matt1
Well-Known Member
Anyone got any experience with headsail covers (aka "socks")? Good / bad?
Expeience with headsail covers
- Thread starter matt1
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dunedin
Well-Known Member
Seen plenty flapping like mad and shaking the rig in just moderately strong winds. Suspect must be a nightmare in properly strong winds. Rather a well furled jib with UV strip personally.
Might make sense for protecting a more racy sail with no UV strip in light weather.
Might make sense for protecting a more racy sail with no UV strip in light weather.
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
PITA
johnalison
Well-Known Member
When I replaced our unsatisfactory original jib in 2003 with a laminate jib I was advised not to have a sacrificial strip lest it spoil the shape. I therefore used a cover, and noticed that they were very popular at the time in the Baltic where we often sailed, with about 50% of yachts having them. I got used to the drill of putting the cover on and off in all weathers. there is something of a knack in doing it, but taking it down was harder than setting it, because however you arrange the tightening lines, there is always friction.
After a few years of use the sailmaker reported UV damage to the sail, which was clearly not the case since the sail was seldom uncovered, and I soon realised that the damage was being done by the friction of the cover sliding on the leach. After that I had a strip put on and abandoned the cover. A properly-tightened cover shouldn't flap, though when gales were expected I would bind the sail round with the spinnaker halyard.
On the whole, I think that covers are best avoided. If you do want one, it is essential that the line(s) run without friction. My lines ran through plastic rings, but a better solution is for them to run round small blocks. It is also much better to have the lines divided into two or three separate sections, otherwise it is almost impossible to tighten the upper part properly.
After a few years of use the sailmaker reported UV damage to the sail, which was clearly not the case since the sail was seldom uncovered, and I soon realised that the damage was being done by the friction of the cover sliding on the leach. After that I had a strip put on and abandoned the cover. A properly-tightened cover shouldn't flap, though when gales were expected I would bind the sail round with the spinnaker halyard.
On the whole, I think that covers are best avoided. If you do want one, it is essential that the line(s) run without friction. My lines ran through plastic rings, but a better solution is for them to run round small blocks. It is also much better to have the lines divided into two or three separate sections, otherwise it is almost impossible to tighten the upper part properly.
Debenair
Well-Known Member
Like johnalison I had a laminate Genoa and decided on a sock rather than an U V strip.
On balance I think it was a mistake. The sock material was dodger type fabric reinforced where necessary and pretty heavy as a result.
Initially the tightening points were too far apart, resulting in catching the wind in even moderate conditions and the most horrendous harmonic oscillations. This was cured by doubling the number of points , installing plastic blocks and splitting the tightening string into upper and lower sections. This enabled the sock to be tensioned really tight which seemed to be necessary. It was a bit of a faff to hoist and take down ( I stored it in an old spinnaker turtle) and I would not follow that route again.
I was always amused when I saw slack untensioned versions on other boats ( usually in Dutch marinas) and wondered how they avoided the problems I encountered.
On balance I think it was a mistake. The sock material was dodger type fabric reinforced where necessary and pretty heavy as a result.
Initially the tightening points were too far apart, resulting in catching the wind in even moderate conditions and the most horrendous harmonic oscillations. This was cured by doubling the number of points , installing plastic blocks and splitting the tightening string into upper and lower sections. This enabled the sock to be tensioned really tight which seemed to be necessary. It was a bit of a faff to hoist and take down ( I stored it in an old spinnaker turtle) and I would not follow that route again.
I was always amused when I saw slack untensioned versions on other boats ( usually in Dutch marinas) and wondered how they avoided the problems I encountered.
Debenair
Well-Known Member
Also on at least 3 occasions the hoisting (spinnaker ) halyard became detached somehow necessitating a trip 50 ft up the mast, which is a complete pain when the majority of your sailing is single handed. Eventually I resolved that issue by spending big bucks on Tylaska snapshackles.
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Yep
michael_w
Well-Known Member
They're not too bad, provided the sail isn't vast, as the sock is a bore to roll up/flake.
A lot depends on the skill of the cover maker. They need a stiff collar (the sock, not the cover maker!) so they slide easily over the clew patches. In strong winds I used to wrap the sock with one of the spare spinnaker halyards. This stopped the vortex shedding https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex_shedding
A lot depends on the skill of the cover maker. They need a stiff collar (the sock, not the cover maker!) so they slide easily over the clew patches. In strong winds I used to wrap the sock with one of the spare spinnaker halyards. This stopped the vortex shedding https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex_shedding
bigwow
Well-Known Member
My genny sock fastens with a zip and the spinny halyard keeps it quiet.
grumpygit
Well-Known Member
I had one of those that came with the boat. As well as a zip it had a crisscross drawstring through eyelets to tighten the sock in. The boat was in the yard and I went back to the UK. With many gales the drawstring had slackened probably because of the eyelets separating and the drawstring whipped through the sock, sacrificial and through the sail in a couple of places. The sail never stopped on the boat again in the yard.
Resolution
Well-Known Member
I tried one but found it so difficult to stop flapping that I threw it away. Well , I kept the drawstring , so not a 100% waste of money.
Plum
Well-Known Member
Just walk round a few marinas in a gale. Most of them flap like mad and look as though the rigging is being fatigued. A sacrificial strip on a furled headsail will last 5 years at least and can be replaced. A sock will likely be made of the same material so will also need to be replaced in the same time and unlikely to be less cost.
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
NDG
Well-Known Member
I’ve got one, with a laminate Genoa. Never had a problem with it flapping at all, just make sure it’s nice and tight. Much nicer than a sacrificial strip in my opinion. Just ordered a replacement as it’s getting old now.
neil1967
Well-Known Member
I guess 30-40% of boats I have seen in Dutch marinas use them. I've not really noticed them flapping too much - and we have all seen genoas damaged in UK marinas, so I'm not sure I would dismiss having one.
Goldie
Well-Known Member
We used one for several years on our last boat. Well tensioned, it didn’t flap and when we sold the boat the headsail was still just about as good as new after at least 8 years and still with a virtually unblemished and original sacrificial strip. Full credit to SWMBO who made it and only today has been putting the finishing touches to a similar cover for our current boat.
gertha
Well-Known Member
I have had all three options, no cover, uv protection strip and sail cover.
UV strip is easiest, but the sail cover is my preferred option,
UV strip is easiest, but the sail cover is my preferred option,
