michael_w
Well-known member
Consider Hydranet. After two lots of appalling service I would never go to North UK.
Basically a genoa is easy to set up. You can adjust the halyard tension which moves the flow further forward with more tension, having a horizontal black line assists in seeing where the maximum chord is, is essential.. The sheet adjusts the angle of set to the wind and finally the genoa car alters the leech and slot to the mainsail.I have no racing experience but I'm keen to get the best out of the boat, so I do intend to pay due attention to sail trim, and continue to learn.
...The final thing you also have the get tensioned is the rig. I use a Loos gauge and my rigging is bar hard. A slack forestay will cause the genoa to be too baggy...
In answer to your original question, radial is generally worth it, especially on genoas. The caveat is that the cloth must be of good quality, it is better to go for a high end cross cut sail than a low end radial sail. You mention Pro Radial, but all 3 major cloth manufacturers (Contender, Dimension Polyant and Challenge) all have cloth called Pro Radial and it sits in a different quality range for each brand. The radial genoa will hold its shape better over time and especially when the breeze comes up, upwind performance is the major gain.
There appear to be differing opinions about the durability of laminates. Several of us have got extended use from them, while others have had early failures. I don’t know how many of the failures were from earlier versions. It believe that laminates have improved, as have other cloths. One cause of my first laminate’s decay was the use of a sail cover. It was some time before I could see that friction was abrading the taffeta. In spite of this, it lasted twelve years or so. I never saw any sign of delamination after sailing 2,000 plus miles per year, but there were some small tears down the leach at the end.I wouldn’t waste money on combining Tri Radial with Dacron cloth. You are just adding weight and cost for very little benefit. I’d go laminate and echo what Flaming and others say; Laminate will hold its shape much longer
The set up is a combination of experience from my racing days, a rig set up guide from Proctor Masts dated 1984 specific to the Fulmar, and guidence from Loos on how the set up a ¾ rig (http://loosnaples.com/files/PDF/INST-07.pdf). So, not just my preference.Is this on the advice of a rigger or just your own preference? My previous boat was used by then owner for racing and rig was tuned by the local chap. I wouldn’t have described it as bar hard, though obviously that phrase is subjective.
I must disagree in part with this. Low end radial Dacron is not worth it, but the high end products, like Dimension Polyant Pro Radial are most definitely a very good cloth. For extended cruising in boats under 40 foot it works very well.I wouldn’t waste money on combining Tri Radial with Dacron cloth. You are just adding weight and cost for very little benefit. I’d go laminate and echo what Flaming and others say; Laminate will hold its shape much longer
...Finally to answer your question, I do not use a rigger as I feel I have sufficient experience and knowledge to know how to set up my rig correctly.
This short video from Loos is worth watching. Personally it is worth buying your own tension gauge like Loos. They do appear occassionally on eBay, but best to set up a search to notify you when one is listed, that is what I did. I now have two different sized ones as the smaller one would not tension my caps at 20% even though it took 6mm wire. If you come down to Chatham Marina, let me know and I will be happy to lend you a Loos gauge and help if necessary to set your rig up.Cheers, that’s interesting. Doing (or getting done, depending on finances) my standing rigging soon - just gathering info currently. I definitely don’t have the know how to tune a rig so will get a rigger in for that part.
On my Hanse my caps are set at 24%. I am not letting on what the mids & lowers are, but the performance difference upwind once i found the best set was quite marked. The mainsail cut to suit mast bendwould not tension my caps at 20% even though it took 6mm wire. If you come down to Chatham Marina, let me know and I will be happy to lend you a Loos gauge and help if necessary to set your rig up.
I must disagree in part with this. Low end radial Dacron is not worth it, but the high end products, like Dimension Polyant Pro Radial are most definitely a very good cloth. For extended cruising in boats under 40 foot it works very well.
Generally yes.That's interesting, would you recommend the DP Pro Radial cloth over Vectron possibly cross cut or tri-radial?
Thank you, I suppose the other question a customer wants to know, are they much of a muchness in term of price?Generally yes.
Vectran is a crosscut only cloth, good for certain applications, generally higher aspect sails.
DP Pro Radial is currently the best radial woven polyester cloth. It successfully took Jean Luc Van Den Heede around the world in the Golden Globe Race. It's very well woven, finished and highly regarded.