Solent with Continuous-line furler on cruising sailboat

[s57ra]

Hi,
I want to add additional jib to my B. oceanis 473, which already has everything to add additional stay. I'd prefer the system to be light, to keep COG low and also to be removable (completely or just to move it to one side) in cases when i only want to use 100% genoa for easy tacking.

My idea is to use single-line furler (e.g. facnor FX1500) and about 20m2 sail made of 8.35 oz DACRON equipped with anti-torsion cable.

This type of setup is usually used with light sails, so i think the storage of the furled sail made of heavier material might be a problem. Does anyone have experience with this?

What about additional storm-sail, since this type of furler cannot be used for partial furling?

Or should i go the old-fashioned way of adding solent-stay and hank-on sails, or simply a classic furler...

Thank you for your opinion.

[TJ D]

Originally Posted by s57ra

Hi,
I want to add additional jib to my B. oceanis 473, which already has everything to add additional stay. I'd prefer the system to be light, to keep COG low and also to be removable (completely or just to move it to one side) in cases when i only want to use 100% genoa for easy tacking.

My idea is to use single-line furler (e.g. facnor FX1500) and about 20m2 sail made of 8.35 oz DACRON equipped with anti-torsion cable.

This type of setup is usually used with light sails, so i think the storage of the furled sail made of heavier material might be a problem. Does anyone have experience with this?

What about additional storm-sail, since this type of furler cannot be used for partial furling?

Or should i go the old-fashioned way of adding solent-stay and hank-on sails, or simply a classic furler...

Thank you for your opinion.

Hi, I don't think that you'll have a problem with that material being too bulky. Our sail stows in a pretty small turtle. We've had nylon and a laminate sail for a similar application.

First, 20 square meters? That is tiny. We are lighter than you, and my code zero/reacher is rather small at 90 square meters. I would expect this sail on a 473 to be substantially larger than you're thinking.

Second, the continuous line/torsion line setup is a fine choice if you don't want to leave the sail up all the time. a sail furled around a torsion line isn't really that well suited to staying up full-time, IMO. You would be better off with a standard furling setup if you want to leave it up.

These sails are generally meant to be either fully deployed or furled. Your flatter inner jib would be the one to reef with.

I hope that helps.
TJ

[UNCIVILIZED]

On some classes of shorthanded racing boats, Solents or heavy weather jibs are setup on structural furlers. Though they then have a lot of purchase at one end of the stay/halyard or both. Similar to a (racing/true) Code 0. However in your situation you're better off going with a detachable Solent stay, with a sail on hanks. Or a permanent stay with a furler.

My vote's for the detachable option, since you can fly a lot of different sails & sail types from a Solent stay. Anything from light air sails, to storm sails. None of them requiring specialized hardware. And you can even go with a synthetic stay. Especially given the added complications of specialized saisl designed to be free flying, for upwind work.