Used Genoa question.

[lmitchell]

I am considering buying a used genoa. The luff is 18 inches shorter than my current blown out sail. If I choose to buy it where do I want the sail on the headstay? Do I put a pendant at the head or the tack? Or do I split the difference? It's a North mylar that appears to be almost new.

I am considering this sail as a light air number one genoa for cruising in my Dufour Arpege 30. The folks selling the sail say the luff is 35 feet... The leech was 29 feet 8 inches, the foot 19 feet, the LP was 17 feet 6 inches. That just sounds a bit big (say a 165%). But what do I know. It is SW Florida and summertime breezes rarely push over 10 kts. I would appreciate any info or advice anyone can offer me. My I is 37 feet 4 inches and my J is only 10 feet 6 inches.

Thanks,
Lawson

[saildork]

How about experimenting with it? You might want the pendant at the tack so you can see under the sail. Or, on the deck if that's not important to you, or if it has a high cut foot. What about where the genoa lead will end up? That can make a difference also.

Just some thoughts.

[Faster]

Like the dork says, (sorry ) you'll have to try it on for size. If it's oversized you may have to keep in down low so that your genoa leads will still work. Or if you have a furler then that 18" "shortness" may be just fine.

[dbruce85]

I purchased a genoa about 18" shorter as well. I tried it without a pendant at the tack but with the roller furling, it gave the halyard no angle to the furler, and furling in a heavy wind the halyard started to wrap. I let the genoa out and it cleared, headed into the wind and it furled ok.
Since I put the pendant at the tack I have had no problem, visibility is much better also.

[roline]

You will have to check the sheet lead block position and how the foot of the sail clears the stanchions ans sweeps the deck. I did a CAD model of my Cal 9.2 so I could draw the sail and calculate the lead position being a straight line from the center of the luff through the clew. I wanted to be able to move the lead back to depower and forward to power up the sail. This helps to increase the apparent wind usage range of the sail as long as I don't blow it out.
I raised the light #1 on by Santana525 by 8" and this helped to automatically skirt the foot when tacking. It was hanging up on the stanchion. The lead still had enough adjustment.
I've bought several racing seconds and they work great for cruising and I even placed second in the spring series. One find was a carbon fiber/pentex mylar laminate for $300 and it works great in 12 to 19 knots of apparent air. I also found a light #1, 150% I put it on its own halyard so I could do a quick hoist and drop. Works great up to 5 knots, then the 155% is used.
Perfect they are not for performance, but perfect they be from price.
Just be careful that you don't buy a blown out rag. Most reputable used sail dealers will allow for a hoist and check of sail shape with a money back less shipping.