jibs on a pc37

[cmcpheeters]

Hi KarlinD,

With the 95 jib on the forestay and having to swap, that does add a complication. Although, everything is a compromise in sailing, I guess the trick is being happy with the ones you make.

My 37 has a removable inner forestay, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of downside to having that stay on the boat when its brought back to the shrouds. With the stay out of the way, the forward deck is clear, the genoa tacks easily, its like its not even there. There is a $$ cost of course, an extra halyard, running backs, and an extra sail or two to carry. When leaving an anchorage if the conditions or area warrants it, I'll rig the inner forestay and hank on my staysail, bagged. Tacking is now slightly harder, but in stronger winds it goes well.

...last summer (ah, when it was warm and the days were long, I almost remember way back then) I left the San Juan's to cross the straights toward Seattle. The winds were light and most of the day was spent traveling slowly under sail - I'm pretty patient and didn't motor. Around 5pm the wind started to arrive and within the hour it was blowing 25-30. This was downwind and I carried all my sails and enjoyed the ride (finishing at 2am, trailing a long column of phosphorescence, it was a great day...) The point being, there was no indication when I left that the day would end that way. If it was an upwind sail, I would have been happy to have my staysail along... Swapping head sails during the day would have been a chore.

I don't mean to push my point. If you need to add an inner forestay (and all associated gear) you could easily double the cost of your new sails. That $$ could be put to a lot of different interesting uses :-) Having said that...I really like my setup.

I'm not suggesting a staysail is a replacement for a 95% jib - the staysail is around 140 sq ft, the 95% is around 310 sq ft? I've been leaning toward a new 115 yankee and a new staysail (to replace my current small one). I haven't been planning on a 95% jib or anything in that range...


My $0.02 is all used up. Enjoy your boat! Hope to see you out there.


Cheers,
Craig.

[karlinD]

Thanks for your comments Craig.

If you have any photos showing the removable forestay, please send to me if possible. I have been thinking about that option and then I will have a full inventory of options. I do have a very good 110 genoa that I could fly with a staysail on a reach (if I planned ahead and the season or location dictated the need). Should it be a running downwind situation, loads of options with almost any configuration.

Regards,

Karlin

[johnbanfield]

I also have the 37 sloop - I believe this was a factory option...

I have a removable inner forestay about a foot back from the roller jenny (135%).

I am thinking of getting a jib for going upwind- I only have a storm jib for it. The jenny is in good nick I'll keep it, though it seems the consensus here is that a 115 is better, then no need for a jib.

Anyone have a preference for downwind sails? i.e. nylon gennaker/drifter vs asymetric?

[cmcpheeters]

Hi KarlinD,

Most of my removable forestay is pretty standard compared to the others I've seen. They may no longer make the deck/stay fitting anymore, I believe there was a different thread in this forum talking about that. From what I've seen, there are a wide range of ways to store the stay when its not in use. I've been working with YachtFitters here in Seattle and they came up with something which is pretty elegant.

(The image link isn't working, its image IMG_1546 in the gallery below.)

There are more images in the gallery, including the forward deck layout: MobileMe Gallery

The green line is the staysail halyard. Its coming down through a snatch block attached with amsteel to the fwd turnbuckle. The halyard holds the stay in place, which is attached to another short piece of amsteel at the rear turnbuckle.

To release it, I slacken the halyard, open the snatch block and release the snap shackle. Putting it back is the reverse. Its nicely out of the way, the mast pulpits are free of any obstructions. The side deck is not obstructed at all. They did a nice job figuring it out.

Cheers,
Craig.

[BillNorrie]

We have a 115 % RFJ and fly it with our 115 sq ft staysail and tack the jib before the staysail easily. Hasse felt the sheeting angle of our staysail track limited the stay sail size to 115.
Has anyone thought of Solent double headstay RFJs with the enlarged PSC bowsprit for trade wind sailing?

Bill and Cathy Norrie
SV Terrwyn PSC37 231

[Lansdowne]

Originally Posted by DGriffith

That is a good post. The 37 as well as most PSC boats do not like to be overpowered. (reef early, reef often). Our 91 37 #249 has a very unusual sail inventory. I purchased a North Sails 137 genoa that has had most of the powering job for offshore off the wind races on the Gulf of Mexico. Galveston Bay sailing uses a 110 yankee. I have a 90% working Jib I have used once and it runs of of a cheek block mounted on the cabin top 1 foot fore of the mast step. You would not beleave the pointing angle! We have an old cruiseaker that down wind looks small to the 137. My staysail is small and track mounted to the cabin top. I also tack it last so the jib can slide off of it making the tack easyer. The 137 is a bear, the 110 I don't even use a winch, Tacks like our 22' Hunter daysailer. I have wanted to put the staysail on a furling but I have so much control of sailshape that I'm not wanting to spend $$$. Doug Griffith PSC37 #249 Kindred Spirit.

Doug, do you hAve photos of your track/ cabin mounted block setup?

[Gerrit25]

Hi Doug - I was hoping you could expand a little on:

"You would not beleave the pointing angle!"

I have a 1989 PSC37 which I sail out of San Francisco and whilst I love most everything on this boat, the one thing that drives me to distraction is the inability to get anywhere close to the wind.

I am not the most knowledgeable sailor so any additional details will be well appreciated.

Thanks.

Gerrit
PSC37 #200 KnopKierrie

[johnbanfield]

Hi,
We tack through about 100 degrees in nice conditions on the ocean. I find it best to bear off a bit to build speed and when the lift from the keel is established then bear up. The staysail really helps, as does easing the main a bit so the front of it is being luffed a bit by the flow from the Jenny and staysail.
We seem to do as well as any other cruising boats around here, though the standard here in north aus is to pinch up and have the motor on to maintain 5-6 knots at about 30 -35 true.

Hth,
John

[BillNorrie]

on Terrwyn we have a RFJ 115% and a 135% nylon 2.2 oz Drifter with a snuffer sock. also two staysails storm and working 85 and 120 sq ft. The drifter can also
be set up "wing on wing" with the RFJ with or without one or two spinnaker poles and plus or minus the main. wE ALSO CARRY A aSYMMETRICAL SPINNAKER which came with the vessel. Loads of sail options is more fun esp in light airs ( ie its SV Terrwyn). My co-cap wife and I just sailed Terrwyn from Victoria BC to Auckland NZ in 6 months and we have never been happier.
fair winds ,
Bill SV Terrwyn
hull no. 231 PSC 37