Mainsail Choice

[Capt_Scarlet]

Trying to choose a mainsail for a Moody 34.

Requirements are good performance, and ease and reliability of reefing.

Currently thinking of either:

Crusader fully battened (5 full battens with Rutgerson cars).

Kemp Powermain - 4 x 75% battens (therefore not needing high spec cars).

Both using slab reefing, lazyjacks, and stack pack.

Any views (including experiences of above sailmakers) would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[bobgoode]

I am a convert to FB. My main is 290 sq ft and has oversize sliders from Hyde....briliant. I guess your main is a bit too big and would need the high spec cars,but it's worth it.

Set easier, points higher and flogs around less so lasts longer and doesn't frighten SWMBO.

Downside is cost, fiddle to set up initially and harder to feather.

 

[Interlude]

My Hanse 342 came with fully battened, with what seem to me to be standard slides - needs a squirt of teflon spray every few months, and it is a good idea to let off the backstay (and pull on the topping lift) when hoisting or dropping, but otherwise no major issues. The fully battened main is vastly better than partly battened, based on my previous experience on a MG Spring 25.

 

[[3889]]

Bought a Kemp main last year. Well built but a bit slipshod in communicating during purchase.

 

[alec]

Would echo the fully battened route.

A few downsides but much better performance if you really enjoy sailing.

 

[sailorman]

mine is fully battened with Frederiksen Ballslide system cars ( the type that run up the aft side of the mast with a "slug" to engage the sail track ) its first class now 7 seasons old.
sail by Gowen Ocean , West Mersea, Essex. 01206 384412 give Doug a ring

 

[pyrojames]

I got a fully battened sail from Hood 10 years ago, which at around 300 sqf is probably similar to yours, I guess. Their take on it was, that for such a relatively small sail area, high spec cars were not required. Some 20,000 miles later I would agree! We had no problems reefing down wind in anything we actually wanted sails up in, ie <F9. That was with a heavy flat track riveted on the face of the ally mast. Internal tracks may be more troublesome.

 

[earlybird]

I have a Quantum long batten main (similar to Kemp Powermain), my mast track will not readily take FB cars without expensive mods. Quality is good but I am not wild about the batten system, I don't have lazyjacks so am probably not taking full advantage of the long battens. Sail shape wise they are ok above say F2 but in light winds they tend to "hinge" at the forward ends to produce a pronounced crease just aft of the mast, (despite being well tapered). This is worst at the top batten, if it were full length it might be a good compromise. My previous boat was FB, Bainbridge Sailman, I'd go this way every time if I reasonably could. I should say that this sail was handled from the mast, the bainbridge system does have some friction. If you lead the halyard back, and have lazy jacks, then the low friction cars would be very nice.
I've purchased a Genny from Kemps and would use them again based on price, service and quality

 

[ditchcrawler]

I purchased a fully battened main from Hyde last year at a good price (& they came to my boat on East Coast to measure up).I have the Sailman slider system which works well without special cars,& I keep it well lubricated with PTFE spray.It drops about 75% into the lazy bag when I let go the halliard.It works for me,& I did appreciate the "no flogging" when having to motorsail most of the way to Holland in the summer.I would pick the same system/maker again.

 

[hectou]

Fully battened has a lot of advantages as a poweful,well shaped quiet sail which stows really well in a lazyjack system. The down side is chafe. If you have swept back spreaders or a swept back lower shroud you will soon wear the sail through to the battens on anything freer than a broad reach. I have a stock of self adhesive patches which I renew at the wear points about three times per season. Otherwise great!!

 

[PaulR]

second everyones comments about fully battened - makes the sail much more maneagable - on our dehler 34 no fancy slides - the ones with teh battens are very simple but seem to do the job - agree worth taking time to keep the main track clean and some spray lubricant from time to time does help - did try on a previous boat one full length batten and remaining lower battens conventional and that was ok compromise but given the choice no question but to go for fully battened + layzjacks and stack pack - excellent combination