done upgrades to their boats I would be interested to hear.

Happy sailing!
John Willis

Sadler A-Jay, Guernsey

 

[jckaye]

Main sheet traveller

Yes first thing that I did on buying a sadler 290 was put a coach roof traveller on best decision I made now can set the main beautifully and dump it quickly. used a Harken bridgeing system not cheap but proffessionally installed well worth every penny

j kaye

 

[jow]

mainsheet track

Hi,

the boat building is progressing and I would like to ask if you guys could post a picture of your track installation as I would like to see how it was installed on your boat.

Second thing: I am getting quotes in for the mast. On the LIBS both Z-Spars and Selden told me that there is no physical difference in the mast itself (both companies were doing the original spec for the 290) the difference in the price would come only from the fittings and setup of the boom, fittings, sliders and Selden marketing expenses.

But I received both quotes yesterday and it seems that the Selden mast spec is thicker and wider than the Z-Spars and now I am not sure which one to take.
Obviously the Z-Spars is cheaper but if this compromises the stability...

Regards,
jow