I am the owner of a Cape Dory Intrepid 28. Great little boat but does not sail well under main sail alone. While measuring for a new main sail, I realized that I could change out to a longer boom and get more main sail area. Has anyone modified a vessel in this manner and what were the results?
Einselen@aol.com
Intrepid Main Sail
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Chis Stuart
Re: Intrepid Main Sail
I have a question for you. I am looking at purchasing an Intrepid 28. What do you mean by "Does not sail well under main sail alone " Is it just slow ?Paul wrote: I am the owner of a Cape Dory Intrepid 28. Great little boat but does not sail well under main sail alone. While measuring for a new main sail, I realized that I could change out to a longer boom and get more main sail area. Has anyone modified a vessel in this manner and what were the results?
Thanks
Chris
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Anthony P. Jeske
Re: Intrepid Main Sail
Paul:
For what it's worth, the CD-28 I used to own didn't sail well under one sail either. The rig needed to be balanced.
Keep in mind that by lengthening the boom, and adding a sail with a longer foot, you'll be moving the center of effort to the rear, with a resultant increase in weather helm. To reduce the now increased weather helm, you'll need to reef, which puts you back where you started.
Many owners of cruising boats continue to sail with sails that are way past their useful life. Their boat's performance suffers accordingly. I would guess you'll get the improvements you're looking for by upgrading to new sails and by keeping the rig balanced. When the wind picks up, don't drop the jib or main. First reef the main. As the wind increases, go to a smaller jib, then to a second reef.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
(Going sailing this afternoon in San Diego)
ajeske@ixpres.com
For what it's worth, the CD-28 I used to own didn't sail well under one sail either. The rig needed to be balanced.
Keep in mind that by lengthening the boom, and adding a sail with a longer foot, you'll be moving the center of effort to the rear, with a resultant increase in weather helm. To reduce the now increased weather helm, you'll need to reef, which puts you back where you started.
Many owners of cruising boats continue to sail with sails that are way past their useful life. Their boat's performance suffers accordingly. I would guess you'll get the improvements you're looking for by upgrading to new sails and by keeping the rig balanced. When the wind picks up, don't drop the jib or main. First reef the main. As the wind increases, go to a smaller jib, then to a second reef.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
(Going sailing this afternoon in San Diego)
ajeske@ixpres.com
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Catherine Monaghan
Re: Intrepid Main Sail
Paul,
I don't know of any boat that sails well under mainsail alone. You'll be able to reach and run but she won't move much to windward. The rig needs to be balanced. Shorten sail by reefing the main first rather than reducing the headsail to nothing. You'll find that the boat performs quite well when properly reefed.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Raritan Bay
Rahway, NJ
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
I don't know of any boat that sails well under mainsail alone. You'll be able to reach and run but she won't move much to windward. The rig needs to be balanced. Shorten sail by reefing the main first rather than reducing the headsail to nothing. You'll find that the boat performs quite well when properly reefed.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Raritan Bay
Rahway, NJ
Paul wrote: I am the owner of a Cape Dory Intrepid 28. Great little boat but does not sail well under main sail alone. While measuring for a new main sail, I realized that I could change out to a longer boom and get more main sail area. Has anyone modified a vessel in this manner and what were the results?
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
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paul
Re: Intrepid Main Sail
Chris,Chis Stuart wrote:I have a question for you. I am looking at purchasing an Intrepid 28. What do you mean by "Does not sail well under main sail alone " Is it just slow ?Paul wrote: I am the owner of a Cape Dory Intrepid 28. Great little boat but does not sail well under main sail alone. While measuring for a new main sail, I realized that I could change out to a longer boom and get more main sail area. Has anyone modified a vessel in this manner and what were the results?
Thanks
Chris
Yes, the boat is somewhat slow by comparative casual racing with other PHRF class boats. I realize that main alone is not the best way to travel, but the I28 gets very little power from the main. The fin keel should give very responsive turns but it turns rather slow. But overall the I28 is a very roomy and stable boat. It is fun to sail and the interior layout is far superior to a standard cd28. I have the YSB 8 and there is just enough power and little extra but it runs and runs well.(Simplicity has its virtues). Yesterday we were sailing back home on a reach and had 7 knots of speed. Upwind performance (again compared to race competitors) is not as good. It just doesn't point as high as say a Catalina 27.
Hope this helps with your purchase. Feel free to contact me with more questions on the I28.
Paul
einselen@aol.com
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Cathy
Re: But catboats do!!
Paul,
I take that back. Catboats sail well under mainsail alone -- of course that's the only sail they've got. The reason it works is the placement of the sail -- it's far forward. But they cannot point as high as a sloop.
By they way, last season we passed a C&C 30 that was trying to sail under mainsail alone. It was blowing hard and we were under double-reefed mainsail and flying our staysail -- no yankee. We were travelling at nearly 7 knots closehauled and the C&C was nearly at a dead stop. Why? They needed to have some headsail out there and the full main was too much. The boat was totally off balance. We actually passed them twice, once in each direction. They just watched us trying to figure out what was going on. They finally gave up, started their engine, knocked down their mainsail and motored.
When you get her rig balanced, she'll be a happy little boat and keep you happy too.
I wouldn't lengthen the boom. As mentioned in one of the other posts, you'll increase the weather helm.
Cathy
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
I take that back. Catboats sail well under mainsail alone -- of course that's the only sail they've got. The reason it works is the placement of the sail -- it's far forward. But they cannot point as high as a sloop.
By they way, last season we passed a C&C 30 that was trying to sail under mainsail alone. It was blowing hard and we were under double-reefed mainsail and flying our staysail -- no yankee. We were travelling at nearly 7 knots closehauled and the C&C was nearly at a dead stop. Why? They needed to have some headsail out there and the full main was too much. The boat was totally off balance. We actually passed them twice, once in each direction. They just watched us trying to figure out what was going on. They finally gave up, started their engine, knocked down their mainsail and motored.
When you get her rig balanced, she'll be a happy little boat and keep you happy too.
I wouldn't lengthen the boom. As mentioned in one of the other posts, you'll increase the weather helm.
Cathy
Catherine Monaghan wrote: Paul,
I don't know of any boat that sails well under mainsail alone. You'll be able to reach and run but she won't move much to windward. The rig needs to be balanced. Shorten sail by reefing the main first rather than reducing the headsail to nothing. You'll find that the boat performs quite well when properly reefed.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Raritan Bay
Rahway, NJ
Paul wrote: I am the owner of a Cape Dory Intrepid 28. Great little boat but does not sail well under main sail alone. While measuring for a new main sail, I realized that I could change out to a longer boom and get more main sail area. Has anyone modified a vessel in this manner and what were the results?
catherine_monaghan@merck.com