Hanked Dinghy Jib as Storm jib?

[Roach1948]

Had a look at Roach's sail inventory and the old storm jib is shot.

As she has hanked on sails I think it is prudent to have a storm jib, just incase, it might get me out of a fix (since I plan to single hand a lot).

Problem: can't afford one at present. I notice that a Mirror jib is around the same size as the old storm jib. Could I get away with a Mirror jib instead having one made. She is small yacht, so maybe I could get away with lighter weight cloth?

 

[Bilgediver]

A storm jib is usually very heavy material compared to dinghy sails so you might find the dinghy sail struggling in storm conditions /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Black Sheep]

Get two & sew them together!

(thinks... that might actually work.. though not sure how you'd manage the luff or the clew)

 

[Roach1948]

Well that is not such a bad idea.

The thing is I should really never be in storm conditions with such a small yacht as mine, so images of Roach in 60ft waves was not what I had in mind. Just an cheap "spitfire Jib" that can give me the option to manouvre off an anchorage/mooring or lee shore, when single-handed in a blow.

 

[JREdginton]

The material is probably going to be too light. The slightest flogging and it will probably go pop! assuming the seams don't just let go anyway. It MAY work, but I would be wary of any light material sail in a big blow no matter how light the vessel.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Better a dinghy jib of suitable size than a working jib that's too big for the conditions you find yourself out in.
Mariposa and I are just back from a 5-day cruise up the Kyles of Bute. The past 2 days we've had F4/5 occasionally 6 and I used a dinghy jib as my "heavy weather jib" (I hesitate to call it a storm jib). We came down the East Kyle and across Rothesay Bay when the wind was definitely gusting towards the upper end of the forecast. We were making 5.5kts under jib alone and boy did it feel good!
This morning I set off from Kip back to Rhu with the same crappy forecast, plus rain. Again I ran with just the wee jib up, averaging 4kts+ most of the way.
My working jib is 21' 6" luff x 6' 10" foot. The dinghy jib 12' luff x 7' 6" foot.

 

[peterriches]

A storm jib is designed to be strong and flat. The last thing you want is a "full" sail. In a proper storm you must be able to go to windward - to clear a lee shore for example. Will the hanks hold? Will it disintegrate?? You don't want to find out when you are are in real need. Save up or do without some thing else - hopefully you will never need it - but it is a life insurance plan!

 

[Roach1948]

I know what you are saying, but there are so many things on a ycht that is a "life insurance plan". Lifejackets, Flares, VHF, Engine, anchors, pumps, dinghy, radar reflector,the list goes on and on and on. Infact, if you think about it, a boat itself is a "life insurance plan" - it is after all our life support in a alien element.

I don't want to sound rude, but I have been saving for YONKS to just get all the things above - let alone get a lump of mahogany restored and in the water. Eventually I will have a nice cream Ratsey wardrobe of sails, but for the moment I am looking creative and ecomical solutions to the remainder of my list I don't have yet.

 

[JREdginton]

I did say it MAY work.

IMHO a better solution than either an oversized working jib or a lightweight dingy jib would be the correct bit of kit for the job. To use a dinghy jib as a 'small' jib is not the same as using it to claw your way of a lee shore when you have been caught with yer knickers down and are at risk and have to depend on it.

Just to put things in a frame work, I've had dinghy jib blown apart on the dinghy it was designed for (dart 18)!! What hope if it is loaded with 5, 10 or 20 times the amount of mass to work with?

 

[Porthandbuoy]

You are correct of course. A properly constructed storm jib is the correct tool for the job. But then I had to smile at the thought of a Hillyard 2 1/2 tonner clawing off a lee shore in a hurricane. I think I'll add a bible to her inventory for such an eventuality.

 

[JREdginton]

[ QUOTE ]
the thought of a Hillyard 2 1/2 tonner clawing off a lee shore in a hurricane

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh I don't know? Hillyard 2 1/2 tonner would be right at home /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I had one for 6 years, the only way I could get her upwind in a blow was reduce headsail to a hanky or nowt and deep reef the main (leg'o'mutton sloop, had 3 slabs fitted as roller worked but set like ***t). Frequently felt a bible would have help more though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I think maybe I am being to literal, when I think of 'storm' sails I think of 'storms'! not a stif breeze, though this said I would still be worried if I had to depend a light headsail (even if small) to go upwind.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

[quote deep reef the main (leg'o'mutton sloop, had 3 slabs fitted as roller worked but set like ***t).

[/ QUOTE ]

And that takes me to my next post (see above). Thanks

 

[Ayeshaman]

You could always approach the problem from the other end - get a jib off a much bigger boat, which will be heavier material, and cut it down.

 

[Seagreen]

Last time I used a storm jib in anger, it carried me through a force 10!...

OK, enough salty talk. Seriously though, Stormsail terylene is very strong, bright orange and must be made flat. It would be very difficult to make your own as the machining alone needs a heavy machine. I only made mine as I was a sailmaker at the time and had all the prof kit to hand. Even if you could machine the cloth with a big home machine, the finishing - tapes, hanks and rings need hydraulic presses, so getting a big heavy sail and cutting it down won't help.
Honestly, best option is to get one made from a sailmaker to your own sizes, and ring round for quotes. I used mine a lot, and not just in bad weather.