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PS37 genoa -- what size?

5842 Views 22 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Lantau, Aug 23, 2015

Lantau

Discussion Starter · Mar 30, 2015

I'm getting ready to replace all of my sails. Currently I have what I think is a standard PS37 cutter setup by Ullman Sails, namely a main on battcars, staysail on roller furler, and 120% high-clew genoa on roller furler. It's easy just to get replacement sails from Ullman, but as I have gotten into this process I have been advised to do different things. One sailmaker wants me to extend the foot of my staysail. Another wants to lower the clew of my genoa to increase its size for light winds. Another wants to change the main. I'm not even mentioning the complications with installing a new sail on my current battcars (easy to do, hard to choose what to do).

What are those of you with the PS37/Crealock 37 using for sails? Right now I'm inclined to take the advice to enlarge the genoa a little bit. The PS sail plan for the boat includes a 130% genoa as one of the possible sails, so I think I should go for this at least. (I should point out that I'm calling mine 120% only because that's what US sails calls it. I haven't compared the measurements to get an exact percentage.)

Yesterday in 10-13 knot winds the boat was nicely balanced, but I started out in about 3-5 knots and a bigger genoa would have been nice to have. This boat was definitely designed for Force 4 (like most sailboats?); it's just perfect at those wind speeds -- such a pleasure. The boat sails itself. Less wind can be a tiny bit frustrating (passengers always want to go faster...), and more wind is also a pleasure but of course livelier as the wind picks up. In 20+ knots I'm usually on a reefed genoa and reefed main, so having a larger genoa wouldn't be any problem (it would be reefed down), assuming I have enough line on the roller furler. The benefit of the larger genoa would come in light winds.

Advice on the PS37 genoa (or sails generally)? Experiences?

If anyone wants to recommend a sailmaker, I'd welcome that, too -- but I think that opens a can of worms.

Many thanks.
Paul
2004 PS37

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sailak

· #9 · Mar 31, 2015

My Genoa is a "130" and not Yankee cut, my 37 is cutter rigged with the staysail on a furler, both headsails have foam luffs. I haven't had any issues tacking. Local winds usually 16-20 knots, quite often I'm staysail and single reefed main going to windward here.

Video: Tacking

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sailak

· #11 · Apr 1, 2015

The Genny and main were on the boat when I bought it. The staysail I added, it is from Ullman Sails and was purchased as a kit along with the furler and rigging through Thumper at Pacific Seacraft. I have no complaints about any of the sails, but frankly I'm not very experienced either.

I do not have the measurements at hand. The sails are stored in the trailer in my yard but at the moment the yard is slushy snow and mud so I'm not real keen on laying the sail out to measure it.

I use the runners going to windward if I have the staysail set. From what I've learned I don't "need" to use them, I'm doing it to develop the habit/technique/muscle memory so when I do need them it will come naturally.

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sailak

· #14 · Apr 2, 2015

Lantau said:
Now I have to decide who will make the sails. I have Ullman now, but I wonder if I can justify paying their price (their quote is about 50% higher than some other reputable sailmakers).

The only sail I've ever bought was the staysail I bought from Ullman through Pacific Seacraft. I have to say that I was impressed with their customer service.

When I got the furled kit and staysail installed we found that the luff was just a tiny bit too long -- I could get full hoist but no luff tension. My sail had been made at the Ullman loft on the east coast. To expedite getting things right for me they had me send the sail to Ullman in Anacortes where Chuck Skewes got the sail recut and headed back to me the same day. I sent it out on Mon and had it on the boat Wednesday.

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