#6 tape vs luff wire

[Philpott]

Winter's coming and all I have is a 7oz dacron jib. I'm thinking that Dura Mater needs a drifter. What is the difference between a sail with #6 tape (my current sail has this and it fits into the Harken furler) and a sail described as having luff wire? Used sails seem to have hanks or luff wire more often than #6 tape.

 

[BobJ]

#6 tape is like a bolt rope for headsails - it slides into the slot on your furler. You need to stick with that for jibs on your boat (unless you remove the furler). They make it in different sizes - smaller boats with furlers would probably have #5 tape for example.

Luff wire is a wire (or non-stretch cord) that runs the length of the luff. It allows you to fly the sail without attaching it to the headstay or furler. A drifter would probably have a luff wire since the luff doesn't have to be tight against the headstay. Also, jibs for larger boats may have a luff wire in addition to hanks to give the luff more support - not likely on jibs sized for your boat (or mine).

Hanks are clips that are used to clip a jib directly to the permanent wire headstay. You had them on your Cal 20.

The good news is a sailmaker can usually switch a sail with luff tape to hanks and vice-versa. The added labor may make a used sail not such a good deal however.

 

[Philpott]

So a sail advertised as having luff wire is a loose foot?

 

[BobJ]

You mean loose luff, and probably it is. I've still got that genoa for you though, and it has a #6 tape already.

 

[Harrier]

I have had a number of nylon "drifters". The term "drifter" was popular some years ago and was used differently by various
sailmakers...at least it has always seemed that way to me. In my applications, I always had them : (1) made of nylon and
usually triradial to reduce stretch. Same rationale with spinnakers, in that regard. (2) Cut just like a dacron 155%, ie, flat,
compared to a spinnaker or blooper. (3) Rigged with hanks or luff tape AND a wire or spectra in the luff. I think you can go
to weather best with the sail properly attached to the forestay...ergo use luff tape/hanks. But sometimes you may want to
fly the sail free of the headstay (another sail occupying the headstay arrangement), so the "luff wire" gives you an alterna=
tive, esp for reaching vs beating. I believe that every cruiser's sail inventory should carry light air sail options. What I call
a "155 lite" is worth its weight and cost. I stick to 155% LP as that is the largest you can go without extra penalty on your
PHRF handicap. I've used such a sail on my boats since 1972 and won't go without one.

 

[sleddog]

Not to encourage topic drift, as the original question was about luff tape vs. luff wire for a "drifter." But here is a consideration. You don't say if the "drifter" is for racing, cruising, or both.

Ken points out 155% LP is largest overlap allowed without penalty. That is generally true. However, DURA MATER is currently handicapped by NC PHRF with a max. listed overlap of 120%.

I do not know if going greater than 120% affects your rating. But to be on the right side of things, it would be good to check with rating technicians, and declare anything bigger if it goes that way.

 

[BobJ]

To encourage topic drift, here is the sail I'd like DM to have. It would measure 144% LP and cost you 3 sec/mile on rating.

It's said that every stylish lady should have a little black dress in her wardrobe - this would be DM's little black dress.

 

[Philpott]

To encourage topic drift, here is the sail I'd like DM to have. It would measure 144% LP and cost you 3 sec/mile on rating.

It's said that every stylish lady should have a little black dress in her wardrobe - this would be DM's little black dress.

Early on one realizes that very pretty girls can wear anything and make it look good, while other girls, well, their mothers reassure them that a nice personality is just as important. That sail in the attachment just enhances Ragtime's natural beauty. Hardly seems fair. If I put that sail on my sweet natured, fat sterned boat we would have to have that conversation. And I'm just not willing to go there.

 

[BobJ]

I think it would look just fine on her. Shall we take a vote?

 

[brianb]

That BLACK sail, with it carbon fibers, would be the on the water equivalent of, "out for a kill". It sure belongs in the DM inventory.

 

[Wylieguy]

Jackie, Voice of practicality here, although a sexy basic black dress (most are pretty skimpy these days!) is appealing.

Within the Cal 2-27 range, your PHRF is based on headsail size. I assume you have a 125% rating, so a larger sail would mean ponying up the PHRF fee plus adding 3 seconds per mile to your handicap. The PHRF year is up Dec. 31, so you'd need a new certificate for the next 3 months to get you through this year. If you applied for a 2014 rating with the genoa, because it's still winter, and later decided to go back to the smaller jib for summer, the 2nd fee would be there again.

But even more practical. The smaller sail is easier to tack or jibe - much less effort. Less sail to haul in, pole out, or manage on deck when it's down. Do you really want to grind in the extra sheet on each tack? I sailed my Newport 30 with 125% jib for just that reason. A pile of sail on the foredeck only attached to the boat by the halyard, tack, and clew can become a sea anchor very easily. Sailing singlehanded I was often so pooped by the time I got to the Lightship or the S. E. Farallon Island that I turned on the autopilot and lost the race when I used the genoa.

And what about your whisker pole. Can you effectively sheet the poled out genoa with it? The PHRF doesn't take into account the length of the whisker pole, It does limit your spinnaker pole (which is usually your "J" measurement). If you're doubling up and using your spinnaker pole for a whisker pole, it probably works fine for a 125% jib, but would be pretty short for a genoa of, say 140 -155%. Poling out a 125% jib shorthanded is a lot easier than a larger genoa.