Storm Jib. Luff tape option.

[jnaiken]

Hi all.

Ive seen on here a lot of discussion about the benefits of a removable inner forestay to take a storm jib but has anyone had luff tape put onto a storm jib to use on a furler track? Im weighing up the options between a the new stay, which requires a new deck fitting or just having the storm jib changed to fit the furler.

I have a no.1, no.2, no.4 and storm jib so as things progressed id be shifting down through the sails to avoid having to unroll a full genoa and getting that down in a blow! Any thoughts or experiences of this would be appreciated!

 

[neil_s]

I took the piston hanks off a good working jib and replaced them with bullet slides intended for a mainsail luff. It worked very well and saw out the rest of it's life on my Rotostay furler. You do need to fit a strop on the head of the sail so that the slider can get to the top of the luff spar and create a good angle on the halyard - this stops the dreaded halyard wrap.

 

[LadyInBed]

By the time you get to needing the storm jib will you want to be up on the foredeck dropping the sail that is up then feeding in your storm jib?
Hank on on a removable inner makes for a much simpler procedure.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Hi all.

Ive seen on here a lot of discussion about the benefits of a removable inner forestay to take a storm jib but has anyone had luff tape put onto a storm jib to use on a furler track? Im weighing up the options between a the new stay, which requires a new deck fitting or just having the storm jib changed to fit the furler.

I have a no.1, no.2, no.4 and storm jib so as things progressed id be shifting down through the sails to avoid having to unroll a full genoa and getting that down in a blow! Any thoughts or experiences of this would be appreciated!

I thought that, for cruising, the roller furling genoa had eliminated the use of hank-on foresails, and when the genoa had been reefed to the point of un-usability it would be furled completely. The storm jib would then be deployed on the inner forestay.
A major advantage, IMHO, of a removable inner forestay is that it will keep you sailing in the event of failure of the main forestay.

 

[MM5AHO]

I took the piston hanks off a good working jib and replaced them with bullet slides intended for a mainsail luff. It worked very well and saw out the rest of it's life on my Rotostay furler. You do need to fit a strop on the head of the sail so that the slider can get to the top of the luff spar and create a good angle on the halyard - this stops the dreaded halyard wrap.

Where did you get bullet slides for a furler foil?

 

[neil_s]

Where did you get bullet slides for a furler foil?

I regret I can't remember where I bought them, but the ones that suit my Rotostay E with 6 mm wire are a Bainbridge product, No. A017

 

[MM5AHO]

Thanks, they seem to have a wide selection. I want some for a small jib to fit a Harken foil.

 

[eddystone]

I don't find the idea of having to unfurl the genoa completely to drop it very compelling, assuming conditions where you might think about a storm sail so I guess a removable inner forestay and a hanked on storm jib is a better solution; presumably not cheap if the mast need support behind the inner forestay and another halyard at the right height needs to be fitted.

Another, cheaper solution which I have is a "gale sail"; hank on storm jib fitted with a sleeve which goes round the tightly furled genoa - uses spinnaker halyard. TBH I wouldn't fancy having to put it up in a gale but it's an option you might consider.

 

[William_H]

I think the removable inner forestay is the safest way to go. As the weather gets worse you might feel the benefit of the inner forestay attached just for more/better mast support. Then when it seems necessary you would hank on the storm jib either before or after fully furling the jib. I think trying to remove a jib on forestay might be pretty difficult in a blow especially if you are trying to work the boat to wind ward. olewill