Hi Drew,
Does your jib have hanks (plastic or metal hooks or rings or tiny snaps)
along the luff (front edge) as well? Can you tell if if the cable is cord
or wire? Does the wire or cable go around the grommets at the head and tack
(foot) of the sail.
Most jibs "hank on" -- that is, they hook or snap on to the headstay. Sails
like this have a thin cord sewn into the luff to prevent you from
over-stretching the luff when you hoist it with the jib halyard (the line
used to raise the jib) on the forestay. Sometimes, on an old sail, the cord
shrinks a little. This is a problem only if the shrinkage causes wrinkles
on the front edge that don't go away when the jib halyard is tightened.
If you can't get the front edge smooth by tensioning the jib halyard, a sail
maker can remove the old cord and install a new one for about $50 or so.
However, if the sail is very old and worn, it may be better to buy a new one
from International Marine. The small jib (in white, hanked on style) is
only $200 brand new.
Sometimes you see a jib that's been "converted" for use on an older style
roller furler. There is a thin wire cable that runs inside the tape on the
luff, and there are loops at each end. The loops go around the metal
grommets (holes punched in sail with metal trim) at the head and tack
(bottom of the jib). Usually, this kind of sail comes with a boat that has
an older style roller furler that can't be reefed (used partially rolled up
to effectively give you a smaller headsail). I'd be surprised to find that
on an older P15, but anything is possible.
As for a genoa, the new ones from the factory are very reasonably priced at
$300. Folks who own P15's can tell you better than I can what wind range
the genoa is good for.
If you need help evaluating the condition of your old jib in order to make
the decision of repairing vs. buying a new one, I can send you a copy of an
article about evaluating old sails I wrote for the last Potter Yachters
Newsletter .
The website for International Marine can be found at www.westwightpotter.com
Hope this helps,
Judy B
1985 WWP19 #266 Redwing, SF Bay, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: drewschenck [mailto:drewschenck@email.msn.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 7:46 AM
To: WWPotter@egroups.com
Subject: [WWP] Jib - tight or lose cable???
The on my jib (P15 #463) "snakes along form top to bottom. The eyes at each
end are sewn to the sail so it does tighten but why have a cable if it is
loose? Has my sail shrunk that much? Is there a proper name for this cable
(everything seems to have a name)? Does any one have extra sails for a P15
they want to sell (Genoa...)? Does anyone have a 2 or 3 hp long shaft they
want to get rid of? Is this too many question?
Thanks for the help.
Drew E. Schenck
P15 #463 "Ringle"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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