How do i mesure up for a second hand sail

[Chris.mcc240]

Furling genoa..
My westerly centaur has a Rotostay 1V 'model 415' furling system on which the genoa was furled. This has worked fine however i have now completely destroyed the sail, so im after a new sail, however i want to get a second hand one cos new is just to expensive. Sail loft i spoke to in ramsgate said roughly £1K so i don't have the luxury or a professional measuring up for me.
I've mesured the old sail as follows
Bead 7mm
Luff 30:2
Foot 14:4
Leach 29:3
However i have no idea if this sail was the original mesured up when the system was fitted, i suspect it was! It worked without fault.
The two things im worried about what size luff tape do i need, the grove is 4mm and the internal dimension of the channel is 10 mm
Would i get away with say 6 to 8 mm ?
The length of the luff i measured the sail on my garage floor so it was not taught, i thought getting a line hoisted up as far as it will go might be worth a try?
I can probly get away with a few inches short, but to short and it causes the halyard to wrap around the top of the extrusions , jamming it unfurled! So do i need to worry about stretch in the luff . I know the simple answer would be to go to a professional but for the cost of a new one i can get 3 or 4 seconds!
Any ideas where to start and how to mesure up appreciated ....

 

[NormanS]

I'm sure there'll be a Westerly Owners Association who could help you with that.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

May have a reasonable second hand one for a Centaur,approx 300quid will check for you on Monday.
Cindy

 

[merlin3688]

Google XWRigging who make Rotostays, they will be able to tell you the bolt rope size, I know they are larger then most, most modern furling gears use a 5mm finished luff tape.

XW Rigging. 17 Haslar Marina, GOSPORT, PO12 1NU. Proprietor : Paul Cochrane. 02392 513 553. 07805 849 419.

 

[Chris.mcc240]

I think you have to be a member to post a question on the WOA site, though i could be wrong.
Thanks Cindy please let me know.
I would still like to mesure up though as my question so i can understand what i need..

 

[VicS]

I think you have to be a member to post a question on the WOA site, though i could be wrong.
Thanks Cindy please let me know.
I would still like to mesure up though as my question so i can understand what i need..

You are wrong. The WOA forum is open to anyone. You have to register as a user of course but you do not have to be a member of the WOA

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/woaforum/

BUT by not being a member of the WOA you are missing out on the benefits of membership. http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/ab_join.php

There is also an active Yahoo discussion group see http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/ab_discuss.php

 

[wilkinsonsails]

With the Rotastay 1v,the max luff available for a centaur is 31'6,the best bolt rope size is between 7 and 9mm..Quite often the bolt rope is stretchy plastic cord so you can often over tension it and get it to long..
Depending on where your halyard diverted is fitted the luff length can get shorter too.
Pm if you would like the sail measurements for Centaurs.
Cindy

 

[merlin3688]

This site may help.
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=671
www.sailboatdata.com

 

[Lakesailor]

I bow to Cindy's advice.
But I would suggest measuring the boat and not the sail. Just to be sure.

 

[alahol2]

If your luff ends up being a little short you can fit a short strop to the tack to take the head high enough to prevent halyard rap.