I didn't order a genoa when I bought my P19 a year ago. I have since added
a Flasher (a cruising spinnaker) that I originally ran to a block on the
stern cleat. Recently I added a 4' track and mounted it along the outside
of the cockpit coaming, vertically, with the forward end about a foot aft of
the chain plate, or about even with the IM mounted deck block. My plan is
to be able to use the Flasher as a genoa as well as a spinnaker.
With regard to your floatation thread, I modified my mast such that I have
added a split wire backstay and run both the main and the spinnaker halyards
down inside the mast, out through exit plates to blocks at the base of the
mast, and back to the cockpit through deck organizers. Inside the mast I
ran the halyards through 20' of PVC pipe and filled the entire mast with a
product called Great Stuff. It is an expanding foam sealant. The mast
floats, and there is absolutely no line rattle noise. I did this before I
read on this net about using packing popcorn inside the mast. Probably a
better idea insofar that it is much less permanent than my method. I think
a floating mast will prevent me from going completely over, but I am going
to wait for that event to happen on its own rather than try to create it.
BTW, UK sailmakers made my Flasher and I love it.
Jim Tietjen
P19 #1015 SEVUSHKA (New name)
Huntsville, AL