Robin
Well-known member
Jonjo
There seem to be two schools of thought on how long/high the flappy bits are. Dehler's system has very high sides that go right to the mast. Our last Stakpack cover on the W33 (shortish boom on a ketch rig main) was made so the flappy sides were not too high but there was plenty of fabric in the 'bridge' between the sides, the bit the zip is in, this dropped inside the side with the sail up and the cover was not quite so unattractively high. In length it was designed with the sides ending where the full length battens started to curve upwards, on that boat the front cover wasn't too big. On the new boat the front cover would need to be much bigger to accomodate much more sail and longer battens, the front 'height' is much greater. A big front cover IMO is as much work to fit as a full length cover since the back end of a normal cover doesn't take much effort to do up, the real effort is in fitting the front bit.
Maybe the boom should be left more French style with the end lower, that would aid water run off. Maybe we just get dirtier rain in Poole, certainly our decks go grey and dust collects in the run offs after any kind of shower but having spent a huge sum on new sails I like to keep them clean! Our white sunstrip on the genoa is very grey after 3 years and the sail is valeted annually, the sail itself is still nice and white though.
You do have one other problem, that you do not yet have the boat or the sails. Ideally you would have the sail on the boom and the covermaker come and measure it, otherwise it is all guesswork. Then what do you do in between being measured and taking delivery - take the sail off each time? There might be some merit in having a regular cover made initially (it can be pre-made as it is better to be a loose fit anyway) then move to a Stackpak when you replace it next time round.
Decisions decisions decisions!
Robin
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
There seem to be two schools of thought on how long/high the flappy bits are. Dehler's system has very high sides that go right to the mast. Our last Stakpack cover on the W33 (shortish boom on a ketch rig main) was made so the flappy sides were not too high but there was plenty of fabric in the 'bridge' between the sides, the bit the zip is in, this dropped inside the side with the sail up and the cover was not quite so unattractively high. In length it was designed with the sides ending where the full length battens started to curve upwards, on that boat the front cover wasn't too big. On the new boat the front cover would need to be much bigger to accomodate much more sail and longer battens, the front 'height' is much greater. A big front cover IMO is as much work to fit as a full length cover since the back end of a normal cover doesn't take much effort to do up, the real effort is in fitting the front bit.
Maybe the boom should be left more French style with the end lower, that would aid water run off. Maybe we just get dirtier rain in Poole, certainly our decks go grey and dust collects in the run offs after any kind of shower but having spent a huge sum on new sails I like to keep them clean! Our white sunstrip on the genoa is very grey after 3 years and the sail is valeted annually, the sail itself is still nice and white though.
You do have one other problem, that you do not yet have the boat or the sails. Ideally you would have the sail on the boom and the covermaker come and measure it, otherwise it is all guesswork. Then what do you do in between being measured and taking delivery - take the sail off each time? There might be some merit in having a regular cover made initially (it can be pre-made as it is better to be a loose fit anyway) then move to a Stackpak when you replace it next time round.
Decisions decisions decisions!
Robin
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
