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Foil or hanks?


nz moth

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I have been trying to figure out the answer to this question. Hanks or a foil on the forestay? As I am going to be doing a lot of short handed sailing I want to be able to change sails easily, without losing the over the side!

 

Bring on your views

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We use a twin grove Tuff Luff foil on WT. It's awesome for inline peels, of which we do about 4 a season, and in theory it gives a far better entry onto the jib. But short handed sail handling wise it's a pain. I wouldn't put it on a shorthanded boat. You only have a few seconds to get the jib up in windy conditions and if you manage to loose it over the side and tear the bolt rope out of the foil you can have ongoing problems with, that short of taking the headstay off, can be difficult to fix.

 

So IMHO, in your situation, at a minimum i'd be going soft hanks.

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Hanks, especially for the short handed stuff. Not quite as funky as a foil but least you know when you smoke the halyard the jib will still be up there when you finally get up the bow.

 

Changes are pretty quick when you have the new jib fully hanked on below the bottom hank of the jib your using.

 

Plus we all know what a pain in the arse it is when you get the bolt rope jammed in the foil, especially when there is only two of you on board

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hanks....or those slides in the stronger foils but probably hanks . tri sail in different track or easy ability to take the big main to a very deep reef (on cars or slugs, not bolt rope) 2 handed in 50 knots in a 727 out the back of waiheke we find it very good to be able to reef in and out from the cockpit. driver man drives, I do the rest.

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Wasn't there a system that was a blend of both? Kayzee foil?

 

Yeah I recall the slides went on a cartridge that slotted in the base of the foil. Can't have been a success I guess despite looking a good idea

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I reckon twin forestays would have to be the best of both worlds.

not only can you have a couple of headsails hanked on at the same time and do quick sail changes, you have double the security should you break a forestay.

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Hanks, especially for the short handed stuff. Not quite as funky as a foil but least you know when you smoke the halyard the jib will still be up there when you finally get up the bow.

 

Changes are pretty quick when you have the new jib fully hanked on below the bottom hank of the jib your using.

 

Plus we all know what a pain in the arse it is when you get the bolt rope jammed in the foil, especially when there is only two of you on board

 

+1

 

I have a twin track foil + furler on my 1020 and it's a right royal pain in the a55 when racing two handed (or any handed for tha matter). Add to that class rules prohibit peeling so there is no gain in anything other than non class racing. Even through a prefeeder the bolt rope jams or peels away from the foil and there is always more resistance while you are trying to get the genoa up.

 

If it wasn't for the convenience with cruising I would replace it with hanks no questions asked.

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... If anyone does want a tuff luff. I have one in the garage thats only been used twice. Cut for a rig with I=12.5m or less. Make me an offer!

 

What size? if it's a 1205 I'll take it. Although for your boat it's probably a 1706....

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That would be great if it is. Mine is rooted from smoking the gennaker sheets over it etc. Probably won't last the winter as it's getting brittle and lose.

 

Looks like it is... I can drop it of to you at work. I'll probably be out that way tomorrow.

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The only jib hanks to have are the Wichard ones : http://www.wichard.com/rubrique-Brass-0 ... 00-ME.html

Most sail makers won't use them as they say the spare halyards can get caught in them. Maybe be possible with wire halyards, but no-one has those anymore.

I've had them on Pulse for 11 years and they are just great. They don't jam like piston hanks. I even recycled many of them when I built new jibs recently.

Completely essential for storm jibs that you don't use often.

Available from Kiwi Yachting (I have no commercial connection, just recommending a good product.)

Best thing is slamming them on the forestay one handed, so the other hand can hang on to the boat!

Use the brass ones, not the SS ones of course, as they may damage the wire.

I have used these on my vectran inner forestay with no problems or chaff.

Throw away the piston hanks I'd say!

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Hanks :thumbup:

For the simple reason that it is impossible to screw anything up with hanks. If the sh*t goes down, just blow the halyard, the sail will stay attached to the boat....

For short handed being risk adverse is good. You won't be peeling headsails one up. Fast headsail peels won't win a trans Tasman. Nice orderly one at a time changes.

 

We had a twin foil and furler and changed to hanks. Still have the twin foil and a new still in the box furler if anyway wants it? About 13.2 m long.

 

Also, sail bags wide enough to bag a hanked on headsail. I have one for my #1 and blade. Sail maker checked my measurements three times, couldn't understand it. The idea is that if its lively, you bag the big sails before unhanking them, then drag them down the side deck Volvo 70 style. It means you can safely move big headsails single handed and have zero risk of loosing them over the side/ fight to drag them back on etc. also of they are wet/ heavy you can easily move them around the boat in a bag. Completely eliminates snaffu's with sail ties. Again very good for short handed, tired, dark and lively conditions.

 

It's also very handy for cruising. I can bag the #1 with it hanked on, drop the anchor without getting the sail dirty and get straight back to the rum, no flaking headsails on the foredeck :D

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