Jib attachment query

[Birdie]

Hello

This is my first post so please be gentle.

I went to look at a boat today, unfortunately did not turn out as advertised but that's another issues.

The jib that comes with the boat only has 2 fixings to the boat (not hanked on) at the bottom and at the top. This is a 3/4 rig I believe where the jib reaches 3/4's the way up the mast

I questioned why there were no fixings for hanking on and he said comes with 2 fixings and keeps its rigidity when hauled up.

As someone who has not sailed for a few years, I found this very strange, as lowering the sail would dump it in the sea and also unlikely to be very efficient.

Am I missing something or is this another way of fitting a jib?

Thanks

Simon

 

[Birdie]

I lied, it was my 2nd post!!

 

[ProDave]

Steel luff wire in the jib so it can be tensioned tight like the forestay?

If so that type of sail lends itself to the simple Barton furling system, which has a drum connected to the bottom and a swivel at the top and the sail winds itself around it's steel luff wire.

That's what I have on my boat. It works well and is simple. Unlike other furling systems, if something does jam, you can just release the halyard and drop it like a hanked on sail, no getting stuck with a jib out that you cannot furl back in.

 

[dunedin]

What size of boat?

This approach is common on racing dinghies (rigged ashore and with a lever or similar for tension), but very uncommon on bigger cruising boats

 

[Billjratt]

sounds as though the sail should be hoisted in a foil or on roller reefing. Are there any signs (old bullseyes etc) that there has been roller reefing and it has got lost?

 

[knuterikt]

sounds as though the sail should be hoisted in a foil or on roller reefing. Are there any signs (old bullseyes etc) that there has been roller reefing and it has got lost?

A sail that is designed to fit on roller furler or foil will have a luff tape attached to the luff off the sail,

That fits into the track

 

[Birdie]

Thanks everyone, the boat is a 20ft lift keel 4 berth. I suspect that the owner was trying to make out the sail was suitable as that was what was inside the boat and I questioned the suitability, a wasted journey.

 

[William_H]

The jib with wire luff is common in dinghies as said the wire luff actually forming the forestay. In the case of the boat you looked at it is perhaps more unusual to find a wire luff jib and the sail may have come froma larger dinghy. The luff is tension up enough that the wire takes all the forestay loads so the original forestay becomes redundant.
Hanks are therefor not needed. However for stowage of the jib it is probably better to remove the wire luff and fit hanks. As you say it can be dropped while hanked on.
I would hope that for a 20 ft lift keel cruiser there was more than one jib needing a smaller jib for strong winds. In any case don't let this small detail affect your decision to purchase.good lcuk in your search olewill

 

[Daydream believer]

Hello

This is my first post so please be gentle.

I went to look at a boat today, unfortunately did not turn out as advertised but that's another issues.

The jib that comes with the boat only has 2 fixings to the boat (not hanked on) at the bottom and at the top. This is a 3/4 rig I believe where the jib reaches 3/4's the way up the mast

I questioned why there were no fixings for hanking on and he said comes with 2 fixings and keeps its rigidity when hauled up.

As someone who has not sailed for a few years, I found this very strange, as lowering the sail would dump it in the sea and also unlikely to be very efficient.

Am I missing something or is this another way of fitting a jib?

Thanks

Simon

Depends on the size - ok for dinghies but not larger craft
If you tighten the luff wire you need something to tension it- is there a winch or a hook on tackle for the halliard - otherwise it will just billow out
Once the luff is tensioned you need to be able to adjust the sail tension for varying wind strengths to ensure it keeps the flow in the right place
So the sail should slide on the wire & not be stretched by the wire tension. so it will need a cunningham on the foot
If none of these exist you can take it that the system is carp & the owner is having you on - walk away because there may be other things he is hiding & you might not know due to your inexperience ( do not take it mean to be critical of you by that comment)