Hanked on jib?

[[2574]]

Our boat has a removable inner forestay - designed for a storm jib. In our ownership the storm jib has never seen the light of day nor is it likely too. But I’d like a slutter rig with a high cut jib on the inner forestay. But I don’t want to go to the expense of a furler nor the inconvenience of tacking the genoa with a permanently fitted inner forestay. So, having never used a hanked on sail before, is the idea of having a hanked on jib made and flown on the removable inner forestay completely nuts? Are hanked on sails only for proper sailors who know what they’re at?

 

[Kukri]

I was told very firmly by an extremely famous sailmaker that he hoped I would not fit a furler on the removable inner forestay. So I saved myself a few thousand pounds, and didn’t.

He is of course right. The inner forestay is much easier to get to and to deal with sails on than the outer one. And you are not going to be changing sails on it often if at all. If you do, you can do what we all did when Noah was building the Ark and keep the storm staysail clipped on and bagged under the working sail.

He also warned me about the cost of piston hanks!

(However I may have some that will fit your inner forestay but not mine!)

 

[Wansworth]

Depends on how much sail can beset on the inner forestry,Use that sail for windward work and just set the outer sail off the wind,rolling it up to tack if need by,a chat to a sailmaker will help

 

[jwilson]

In my experience adding an sail on an inner forestay generally reduces pointing ability. Off wind it can add speed, but to windward you are usually better off without it.

 

[doug748]

Our boat has a removable inner forestay - designed for a storm jib. In our ownership the storm jib has never seen the light of day nor is it likely too. But I’d like a slutter rig with a high cut jib on the inner forestay. But I don’t want to go to the expense of a furler nor the inconvenience of tacking the genoa with a permanently fitted inner forestay. So, having never used a hanked on sail before, is the idea of having a hanked on jib made and flown on the removable inner forestay completely nuts? Are hanked on sails only for proper sailors who know what they’re at?

I have similar and similarly have never used the inner forestay in anger - except one season in the early days when I was skint. After the genoa exploded, I used the boat as a s(ort of)cutter with two fifth hand dodgy sails forward. It wasn't pretty or very practical but it did get me sailing.

Pinota (late of this forum) always advocated the rig but pointed out that his was designed with the aid of a sailmaker and he had both sails and the associated deck tracks, etc made and fitted for the job. Pinota sailed in rude conditions - Scotland and points north, it may not be worth the expense and effort for more moderate sailing conditions.

.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I use a staysail with Vectren on an inner forestay which is hanked on. It works well in a F3-4 going upwind and certainly makes a difference, especially if I have a roll to the first reef in the roller reefing genoa. I had a sail bag made so I can keep it clipped on. I could live without it, but my old one was so blown as to be a waste of time. Last year I replaced the blown one on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. In light airs it provides no benefit and is best not hoisted. I haven’t yet used it in a stronger wind, than the F3/4, say when I have the 3rd reef in the roller furling genoa and maybe a reef in the main, so I have still to evaluate that. It looks nicer when hoisted with all 3 sails drawing, compared to 2 sails. It is sheeted via its own track, close to the coach roof, well in from the genoa track. I would not retrofit a boat that didn’t have one, and would rather have two forestays and two roller reefing genoas but sized for lighter / stronger winds. If you need to spend money on something else, such as a wind instrument upgrade, that would be a better choice rather than a staysail, as you would likely get greater benefit from the instrument.
Hanked on is just for convenience, and cost. You really don't need the expense of a furling system, which would be pointless on a removable forestay.

 

[Kukri]

Two snaps of the vessel of which I am an inadequate custodian:

One shows the jib and staysail; the other shows the small genoa. Sail area about the same. I think the jib and staysail is the better combination above say F5, but the small genoa is easier in light conditions.

 

[William_H]

Jib hanks ... That is about 6squid to you. Ronstan Piston Jib Hank Suits 8mm Wire, $11.95 | Whitworths Marine

 

[DownWest]

I bought a biggish fore sail to cut down, for £50, probably the bronze hanks are worth more than that?

 

[Wansworth]

Two snaps of the vessel of which I am an inadequate custodian:View attachment 141738View attachment 141740

One shows the jib and staysail; the other shows the small genoa. Sail area about the same. I think the jib and staysail is the better combination above say F5, but the small genoa is easier in light conditions.

Wonderful craft,are you going places or was it a fit of madness?

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

I've got a setup like this. The inner forestay attaches well forward so almost parallel to the forestay. The storm jib hanks on, hence the arrangement. We also have a jib that pretty much fills that triangle, hanks on, and sheets to tracks inside the shrouds on the coach roof.

It points far better than the Genoa especially if that is rolled.

I rarely use it as it's a bit of a faff to rig.

 

[Iliade]

After watching a video of Kukri (IIRC) sailing around the world I just bought some cheap eBay long series shackles (£10 the lot) to attach my old boat's heavyweight genoa to the inner forestay as a strong wind sail. (All the original sails have piston hanks.)

 

[dansaskip]

Hanked on staysails are great, but then I am a fan of a cutter rig.
Perhaps using a hanked on sail will turn you into a proper sailor who knows what's what.

 

[[2574]]

Perhaps using a hanked on sail will turn you into a proper sailor who knows what's what.

Aaaaarrrgh!Woman’s hands! (Hopefully you’re old enough to remember the Blackadder scene!)

 

[srm]

So, having never used a hanked on sail before, is the idea of having a hanked on jib made and flown on the removable inner forestay completely nuts? Are hanked on sails only for proper sailors who know what they’re at?

Reminds me of when I first started sailing and the argument was the other way around, "is fitting one of these new fangled roller gears nuts?"

My first three boats all had hanked on headsails, it was the way they all were back then. The only problem was that each sail was only effective over a limited wind range so even a basic sloop carried three or four headsails. I did have a 42 ft sloop that I occasionally sailed single handed with a cruising chute, light genoa, working jib with reef points along the bottom to give a number two jib, then change down to the number three jib in about a F7-8. Carried but never needed the storm jib.

To answer your question, hanked on head sails are not nuts, and the right sail will be more efficient over its intended range of wind strengths than the current "one sail for all conditions" roller reefing solution.

 

[Supertramp]

Hank on jib on my removable inner forestay. Has half the area of the furling jib and sets much better to windward. Currently hunting another hank on mid way between that and a storm jib.

I grew up on hank on sails and my current boat is a doddle compared with others I have sailed due to the dry, wide foredeck.

Much better in 25knts+ when many roller jibs lose their shape and the spectre of a furling line fail starts to appear.

 

[Wansworth]

View attachment 141770

Hank on jib on my removable inner forestay. Has half the area of the furling jib and sets much better to windward. Currently hunting another hank on mid way between that and a storm jib.

I grew up on hank on sails and my current boat is a doddle compared with others I have sailed due to the dry, wide foredeck.

Much better in 25knts+ when many roller jibs lose their shape and the spectre of a furling line fail starts to appear.

What boat is yours,looks interesting

 

[Kukri]

Wonderful craft,are you going places or was it a fit of madness?

Wonderful craft,are you going places or was it a fit of madness?

A draft of 2.7 metres adds a fresh challenge to the voyage from Pin Mill to Walton Backwaters.?

 

[Wansworth]

A draft of 2.7 metres adds a fresh challenge to the voyage from Pin Mill to Walton Backwaters.?

?

 

[Supertramp]

What boat is yours,looks interesting

Cromarty 36. Pilothouse ketch, surprisingly easy to singlehand, sails well above 10knts of wind, comfort ahead of performance!