Looking for a solution for my genoa

[pzmaria]

Hello members. My genoa foot is rubbing on a rail when fully furled out. It keeps wearing the bottom and need to find a solution. It's a Catalina30-std rig. Not quite sure but it looks like 110 genoa. Any suggestions? Attached are pics how it looks and how it wears. Sorry about my finger in these pics but I was using my phone and didn't want to loose it.

[DeborahLee]

Cut the sail shorter to clear the rail. Unless are racing you won't notice any difference.

[Thumbs Up]

That is not called the rail. It is the bow pulpit. The rail (short for toe rail) is where the hull meets the deck. A hand stitched strip of leather wrapped around that part of the foot of the sail will protect it from further damage and make it look better. Also, from the look of it, you need to move your genoa lead block aft.

[Jim Cate]

Is the sail truly a full hoist sail? If not, putting a pennant between the tack and the furler and raising the whole sail will eliminate or at least reduce the problem, and for essentially zero cost.

Jim

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Is the sail truly a full hoist sail? If not, putting a pennant between the tack and the furler and raising the whole sail will eliminate or at least reduce the problem, and for essentially zero cost.

Jim

Bingo, that is what I have had to do, just go to worst Marine and make yourself a 6” piece of lifeline and swage the ends into loops.

[JPA Cate]

A64, it only works if there is more hoist available!

I don't know if the sail is worth the cost, but if there is no hoist for a pennant, then having the sail re-cut is also an option.

A.

[pzmaria]

There is no more hoist available.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by pzmaria

There is no more hoist available.

OK, that option is out.

Other possibilities:

Have the foot of the sail recut, raising the clew enough to have the foot above the lifelines. Could cost more than reasonable for the age of the sail, also could make it difficult to get the sheet lead in the right place.

Have the head of the sail recut (along with the whole leech) to allow the sail to be raised as discussed above. Likely less expensive than option 1.

Sell off the sail and buy one that fits better. The Cat 30 is such a popular boat that there are always a lot of used sails on offer. Try places like Bacon in Annapolis or Minnies in California... they have thousands of sails in stock.

Buy a new sail from a sailmaker who will come to your boat and design a sail to meet your specific needs. More expensive, but best solution... and you will have better sailing performance, too!

Wrap sticky back dacron repair material around the foot in the wear area and replace as required when it chafes through. Easy and cheap and immediate gratification... what's not to like!

Jim

[donradcliffe]

The cheap option is to sail with a turn or two on the furler.

[hamburking]

The bow pulpit is smooth...its not the problem. The problem is that turnbuckle on the lifeline. I suggest you take the upper lifeline to the lower lifeline connection point on the bow pulpit, removing the source of chaffe. I've seen lots of boats do this.

Also, put some sail tape along the sail where it might chaffe. Easy to apply, just peel and stick. The tape will chaffe first...its easy and cheap to replace.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

The cheap option is to sail with a turn or two on the furler.

That'll ruin the sail shape, and put stress on the furler and line all the time. Not a solution IMHO.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Have the foot of the sail recut

I agree that would be a good solution...but expensive. It would be cheaper/easier to reinforce the sail by adding more material. Combine this with lowering the lifeline (to the lower connection point on the bow pulpit) and you may have yourself a good solution and low cost.

[John_Trusty]

First, congratulations on discovering and treating chafe. Many boat owners just let it go until something breaks or tears. Second, the only options for eliminating chafe are separating the pieces (the ideas about recutting sails or increasing hoist), and putting a cheaper or tougher substance between the chafing pieces (the baggywrinkle approach).

I'd play with the sail fully unfurled at the dock (on a windless day!) to see exactly where it's chafing. I'd like to add an idea that your chafe looks like it is only one small piece, probably that turnbuckle at the pulpit where you pull the foot of the sail across it. I suggest the cheapest approach is to fully cover that with leather or vinyl tape so there is no rough stainless steal exposed.

[Thumbs Up]

The bow pulpit is smooth...its not the problem

It is not the lifeline turnbuckle. You can see clearly in the photo's. It must be snagging on something else. maybe a nav light mounted to the pulpit.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by hamburking

The bow pulpit is smooth...its not the problem. The problem is that turnbuckle on the lifeline.

I tend to think your right, my current new 135 Genoa also rubs the pulpit rail a little bit and so far there has been no damage, and I don’t expect any as there is no real movement and the rail is polished and smooth.