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