Option on Dufour price list

[mjcp]

Reading through the options list on a Dufour 405 I have two questions to which I'm sure someone on here can answer (rather than embarrassing myself with the agent...)

1> Offshore sails and std. sails. What's the difference?

2> Second fore stay/additional fore stay. (Seems to be optional and detachable?!?) What and why?

Cheers,
mjcp

 

[flaming]

Reading through the options list on a Dufour 405 I have two questions to which I'm sure someone on here can answer (rather than embarrassing myself with the agent...)

1> Offshore sails and std. sails. What's the difference?

2> Second fore stay/additional fore stay. (Seems to be optional and detachable?!?) What and why?

Cheers,
mjcp

Offshore sails is probably their name for uprated sails, 3 reef points, possibly a different fabric. This one is definitely worth clearing up with the agent. As is the discount for not taking their sails and sorting your own with your preferred sailmaker.

Second forestay is detachable, and is used to hank on smaller jibs - number 4 or storm jib usually, when the going gets too tough for the roller furling. This means that to set a small sail you don't have to drop the genoa. It's very usefull if you expect to be doing a lot of offshore stuff, especially upwind. But if you're the sort of family sailor who doesn't venture out if the forecast is a 6 or more, especially on the nose, it'll probably remain unused.

 

[TiggerToo]

Well, ask them. Why should you be embarrassed? Roughly sepaking:

1> Offshore sails and std. sails. What's the difference?

Offshore: harder wearing heavier materials (ege Hydranet instead of simple Dacron): talk to sailmakers they will give you rhyme and reason....

2> Second fore stay/additional fore stay. (Seems to be optional and detachable?!?) What and why?

A forestay to hoist your storm jib. Great idea and good to have a backup for the forestay if you plan to go offshore. BUt make sure the attachment of the highfield lever gets beefed up: my Dufor came with a drop-pin arrangement which sheared off in a blow. A simple rearrangement with a drill and a hefty R-shaped clip has done the trick

 

[mjcp]

Thanks for the answers! Family sailing yes and lots of cross channel and week/2 week trips to South West and northern France. (Not so much off shore, but not just day sails either.)

Well, ask them. Why should you be embarrassed?

Well, despite 20 years of sailing I've never looked all that closely at the options list; that's always been someone else's luxury!


(also recalling the hassle of buying a new car in the past, I want to be as knowledgeable and professional as possible as far as the agents are concerned).

mjcp