Storm sails query

[timmygobang]

(Storm Jib)

Are there any discernible differences between buying one off Force4 and getting one made by say Crusader Sails?

I'm guessing the answer would be 'yes', but what if anything should I be looking out for?

Cheers

 

[oldvarnish]

You will probably never need a storm sail, but if you do you want to know it is a perfect fit for your boat so that it works as efficiently as possible. That can only come from a custom-made sail.

 

[Seajet]

Both companies have very good reputations but the sails have to be right for your boat, including you doing a trial set and fitting sheet leads if necessary - have a check for the weight of cloth and amount of stitching, treble stitched heavy stuff being the spec' to aim at.

Also see if the sails are offered in dayglo colours, useful for storm rig.

 

[dunedin]

Do you really need one? You may already have these, but first imperatives are 3rd or possibly 4th reef point on mainsail and foam luff on any furling genoa.
Interesting article in YW where Skip Novak argues against use of trysail in favour of 4th reef - as being much safer to set. He has apparently never used the trysail in 25 years - and he runs charter trips around Cape Horn and to Antartica, Falklands etc so should know

 

[Ric]

l and foam luff on any furling genoa.

LOL!

 

[oldvarnish]

Skip Novak argues against use of trysail in favour of 4th reef - as being much safer to set. He has apparently never used the trysail in 25 years - and he runs charter trips around Cape Horn and to Antartica, Falklands etc so should know

I have no experience to match Novak's, but I spent quite a lot of time hove-to on a recent trip to his part of the world and the third reef in the main did me proud - didn't need anything else.

 

[Neil_Y]

I bought a crusader storm jib, a very well made sail, (heavier cloth than some of the bright orange variety)

I had complete confidence it would remain solid/flat as the boat broke up around it. I needed it three times in one year first time being Biscay in November. For this sort of equipment you just want the best you can get, no idea what F4 product is like but compare the cloth weight, fittings, reinforcement etc.

On the tri sail, never needed one, the stack pack had enough windage to balance the little storm jib and she sailed or hove to nicely in lots of wind.

 

[Daydream believer]

sitting in my garage somewhere is a storm jib for a Stella
I no longer have use for it if some one wants to PM me for a cheap deal

 

[timmygobang]

Do you really need one? You may already have these, but first imperatives are 3rd or possibly 4th reef point on mainsail and foam luff on any furling genoa.
Interesting article in YW where Skip Novak argues against use of trysail in favour of 4th reef - as being much safer to set. He has apparently never used the trysail in 25 years - and he runs charter trips around Cape Horn and to Antartica, Falklands etc so should know

Thanks for the replies.

I should have mentioned I'm looking to gradually build up my experience doing some coastal trips and then eventually some longer offshore jolly's. My approach is to over compensate if anything, so if it's never used then I'll be a happy chap, but if it's there and I need it then it's one more tool that may come in handy.

I'm not looking to get a trysail as I have a 3rd reefing point in the main which I think would be suffice, but a storm jib would be a bit more robust than my genoa.