Genoa sock.

[basic]

Does anyone prefer a genoa sock to a UV strip? Would be happy to hear from anyone who uses one regularly and can recommend. Pitfalls, where to buy etc. ( I know the downside)

 

[Birdseye]

I shall watch this thread - wondering the same myself. I have been told that they are more work, and mor windage. But that the genoa without strip performs better.

 

[fergie_mac66]

I gave up on strips and socks for furling jib/gen on boat for hols and weekends the gen' is on and then taken of when we go for home. Takes 20mins to stow and 20 mins to put back on no chance of sun damage or any other damage when is stowed below.

 

[basic]

I shall watch this thread - wondering the same myself. I have been told that they are more work, and mor windage. But that the genoa without strip performs better.

That seems to be the popular opinion but I don't like the UV strip which interferes with the efficiency of the sail especially in light winds. I can see no reason why a well designed sock will not work well. It may be a little more work but so is my mainsail cover yet I see no reason to change to one of those terrible stacker-packs. Judging by the number of boats I see sailing only with the genoa because it's too much trouble to set the main and have a balanced rig I often wonder why some people go sailing at all!

 

[dunedin]

That seems to be the popular opinion but I don't like the UV strip which interferes with the efficiency of the sail especially in light winds. I can see no reason why a well designed sock will not work well. It may be a little more work but so is my mainsail cover yet I see no reason to change to one of those terrible stacker-packs. Judging by the number of boats I see sailing only with the genoa because it's too much trouble to set the main and have a balanced rig I often wonder why some people go sailing at all!

Unless you are racing and/or already using laminate sails, I can't see that a well fitted UV strip makes any difference to the sail set on a quality sail (though foam luff essential). Equally the great thing about a fantastic stack pack is that it makes it very easy and quick to hoist the sail and use it, without the huge efficiency loss of a furling mainsail.

 

[balladsailor]

I had a sock made for my new furling genoa. When the boat is left on its swinging mooring I can feel confident that the sail is 'safe' and the UV strip is also protected. Once had a genoa shredded on the mooring, so I feel the 'belt & braces' approach is worthwhile. Sanders Sails produced an excellent suit of sails, worth looking after!

 

[basic]

I have absolutely no difficulty hoisting my mainsail without the use of a stack-pack. Can't see the point in them other than for those can't be bothered to use a sail cover. Also I think they look terrible and cannot do much for the aerodynamics along the foot of the sail
As for furling mainsails. They are rubbish, as are halliards and reef systems led back to the cockpit. (Except for those who have a physical impairment which prevents them going on deck and working at the mast.)

 

[charles_reed]

Does anyone prefer a genoa sock to a UV strip? Would be happy to hear from anyone who uses one regularly and can recommend. Pitfalls, where to buy etc. ( I know the downside)

Tried and found very wanting - I wouldn't advise going that route - why else does everyone have a UV leach?

 

[charles_reed]

I have absolutely no difficulty hoisting my mainsail without the use of a stack-pack. Can't see the point in them other than for those can't be bothered to use a sail cover. Also I think they look terrible and cannot do much for the aerodynamics along the foot of the sail
As for furling mainsails. They are rubbish, as are halliards and reef systems led back to the cockpit. (Except for those who have a physical impairment which prevents them going on deck and working at the mast.)

Interesting to see how you're an apocryphal authority on all things sail.
Just try handling a fully battened 30 sq m main by yourself in 25 knots of wind - I think you'd probably change you mind.

 

[Leighb]

I used one on my Devon Yawl (18' Dayboat) mainly because it had tan sails - Class Rules at the time - and in any case an extra layer of cloth on a fairly small sail seemed unnecessary.
It was just a long rectangle of cloth with a full length zip. Hoist with a spare halyard and slide the zip as it goes up. Dead easy. I am not sure how easy it would be on a 30' or so yacht though.

 

[basic]

Interesting to see how you're an apocryphal authority on all things sail.
Just try handling a fully battened 30 sq m main by yourself in 25 knots of wind - I think you'd probably change you mind.[/Q

Been there, done it, got the tea shirt! No problem!
Must say though that a fully battened main is another piece of nonsense I dont want on my boat.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Must say though that a fully battened main is another piece of nonsense I dont want on my boat.

I have a headsail sock. I also have a fully battened main, halyards and reef lines led back to the cockpit and a stackpack. I expect you disapprove of my nonsense setup so much that any opinion of mine on my sock will not interest you.

PS Ever wondered why almost all multihulls use fully battened mains? Ah, hang on. I expect you don't approve of multihulls. Yet more worthless nonsense. I also have a Raymarine tillerpilot, an Eberspacher heater, AIS, a Jabsco bog, a cooker that uses gas canisters, a Knox anchor using mostly warp, an outboard as a main engine, carbon spars and sails, and a small wooden model of a ginger cat. Lots of stuff to disapprove of there. Feel free to pick anything from that list that you would like to start slagging off. Anyone else got anything that basic may not like that he could have a general whinge about?

 

[basic]

Actually I do like multihulls, did a lot of sailing on a 72 footer many years ago. Also love Anderson winches. But I have been sailing for 50 odd years and if I don't like something I say so. Can't see anything wrong with that.

 

[Tranona]

Actually I do like multihulls, did a lot of sailing on a 72 footer many years ago. Also love Anderson winches. But I have been sailing for 50 odd years and if I don't like something I say so. Can't see anything wrong with that.

As the old song goes - "Its not what you say but the way that you say it..."

I have only been sailing for 40 years, but I like furling mainsails, control lines led back, stack packs, UV strips, foam padded luffs, folding and feathering propellers, and if I had the right type of boat would have a fully battened mainsail in a flash. All of those "likes" are based on my experience and I make my choices to suit me.

Please recognise that most people are usually intelligent enough to work out for themselves what is good for them and don't need others to tell them they are wrong. You choose how you want to equip your boat, but don't expect everybody to agree with you.

 

[jonjo]

Actually I do like multihulls, did a lot of sailing on a 72 footer many years ago. Also love Anderson winches. But I have been sailing for 50 odd years and if I don't like something I say so. Can't see anything wrong with that.

Most of us had already concluded you were either a cantankerous old fool or a foolish young buck. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Vara]

Genoa socks seem to be popular with continentals, quite a lot of visitors here have them. Seem to be a bit of a faff to rig.

But no direct hands on experience.

 

[dom]

Tried and found very wanting - I wouldn't advise going that route - why else does everyone have a UV leach?

Socks are great for the few who wish to use uncompromised performance sails on a furling system. Furlers mess up a sail's shape way more than a UV strip, so it's mainly singlehanders that go this route. The socks are vulnerable to wind damage as they flutter like crazy - I saw a few ripped to shreds during this winter's storms.

 

[dom]

Actually I do like multihulls, did a lot of sailing on a 72 footer many years ago.

Interesting, because most performance multihulls use full battened mainsails to obtain more roach, a bit like the bozos who sail America's Cup yachts.

Still, if your're right Team Oracle will be interested in your research, but hold out for a good price.

 

[Birdseye]

I have absolutely no difficulty hoisting my mainsail without the use of a stack-pack. Can't see the point in them other than for those can't be bothered to use a sail cover. Also I think they look terrible and cannot do much for the aerodynamics along the foot of the sail
As for furling mainsails. They are rubbish, as are halliards and reef systems led back to the cockpit. (Except for those who have a physical impairment which prevents them going on deck and working at the mast.)

I dont see what if anything that stackpacks have to do with making hoisting easier. In my experience they make it more difficult because they make alignment to the wind more critical. My sail battens are for ever getting tangled in the lines. Incidentally I remeber from my early days the reports of a baronet chappie ( Sir John Somthing Oakley??) who was racing and selling a particular brand of German yacht saying that the stackpack sail cover was an advantage racing aero wise - it formed a sort of endplate to the mainsail. Maybe Newey will bring this back with the americas cup boat.

What stackpacks do do, of course, is make dropping the main a great deal easier for short handed crews.

What do you mean about halyards led aft? Do you really think it better to handle halyards at the mast in a sea whilst the boat is on autopilot? Safer? With decent modern blocks and proper dynema halyards?

I agree with you about missing out the sacrificial strip - sadly my furling genoa has a strip on both sides thanks to the plonker that ordered it wrongly and it does make flutter a real problem. Remove it every time? I can barely lift the thing so no way am I going to try that. The same previous owner abandoned using the genoa sock that Bowman delivered with the boat in favour of the sacrificial strip - he reckoned the sock was impractical. Certainly it was fubarred after only 9 years

 

[thalassa]

Genoa socks seem to be popular with continentals, quite a lot of visitors here have them. Seem to be a bit of a faff to rig.

But no direct hands on experience.

As a continental, I 've had three and finally gave up. The sock is very hard to haul op at the start of the season, as I can't roll up the laminate headsail tight enough to make the sock fit. That is not really a problem, as it gets easier during the following weeks. Then there is maintaining the mile of zipper, but that is not difficult too. But once you have the headsail covered, you have to squeeze it tight as well with a double zigzag string. Due to friction, the upper part stays a bit loose. If a moderate wind from a certain angle catches that, the forestay profile starts an harmonic wobble. Very bad for metal fatigue on the forestay parts and the profile connections.