Plastimo storm jib

[svaha]

Hi,*

I'm after a storm jib and I've noticed that the off the peg plastimo one is half the price of bespoke one.*

Sometimes things which seem too good to be true sadly are!

Any experience/opinions of the plastimo sail would be welcome.


Thanks
Martin

 

[Talulah]

Hi,*

I'm after a storm jib and I've noticed that the off the peg plastimo one is half the price of bespoke one.*

Sometimes things which seem too good to be true sadly are!

Any experience/opinions of the plastimo sail would be welcome.


Thanks
Martin

Bought a Plastimo one for a previous boat. I was surprisingly pleased with it.

 

[svaha]

The plastimo blurb says it's designed by a professional sailmaker and meets orc regs I think. Sounds good.

 

[rickym]

A good rule of thumb is that the storm jib should be twice the length of the boat in sq feet (approx) So a 36 footer has a 70 something sq foot storm jib. Hope this helps.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

If you are buying a storm jib because you seriously anticipate having to use one, and that is not in all reallity going to be on cross channel or coastal passages, why would you not get one that is purposely made for the boat so that you at least will have some confidence that it will do what it says on the label. However if you need one to comply with regs etc or simply want one and are unlikely to use it the cheapest option is fine that may even include a second hand one. For the difference in price and I suspect it to be less than £100 go bespoke.

There is a lot of truth in "you get what you pay for" whilst in some cases in the marine world it may not always be the case in sails it is generally true.

 

[svaha]

Hi

Good point Pete. Also worth saying that the twice the price I mentioned is a bit pessimistic as I've had quotes from good sailmakers for not much more than plastimo one.

Thanks all
M.

 

[Talulah]

If you are buying a storm jib because you seriously anticipate having to use one, and that is not in all reallity going to be on cross channel or coastal passages, why would you not get one that is purposely made for the boat so that you at least will have some confidence that it will do what it says on the label. However if you need one to comply with regs etc or simply want one and are unlikely to use it the cheapest option is fine that may even include a second hand one. For the difference in price and I suspect it to be less than £100 go bespoke.

There is a lot of truth in "you get what you pay for" whilst in some cases in the marine world it may not always be the case in sails it is generally true.

Do you get everything purposely made for your boat so you have confidence in using it?

 

[Seajet]

The storm jib for my 22' boat is 44 square feet, I've only ever used it once - in 55 knot squalls in the Solent - but when I needed it, I really needed it !

I'd want pretty bullet-proof construction, ie material & stitching, to rely on such a thing to be responsible for the lives of my boat & crew.

 

[Talulah]

Having used both Plastimo Storm Sails and non-Plastimo Storm sails I can report both were fine.
It is very likely that you will have to modify the Plastimo 'off the shelf' storm sail to suit how you are going to attach it to the forestay where as if you get one made you shouldn't need to subsequently modify it.
My biggest issue with the storm jib in heavy seas was the jib sheet bowline coming undone. (I didn't check it) and I wasn't going forward in those conditions having already been rolled to reattach it. Instead I backed the other jib sheet.

 

[rickym]

The storm jib for my 22' boat is 44 square feet, I've only ever used it once - in 55 knot squalls in the Solent - but when I needed it, I really needed it !

I'd want pretty bullet-proof construction, ie material & stitching, to rely on such a thing to be responsible for the lives of my boat & crew.

Just about the right size then!

Most storm sails spend their lives rotting in the bottom of the locker. Only used mine once 42kts trying to get round start point ugh! Buy one but get it checked over by the sailmaker occasionally as most people will never use such a sail, now my working jib is another matter!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Do you get everything purposely made for your boat so you have confidence in using it?

I would say in all probability yes often by my own fair hand I think you make the point well in that the off the shelf sail is quite likely to need modifying so why bother

 

[Sybarite]

The storm jib for my 22' boat is 44 square feet, I've only ever used it once - in 55 knot squalls in the Solent - but when I needed it, I really needed it !

I'd want pretty bullet-proof construction, ie material & stitching, to rely on such a thing to be responsible for the lives of my boat & crew.

And don't to forget to use shackles as well as hanks. I was in a squall which physically tore the metal hanks.

 

[Sybarite]

Hi,*

I'm after a storm jib and I've noticed that the off the peg plastimo one is half the price of bespoke one.*

Sometimes things which seem too good to be true sadly are!

Any experience/opinions of the plastimo sail would be welcome.


Thanks
Martin

Plastimo are a serious outfit. I think you can trust them.

 

[LittleSister]

Plastimo are a serious outfit. I think you can trust them.

Except with their joke cyclindrical radar reflectors.

 

[Talulah]

I would say in all probability yes often by my own fair hand I think you make the point well in that the off the shelf sail is quite likely to need modifying so why bother

Actually whilst you made the point about wanting gear you have faith in my reply was rather curt. Apologies.
My point would be where do you stop with custom made and off the shelf?
After all almost everything else you're dependant on is off the shelf.

 

[Sybarite]

Except with their joke cyclindrical radar reflectors.

They work for me judging by the hoots I have had in thick fog from ships.