Self-tacking jib - does this really work?

patrscoe · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011

I saw a sailboat with a self-tacking jib and it appears to work really well, from a distance. Never done this and in fact I enjoy sail trimming but on those days where my two children and dog are "enjoyably" in the way and throughout the cockpit and we are in no hurry, I wonder about it. I looked at a track self-tacking design but it seems that there are really no trimming to it, it is set out there and it is what it is. Release by a line to let out the sail to go from a close haul to reach. It seems that you would loose much power because of this.

Any thoughts?

NewportNewbie · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011

I did a lesson in a Harbor 20 and it has a self tacking jib...wasnt bad...I was moderately impressed.

zz4gta · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011

Must be a different set up than what I'm used to. I sailed a Fun 23 and didn't notice any big downside.

nickmerc · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011

I've used these on modern racing beach cats and on some schooners I have sailed. It is nice when you have a full cockpit to not have to worry about trimming the sails on every tack when beating.

patrscoe · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011

Does anyone have a proven successful design of self-tacking jib?
If I go in this direction, I would want the opportunity to disconnect and go back to jib sheets.
I kind of feel like this is cheating....

NewportNewbie · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by zz4gta

Must be a different set up than what I'm used to. I sailed a Fun 23 and didn't notice any big downside.

What was cool was I didn't have to do much at all to tack...BUT the system was so tight to prevent it from doing things accidentally that in light winds you still had to work the sheets because it would get stuck in the middle...This again was on a smaller 20 foot boat...

Jeff_H · #7 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011

There is a huge difference between a boat that was designed for a self tacking jib, and retrofitting a boat that was not designed that way. Self tacking jibs are tiny percentage headsails, (perhaps 85-95% tops) and so when a boat is designed for a a self-tacking headsail, it ideally has a comparatively large SA/D around 23-26 with a 100% jib.

When you talk about retrofitting a self tacking jib on a masthead rig designed for 155% genoas, and an SA/D down below 16, such as your Pearson 35, I think you will give up a whole lot of sailing days when the wind is below 18 knots, and even then you will potentially have a whole lot of weather helm unless you reef.

The reality is that once a jib gets down around 105%, where it does not overlap the shrouds, it is so easy to tack, even on a pretty big boat that self-tacking jibs aren't worth the trouble. To me self-tacking jibs on a boat the size of the Harbor 20 is an marketing gimmick aimed at the infirm or gullible.

Jeff

dylanwinter1 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011

Bolgers best boat fitted with one

Scuttlebutt 41 Bolger’s best boat – Spartina « Keep Turning Left

Dylan

sailingfool · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011

I frequently sail a Harbor 20 with this system and it works very well. The performance from the working jib is much better than a jib track setup, because the sail does not twist as it is eased out... the sail has the same even luff shape on a reach as when closehauled. The system also has under deck tweaker lines that allow you to wing the jib downwind, and keeps it winged. If your sail choice is going to be limited to a small jib..this is actually a pretty cool design.

I would think best used on a boat where it is incorporated into the original design of the sail plan, i.e. with a big main.

FarCry · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2011

I've spent a fair amount of time on a 45' Hunter that had the self-tacking jib put on as an option before delivery when new. Not sure if it was a factory option or something the dealer installed at commissioning. In higher winds, 20+kts when one would be reefing a genoa anyway, it works great. One is able to get very tight sheeting angles and make it point pretty high. In lighter winds one would have to ease the sheet to help the car tack across the track and then re-trim a bit. The boat was very underpowered and really couldn't sail much under 15kts. Beyond the sheeting angle when going to windward, one suffers going downwind with that tiny jib. Not only is the surface area tiny but the jib track makes it nearly impossible to actually get the jib to fly out and trim it. On the Hunter there was a block on the clew that added a lot of weight in a bad spot for downwind sailing too. I would rather spend money on electric winches than a self-tacking jib set up.