Self Tacking Jib

[robturner]

I hope to be buying a new Etap30i. The standard rig includes a self tacking jib. A 110% Genoa is an option. I am unsure if the self tacker would produce enough drive in all situations. Does anybody have any experience of self tacking jibs?, or does anybody own a an Etap30i that can give an opinion? Any information, tips or opinons would be most welcome. Thanks.

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[PaulR]

have had hunter 272 with self tacking jib and conventional genoa and my current dehler 34 also has both-each has plus' and minus'-ease of use of self tacker superb-sailing with family or shorthanded ability to just tack and no winching or retrimming required is superb-down sides- off wind can be irritating on dead run especially in light airs when jib can keep running back and forth across track, in light winds both yachts have benefited from putting up genoa and having more power but equally on windier days self tacker versatile through wider wind range without need to reef, might sound daft but another plus is the smaller and higher cut nature of the self tacker gives much improved vis to leeward which on busy solent days is welcome-if I was facing the choice of only one or the other I would probably go for a conventional genoa to give me a wider range of windspeeds from low to higher when it is good but for us having both is the best of both worlds!

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[Sybarite]

Is a cutter rig an option?

John

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[MainlySteam]

What can be another plus with a genoa on a smaller vessel, if in a cruising situation, is that in heavier winds you may find that on or close to a flat run, it alone will get you up to hull speed without the worry of having a main which may accidently gybe unless you rig a preventer (and I am not that enthralled about using a preventer either in heavier conditions). I am assuming the genoa would be on a furler in which case we find it is a very easily handled sail in worsening conditions when sailing downwind, and also allows you to safely sail a dead flat run if that is the desired course and being at hull speed already makes downwind tacking pointless.

We are large enough to have an inner forestay on which we can set a smaller foresail in heavier weather (or wing it with the genoa in moderate winds downwind, again without the main), but if I had to choose between a jib or a furling genoa on a non race oriented boat with a small crew I would go for the genoa myself.

Enjoy your new boat.

John

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by MainlySteam on 03/10/2003 03:53 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[qsiv]

Personally, I would go with the self tacker, and consider adding either a Code 0 (or the slightly more forgiving Doyle UPS). This would give real drive in winds of under 8 knots, when even the 110% will be dropping out of it's range.

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[MainlySteam]

I would certainly agree with that if the sailing is predominantly in light winds (I am perhaps unduly influenced by the storm force winds through Cook Strait today). Even though the sail would not be enormous on an approximate 30 foot boat, maybe with a family or light crew a high modulus luff rope and small line furler on a Code 0 type sail, but if not racing cut to be closer winded and more forgiving of trim.

John

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[Badger]

I have a self tacker on my Hunter Channel 31 and it is a delight when you are sailing shorthanded, tacking up rivers etc. It means we sail more and it sets like a blade and we never have to reef it.In light airs we have an Asymmetric coloured sail which Hunter call the Scooper which is basically a "Genneker".You can use this from a close reach to a very broad reach.We put ours in an AFN snuffer from Sobstad and we use it a lot in light airs.It doubles the boat speed, so again it means we sail more but is easy to handle.WE also looked at the ETAP range but they don't offer self tacking on the 32 only the 30. Check out the Channel 31 if you haven't already.

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[steve_cronin]

On my Hunter 30....

..which we sold nearly three years ago, the only irritation was the constant slatting back 7 forth of the self tacker down wind. This was a regular occurence as most of our cruises involved returning back to the Hamble up the Solent from the west.

I rigged a "preventer" for that sail which held the aluminium traveller against an end stop and this improved matter. It was only when my wife bought me a "Scooper" (an almost symmetrical cruising chute) that down wind sailing was transformed. We sold the boat within a few months though and now have a conventional genoa.

Although we don't tack up many rivers anymore, i can't say that i miss the self tacker.

Steve Cronin

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[qsiv]

I feel most recreational 'marina to marina' sailors are far more likely to be a victim of lack of wind rather than a surfeit.

Doyle's UPS is a fairly closewinded sail (about 35 to 40 AWA), with a highish clew and a much more forgiving entry than a regular Code 0, but fulfilling broadly the same role. It is really immensely satisfying to be able to sail at a good speed when other are reaching for the engine start button.

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[ditchcrawler]

I too have a Hunter with self tacker & use a scooper in light airs with a snuffer.I find that on the east coast there tend to be more days with good wind & less with no wind so I am happy with the arrangement.I also have a dodgy back & shoulder so the self tacker suits me more than it might you or some others.

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[Jean]

Self tacking jib may be a problem if you want to back it for any reason.

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