LBD 232 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Does anyone have a self tacking Jib or staysail, without a boom and using a single sheet? Is it good set up, could it be improved and is it worth the effort of changing over a cutter to a self tacking staysail? Would like to hear all stories good or bad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank 236 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 From what I have seen an efficient true self tacker uses a deck track similar to a Ross 930 , it spans the width of the deck and usually stand some distance above the deck while others are recessed flush. IMHO the ones above the deck would be a right royal PITA as a trip hazard and general impediment for mobility on the foredeck. A flush installation would be quite the project to create the recessed groove and put provisions in place for the loads. Seems to me that unless it's a race boat its an awful lot of faff, time and $$$$ to avoid having to trim a sheet, KISS applies 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psyche 973 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Had a self tacker on a boat a long time ago, no real advantage. Probably could work ok on a cutter setup to save grinding 2 sheets but on a sloop you're limited to small jibs and unless you have a big boat small jibs are so easy to trim. Ross 930's had them but all gone now at least on the ones I see in the marina. One reason may be that what you gain in quick tacks you lose in sheeting position and headsail choice? Plenty of guides out there; https://www.harken.com/en/support/selection-tools/system-diagrams/self-tacking-jib-and-staysail-systems/?srsltid=AfmBOooyI1OrCyAGrKtMSOSnJxQN0BFuRdhDek8FZzuw98sUu-l91iUT 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex Elly 282 Posted August 11 Share Posted August 11 A lot of the new european cruisers have a self tacking furler with 2:1 block on the the clew, deck mounted track. The sheet goes several metres up and into the mast, then out the back of the mast and back to cabin top clutch and winch. Have a wander along S pier at Westhaven for a look. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LBD 232 Posted August 11 Author Share Posted August 11 10 hours ago, Psyche said: The arrangement Phyche posted is the arrangment I am looking at for the staysail on my cutter, except a straight track. Track will be on the cabin top and not be trip hazard. 1.8m long in front of the mast. We have had the sail maker down and we have a plan. I will need a new hanked on stay sail cut to suit. (KISS thanks Frank) We will set the sail with optimum design twist in a position that allows us to raise or lower the luff 6 inches thereby adjusting the twist. Why? you ask... less ropes to manage when tacking and it will free up one of the winches in the cockpit. The main sheet is on top of the dodger and is a pain without a winch, so I will then take the main sheet fwd to a block at the base of the mast then back to the no longer required staysail winch. The mainsheet will then be more organised to one side of the cockpit instead of hanging down in the middle of the cockpit. And I will lose the main sheet cam cleat which can be a pain to release in a hurry when tight. And we will lose the two staysail tracks on either side deck that are trip hazards and toe biters. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkash10 1,184 Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 22 hours ago, ex Elly said: A lot of the new european cruisers have a self tacking furler with 2:1 block on the the clew, deck mounted track. The sheet goes several metres up and into the mast, then out the back of the mast and back to cabin top clutch and winch. Have a wander along S pier at Westhaven for a look. saw this on a couple of recent euro-tubs at Westhaven. I was confused and then interested. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
motorb 61 Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 Fwiw, I talked to an owner of one of those 40-odd foot euro models and he said the self tacking jib was very much for cruising, not racing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LBD 232 Posted August 13 Author Share Posted August 13 14 hours ago, motorb said: Fwiw, I talked to an owner of one of those 40-odd foot euro models and he said the self tacking jib was very much for cruising, not racing. And I am not a racer... unless I see another sail on the horizon... 1 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank 236 Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 If I see another boat and we are catching up I'm a racer until we come alongside and then I'm a cruiser and its not my fault that even as a cruiser my boat is faster, if he is catching me up I'm not bothered as I'm only cruising. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LBD 232 Posted August 20 Author Share Posted August 20 On 19/08/2026 at 12:15 PM, Frank said: If I see another boat and we are catching up I'm a racer until we come alongside and then I'm a cruiser and its not my fault that even as a cruiser my boat is faster, if he is catching me up I'm not bothered as I'm only cruising. Gotta look cool.... under any circumstances 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 376 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 On 10/08/2026 at 10:45 PM, LBD said: Does anyone have a self tacking Jib or staysail, without a boom and using a single sheet? Is it good set up, could it be improved and is it worth the effort of changing over a cutter to a self tacking staysail? Would like to hear all stories good or bad. Yep I do - it's called a junk rig. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MartinRF 87 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 Self tacking jib with straight track and one sheet + barber haul. I hope the basic set-up can be gleaned from this non-action video: More action here: The sheet can be operated from either cockpit. Advantage of straight track: Simple installation on cross beam and low tripping risk. Disadvantage of straight track: The car needs some help after each tack/jibe. Once in place it stays in place thanks to sheet line friction. /Martin PS The boat turned 40 this season. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LBD 232 Posted August 25 Author Share Posted August 25 27 minutes ago, MartinRF said: Self tacking jib with straight track and one sheet + barber haul. I hope the basic set-up can be gleaned from this non-action video: More action here: The sheet can be operated from either cockpit. Advantage of straight track: Simple installation on cross beam and low tripping risk. Disadvantage of straight track: The car needs some help after each tack/jibe. Once in place it stays in place thanks to sheet line friction. /Martin PS The boat turned 40 this season. Thanks Martin, will have a look when I get home in a couple of days from a country that has Youtube blocked Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Magic Bus 3 Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 We have a self tacker on our Ross 35, we removed it for many years but 5 or 6 years ago i shortened it so i could walk around the outside of it and put it back on. It is a single 2:1 sheet running forward to a single block with a becket and then back to the port primary with a outboard/ inboard adjuster for the track run back to the cockpit (i need to find a better system for this). It is amazing when short handed sailing in anything over 15 knots. I broke the original track in a bit of blow a while back but got a replacement harken on from fosters - the track needs to pre bent at the factory so spending a bit of time working out the profile for this is really important (so the sheet has constant tension as you tack). Only issue is that the sheet can snag on the foward hatch through tacks but i have found a couple of well placed bungies running of the hatch has solved that - im thinking a grab handle or something similar aft of the hatch may work as well. 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LBD 232 Posted August 29 Author Share Posted August 29 I found this helpful... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MartinRF 87 Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 Good one. Keep in mind that what compromises works depends on size. My boat is 800 kg ready to sail. A 'problem' I solve by a quick yank on my barber haul line is likely impossible to deal with that Gunboat cat. Also, my track is shorter than his. It only covers upwind work including the more open/flatter sheeting used when the wind is up. Everything else is dealt with by using the barber haul and easing the sheet. /Martin 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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