Experimenting with a Mizzen Staysail

[pcatterall]

Lots of recent postings about mizzen staysails.
There seems to be general agreement that they can be a very useful addition to ones sail set.
I have seen a large variety of these sails all rigged in different ways.
I can see several ways in which such a sail could be deployed on our ( 33 foot) ketch.
In order to play about with this concept it would be great if I could find a suitable used sail.
I very much doubt if I will find a used mizzen stay sail and wonder if there is an option to use, say, a right size of
used jib to experiment with.
Any ideas welcome.

 

[Bru]

On Laurin (Contest 32 ketch) of this parish they've used a second hand Dragon (IIRC) jib successfully. I want one myself! I'll be seeing them in a few minutes and I'll have a word

 

[LadyInBed]

A 2nd hand hank on Jib / Genoa is the way I would go.
You might have to get the foot re-cut a bit higher (Yankee style) as your J length will probably be quite long compared to the Luff length of the sail you buy.

 

[oldvarnish]

A 2nd hand hank on Jib / Genoa is the way I would go.

Jib cloth might be a bit heavy. Mizzen staysails tend to be lighter weather sails. Mine was made of a cloth halfway between spinnaker and genoa material. Loved it.

 

[DownWest]

Jib cloth might be a bit heavy. Mizzen staysails tend to be lighter weather sails. Mine was made of a cloth halfway between spinnaker and genoa material. Loved it.

Planning on one for my little cat yawl. Since this is a small boat, spinnaker cloth is the choice.

 

[pcatterall]

Yes, I agree that a light cloth is called for but my question at this time is about getting an old cheap sail to experiment with.
Our experience gained would help us get a better idea of just want we wanted in terms of size shape and weight.

 

[DownWest]

Yes, I agree that a light cloth is called for but my question at this time is about getting an old cheap sail to experiment with.
Our experience gained would help us get a better idea of just want we wanted in terms of size shape and weight.

So, get onto the second hand sail outlets and find the cheapest sail at near your requirements? And re-cut it if needed?

I sew my own sails, so have a slightly different perspective.
Edit: And, a jib with a wire luff would be a first choice.

 

[Tim O]

Would be interesting comparing measurements of different peoples izze staysails maybe.....Lady in Bed and I both have Colvic Countess 33s......but I wonder if out staysails are the same?

I have to admit I haven't even taken mine out of the bag yet! I still have to work out how to rig it, and how it fits around the twin backstay off the main mast......

 

[pcatterall]

The sort of sail I am considering would be fitted to the top of the mast the 'back end' of the boom and either to a port/starboard fitting on my dog house roof or ( outside the rear main forestays) to deck fittings ( with a strop achieve height?) port and starboard. this actually suggests a sail which is almost triangular 17 feet on the foot 19 from boom to mast head and 19 from mast head to the forward fitting.
I think I will struggle to find any thing of that size but am busy looking!

 

[Wansworth]

Light weight tarpaulins make good tempore sail material,I made a mizzen to experiment seem ok..... short term

 

[DownWest]

Light weight tarpaulins make good tempore sail material,I made a mizzen to experiment seem ok..... short term

Yes, polytarp can make small sails, but, as a well known US sailmaker remarked on the WBF, you still have to cut it properly, in the same way as you would normal sailcloth.

 

[William_H]

or look for a second hand asymetrical spin for a larger dinghy. olewill