Having two furling headsails? Anyone with experience?

[npf1]

I have a single furler with two sails that can be used on it: 140% and 110% genoas. The 110% has ended up being the only sail I use because it is more versatile and changing headsails is a hassle when it's blowing or shorthanded. For this reason I've been wondering the pros and cons of rigging a second furler so that the 140% can be permenanlty rigged.

My current question to those in the know is would I have to rig a second forestay and furler with extrusions? Or could I get a furler that doesn't use a forestay such as the Profurl EC (and would I need to get the sail modified if so)? The sail is probably good for wind speeds to 15 knots on points of sail from 50 degrees to dead run.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Talbot]

lots of boats are fitting a larger lighter sail fwd of the main foresail roller on a seperate forestay. Only drawback is the need to roll up the sail when tacking.

 

[npf1]

does it have to be done on a second forestay or is it possible to use add a wire to the luff of the sail and use that (I've seen something similar on gaffers and dinghies)?

 

[KellysEye]

If you just want to use the two sails offwind you may be able to replace your existing foil with a twin groove foil, but some manufacturers don't make them. Bear in mind you need to drop both sails if you only use one halyard, so a second halyard is better in some ways but then there are furling issues (most people seem to use a block but I've never looked at it closely).

We use both an assymetric and twin headsails - give me the twins any time because on the furling gear they are easy to set to any size. Also we couldn't get a twin groove foil so we had two sails sewn together at the luff. For downwind work any old sails will do, so if you have some old sails... It is best to have the sails the same size.

Out of interest it is entirely possible to sail upwind with the two sails overlapped, surprisingly there is almost no chafe but I would only do it for a short time e.g. to avoid something.

 

[npf1]

sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. I would not be using the two sails simultaneously.

The purpose of the exercise would be to allow a convenient choice of headsails -without removing one from the current furler and fitting the other. Changing sails was easy on a boat I use to race on, but shorthanded on a large ketch is not a practical option. The end result of this is that the 140% does not get used in light winds even though it would improve performance.

 

[KellysEye]

Ah right. I'd go with a second forestay and second furler, it's expensive (you wouldn't need runners but the deck/stemhead may need beefing up) but would make life very easy. I'm always envious of boats with twin forestays and, of course, there is the added safety bonus of two stays.

 

[Ocean Hound]

How about a removable inner forestay and having hanks put on the 110%?. That way you don't have the hassle of winding up larger sail when tacking.

 

[simonfraser]

Hi,

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The sail is probably good for wind speeds to 15 knots on points of sail from 50 degrees to dead run.
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a good idea, i have done this twice on cats, the luff wire needs to be as thick as possible for easy furling, plastic coated wire works better

after 20 knots i could not furl it any more, makes for extra excitement !

i'd go for it

 

[kandoma]

I have two forestays, but only one roller. The roller is on the bowsprit, the second forestay is removable and going to the stemhead. I have a complete spare roller forestay, but I do prefer the wire forestay for safety. I can use a strong storm foresail hank on. No need to run straps around the rolled genoa. In fine weather, I use a second genoa and run wing - wing with no main set. Otherwise I just remove the forestay and can tack without hassle.

Changing my spare second genoa from roller luff to hank on was no great thing. The rope luff is still in, the sailmaker put grommets in.



Peter

 

[npf1]

Thanks. I've already got a self-tacking staysail so going the inner forestay route presents its own difficulties.

 

[eise]

Have you thought of Cruising Chute? Could be designed to give close wind performance similar to Genoa, would provide plenty of drive offwind and be used with genoa when going dead downwind.