purplerobbie
Well-Known Member
What (if Any) are the benefits of having a cutter rig?
Cheers Rob
Cheers Rob
What are the Benefits of a Cutter Rig
- Thread starter purplerobbie
- Start date
steve_cronin
N/A
Well, if you're meaning in comparison with a standard Bermudian Rig:-
Ease of foredeck sail handling and the provision of a ready made storm-sail forestay.
Otherwise, it just looks nice.
WFOTRTDIT
Steve Cronin
Ease of foredeck sail handling and the provision of a ready made storm-sail forestay.
Otherwise, it just looks nice.
WFOTRTDIT
Steve Cronin
jeanne
Well-Known Member
I agree with Steve. It is convenient to reduce sail, keeping the sails smaller and more easily handled.
We have a roller outer jib, and a hanked inner jib, with a choice of a light overlapping one, a heavy smaller one or a storm jib, all easily handled. We usually sail short handed.
On passage, we can change the inner down early if the weather seems to indicate that it may become necessary, overnight, for instance, keeping up a good sail area with the outer jib, which can be rolled away anytime, leaving an efficient inner headsail still flying.
I havn´t seen a method of setting a storm jib as a ´temporary´measure (setting up a second forestay, etc) which appeals to me, when you consider that the work has to be done in the worst sort of weather.
The only other advantage is that it is a very powerful rig on a reach, but then, most boats go well on a reach anyway.
The disadvantages are the difficulty of tacking the outer jib, which has to be pulled forward round the inner forestay, and the need for two extra backstays to counter the pull of the inner forestay. But with these extra backstays, and the second forestay, you end up with a very secure mast, which may have its charms on a long passage.
We have a roller outer jib, and a hanked inner jib, with a choice of a light overlapping one, a heavy smaller one or a storm jib, all easily handled. We usually sail short handed.
On passage, we can change the inner down early if the weather seems to indicate that it may become necessary, overnight, for instance, keeping up a good sail area with the outer jib, which can be rolled away anytime, leaving an efficient inner headsail still flying.
I havn´t seen a method of setting a storm jib as a ´temporary´measure (setting up a second forestay, etc) which appeals to me, when you consider that the work has to be done in the worst sort of weather.
The only other advantage is that it is a very powerful rig on a reach, but then, most boats go well on a reach anyway.
The disadvantages are the difficulty of tacking the outer jib, which has to be pulled forward round the inner forestay, and the need for two extra backstays to counter the pull of the inner forestay. But with these extra backstays, and the second forestay, you end up with a very secure mast, which may have its charms on a long passage.
Salty John
Well-Known Member
I would add only that as you reduce sail you are also bringing the centre of effort inboard which is an advantage.
bestintentions
Member
The best one from my view is being able to have a nicely set staysail rather than a half rolled genoa when the wind gets up .... only real disadvantage is its a bit harder to tack the genoa as it needs to go round the staysail. I'd go for the staysail every time.
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
I just roll my genoa in half way, then tack and un-roll, much easier than going forward and shoving it through the gap.
I like my rig, makes it easier to run Jib and jigger in heavy weather when motorsailing.
I like my rig, makes it easier to run Jib and jigger in heavy weather when motorsailing.
demonboy
Well-Known Member
Worth mentioning that the stay is used when going into wind rather than when reaching (would be interested to know if anyone uses it to run pseudo goose-wing as I've never gained speed using the stay when going downwind).
Tacking a stay may be problematic for some but due to its smaller size we've found it quite easy. In fact if you're short-handed you just let it off and deal with the genoa first before attending to the stay. It sheets in pretty quick.
Tacking a stay may be problematic for some but due to its smaller size we've found it quite easy. In fact if you're short-handed you just let it off and deal with the genoa first before attending to the stay. It sheets in pretty quick.
RonPimm
Member
When starting to reef which do people reef first, main or headsails and if the latter, jib or staysail first? Seems to be some difference of opinion between what I've read and what I and others have experienced.
demonboy
Well-Known Member
As I said above, jib before stay. That way you get the power back in the sails quickly and I would prefer to have my stay flapping around rather than my jib cos it's smaller.
Jib
Main
Stay
Mizzen
Something like that!
Jib
Main
Stay
Mizzen
Something like that!
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
My stysl, is on a boom, which self tacks. I have two inner stays, so it's easy to use either a storm jib on the other, or a larger yankee/staysail which can be boomed out to allow goose winging down wind, with my roller reefing yankee.
I have also considered buying another reefing yankee and running it in the other groove of my foresail and poling both out, with a twistle arrangement. but havent bought one yet.
I have also considered buying another reefing yankee and running it in the other groove of my foresail and poling both out, with a twistle arrangement. but havent bought one yet.
bestintentions
Member
There is also the advantage of another forestay, just in case one of the breaks!
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
On a bigger boat (last one was a 22t cutter) it was very conveniant to be able to reduce sail drasticly but still have an effcient, well inboard rig. But I would only have a cutter for long distance sailing as it does complicate tacking.
bobgosling
Well-Known Member
May be totally different on a boat originally designed as a cutter but I'm about to change my cutter rig back to a sloop. I find it doesn't sail well under reefed main and staysail and the satysail gets in the way when tacking. I don't like it at all.
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
Agree with you Robert, on a boat that size, if you are talking about the Seal, it,s just a complication,
Abaker
Well-Known Member
Our boat is marketed as either a sloop or a cutter with detachable inner stay. We have the cutter and are very happy with it. Our 120 jib ("yankee cut") is on a furler and the staysail is hanked on. For daysailing we often detach the staysail stay to simplify tacking. Offshore we always have the staysail stay set up, but don't bother with the running backstays unless the wind pipes up. Two reefs in the main plus staysail gives a nicely balanced rig that allows us to point higher than we could with the partially rolled jib. The staysail sheets are led to inboard tracks on the coachroof.
roly_voya
Well-Known Member
On suitable boats - There are lots of really good and cheap 70's boats with very tough solid hulls around but the fasion of the time (due to rating rules) was for large overlapping genoa's and reletively small mains. With the mast stepped further back these designs are idea for conversion to cutter giving a well proportioned and balanced rig and getting rid of the problem they have of unmanagably large headsails for short handed crews.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
We have a 'slutter' rig which is brilliant.
Basically this has the head of the staysail stay attached just below the masthead (hence no need for running backstays), and the foot about a metre inboard of the main forestay (which has a roller furling genoa on it).
The inner forestay is on a quick release lever, but we tend to keep it on all the time - although this means rolling the genoa all the way in when tacking (much easier than running up to the foredeck and trying to help it around).
We have a high cut hanked on staysail for the inner forestay, and use this with the full main once the wind gets a bit too much for full genny and main (I dont like using the genoa in reefed mode). We also have a hank on storm job, but have never had to use it in anger yet.
The sheets for the staysail use cars further forward on the same track that the genoa uses - if going to windward with the staysail we can sheet it inside the cap shrouds, which helps especially if motor-sailing.
Basically this has the head of the staysail stay attached just below the masthead (hence no need for running backstays), and the foot about a metre inboard of the main forestay (which has a roller furling genoa on it).
The inner forestay is on a quick release lever, but we tend to keep it on all the time - although this means rolling the genoa all the way in when tacking (much easier than running up to the foredeck and trying to help it around).
We have a high cut hanked on staysail for the inner forestay, and use this with the full main once the wind gets a bit too much for full genny and main (I dont like using the genoa in reefed mode). We also have a hank on storm job, but have never had to use it in anger yet.
The sheets for the staysail use cars further forward on the same track that the genoa uses - if going to windward with the staysail we can sheet it inside the cap shrouds, which helps especially if motor-sailing.
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Thats exactly what i'm intending to do.... slutter rigs seem an easy option for a standard Bermuda rigged boat
Massive gain to be had IMHO from a second forestay and the ability to 'reef' quickly by using the high cut stay sail, and furling the genoa, giving better pointing, better relative positions of CoE and the ability to put a storm sail on far more safely....... as well as of course, a second forestay for security....
Only difference is I suspect that i'll need to add a second pair of tracks, as the genoa ones will be too far outboard for a decent sheeting angle...
best bit of all though.... it just looks great!
Massive gain to be had IMHO from a second forestay and the ability to 'reef' quickly by using the high cut stay sail, and furling the genoa, giving better pointing, better relative positions of CoE and the ability to put a storm sail on far more safely....... as well as of course, a second forestay for security....
Only difference is I suspect that i'll need to add a second pair of tracks, as the genoa ones will be too far outboard for a decent sheeting angle...
best bit of all though.... it just looks great!
