New Genoa - Can't make up my mind...

[Calluna]

New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

I'm about to order a new furling genoa and have narrowed the decision down to a cross cut sail from either Arun or Kemp. Trouble is, I got differing advice from them at the boat show, so...

Do I need a foam luff on a new sail (Arun advice), or should I wait for a couple of years and then get one added once it's stretched a bit (Kemp advice)?

Which/whose sail will be better? (I've trawled the old posts and found loads of fans of each).

Thanks,

Heather

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[andy_wilson]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

I've got a good Kemp furler on my Westerly Fulmar.

Not 5 yrs old and still sets OK (or as well as you would expect a furler when reefed). Had foam luff fitted from new.

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[yoda]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

When I was considering the foam luff thing the sailmaker asked 1) How often did I actually reef the sail 2) if I was expecting to sail out into strong winds for a bash to windward whould I reef or rig the inner forestay and use the working jib. Having thought about it I decided that for 95% of my sailing it never got reefed so the foam luff was left off and I don't suffer from the disturbance it would have created. Ask yourself the same questions and you may come up with the answer. Hope that helps. At this time of year I would be beating them down in price as well!

Yoda

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[Oldhand]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

Kemp every time.

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[woody001]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

had kemp on my old boat - agree, top sails

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[Talbot]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

How do the materials compare, and also the price? I would expect the kemp to be more expensive on a like for like basis, but probably the absence of the foam will make the difference in price very small. Would suggest the previous comments about a solent are very appropriate, and if you use a solent rig, dont have a foam luff, but if you use your genoa reefed in, go for the foam.

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[ShipsWoofy]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

I am really happy with my one year old furling genoa from Kemps.

I found them a great company to deal with and went back to them immediately when I bought my new main this year.

Another vote for Kemps, a good family firm!

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[Calluna]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

The price is the same, but the Kemp sail has no foam luff (adds £120ish) and a 6oz dacron instead of a 7oz. We do end up reefing the sail quite a lot and the main problem with our current genoa is that when it's reefed we have difficulty sailing upwind. I don't know how much of this is due to the sail being very old.

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[Calluna]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

We've currently got no way of adding an inner forestay - is it rope or wire and does it attach to the top of the furling drum? How much does the furled sail get in the way of the jib and screw up its performance?

Heather

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[brianhumber]

Re: Arun or Kemp

Have some old sails from Kemp and Arun have made me a new main, full geny with foam and a non foam solent.
The old Kemp sails have lasted well and still in use but the new Arun's can not be faulted on pre-purchase and after purchase advice, Ronhilda is restored to the shit off a shovel category. They appear to be lasting well and the main and solent which I have on in higher winds reef very well. Three reefs in the main, full solent gives over 10kts boat speed in 25kts true wind without any helming needed for example.
So at the end of the day my advice would be go to whoever you feel is closer to you in location and personal communication terms.

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[Talbot]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

simple decision. Kemp has a high reputation, but is more expensive for the same sail. with your use of the genoa as a reefed sail, I would be going for the heavier material and a foam luff. Alternatively, you would have to consider the fitting of a solent and the purchase of two sails rather than one, but you would get better up-hill performance.

I have Arun sails, and am quite happy with them.

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[MarkV]

Forgive my ignorance

But what is a solent rig and what is this foam luff all about?

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[joss]

Re: Arun or Kemp

What is a "solent" please?

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[dralex]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

Just ordered my new Genoa from Kemps and they came in under almost everyone both for tri radial laminate and cross cut dacron. Advice I got was to have foam luff from the start. Just for info, my laminate genoa for a Dehler 34 was £1145, including UV strip and foam luff and also an upgrade to their new ggroovy cruising laminate. I'm well chuffed. The onl;y problem now is waiting for the wind to drop so I can measure my true luff length without the tape going mad. nice to hear all the positive feedback about Kemp.
Alex

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[Evadne]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

I don't have furling but am happy to recommend Arun. Good quality at a very good price, IMO. My 1988 Genoa is going to need replacing soon, at least in the next 5 years, but the 1987 main is fine, (although it was Rockall in those days) and so is the 1990 No. 1 jib.

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[yoda]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

I have a wire inner forestay which is normally stowed by the shrouds so does not get in the way of the furling genoa. It attaches about 30cm below the forestay and has an eye on the deck behind the drum. Once rigged the jib operates as if the genoa isn't there. From what you have said it sounds like you sail with a reefed genoa quite a lot so I would go for the foam luff and if either company is offering a heavier cloth then go for that one subject to all other things being equal.

Yoda

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[Calluna]

Re: New Genoa - Can\'t make up my mind...

That's decided then (probably) - As I'm really looking for an improvement in upwind performance when the genoa is furled, the slightly heavier sail and foam luff should suit the sailing that we do - so Arun it is.

(I still want to order the Kemp one though, because the advertising blurb on the sail looks more impressive than the sheet from Arun and it might be a slightly higher spec. sail. On the other hand, Arun are only 15 mins drive away, have been really helpful in the past, the sail will work out cheaper and I probably won't be able to tell the difference).

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[brianhumber]

Re: Explanation attempt

Solent Jib or small geny is a smaller sail but cut high along the foot , or put another way a big storm jib.
With a skittish boat like a Baraccuda it means you can keep a nice shaped foresail to windward in much higher winds without having to furl which tends to create a more baggy shape. You then adjust power by shoving in two or more reefs in the main, which again is kept nice and blade like. This keeps you pointing high and allows me to 'roll' over the bigger waves by pinching at the right moment. This avoids me slamming which as the Baraccuda has a laser type flat bottom is most desirable to say the least.

Foam is where padding is inserted into your normal sized geny up the foil edge so that when you furl it the foam helps keep the desired blade shape again with the aim of keeping you pointing as high as possible

Hope the explanation is followable.

Bri

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