Beginner questions: GP14 Furling Genoa

Print Page | Close Window

GP14 Furling Genoa

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Beginner questions
Forum Discription: Advice for those who are new to sailing
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5454
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 4:28pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: GP14 Furling Genoa

Posted By: dics
Subject: GP14 Furling Genoa
Date Posted: 27 Apr 09 at 2:23pm

Right, I have bought a GP14 for a family boat. In my endeavors to make it easier on the water I have thought about added a furling kit to the genoa. My main concern is that if I add furling gear then I will effectively be increasing the length of the luff. Does anyone know if you can add furling gear to at GP14 genoa and if so what you do with the extra increase of the luff?

Thanks

Dics-not-used-to-this-fancy-cruising-stuff

Replies:

Posted By: Lukepiewalker
Date Posted: 27 Apr 09 at 5:19pm

One of our club GPs has a furling genoa on it. Can't say I have ever considered the luff length issue, possibly the Genoa is cut differently (it is also Blue...). I would possibly talk to a sailmaker and see what they say, as the GPs have a cruising section in their class association it should be fairly well trodden ground. Certainly in terms of the boat itself all of the furling equipment on our club boat stays attached to that particular sail and 'normal' genoas can be attached without any surgery for 'racing' mode.

-------------
Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard"
Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch"
Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air"
Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile"

Posted By: stuarthop
Date Posted: 28 Apr 09 at 10:15am

any good sail maker should be able to trim it down for you would normally cost between £20 and £40 depending on how long it would take to do.

-------------

Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 28 Apr 09 at 12:41pm

I don't believe its outlawed and normally fit's any boat.

I'd check the luff length thing though because there should be enough space between the head and the sheave to fit it in (from memory). Then all you need to do is move the muscle box/highfield lever etc (usually just clamped into the slot in the back of the mast) to account for the extra length.

-------------
Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36

Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 28 Apr 09 at 1:11pm

For cruising you shouldnt need to change the sail itself (don't pay to have it recut I mean). But you may find that 4 inches lost at the bottom may cause issues depending on your halyard arrangement.

Why not try adding a 4 inch bit of rope to the tack of the sail, and hositing it up, to see if there is room up the mast, and whether the halyard still cleats nicely?

Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 28 Apr 09 at 2:12pm

Originally posted by MerlinMags

For cruising you shouldnt need to change the sail itself (don't pay to have it recut I mean). But you may find that 4 inches lost at the bottom may cause issues depending on your halyard arrangement.

Why not try adding a 4 inch bit of rope to the tack of the sail, and hositing it up, to see if there is room up the mast, and whether the halyard still cleats nicely?

If you do move your sail up the forestay without recutting make sure you check your tracks have enough movement aft to acount for the change in sheeting angle...

Edit: Obviously not as important for cruising as for racing but even 2 inches could completely transform the charicter of the boat

Posted By: dics
Date Posted: 29 Apr 09 at 8:43am

Thanks chaps for the poionters. I will give it a go. There is a Highfield lever so that might want moving. The tracks are very, very, very long so there should not be an issue there.

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 29 Apr 09 at 8:48am

A chap at our club fitted one to a boat I did up for him and helped him rig. There was plenty of space between top of jib and sheeve to fit the furler. Don't forget you'll need something at the top of the jib to stop the forestay getting wrapped up.

-------------
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: dics
Date Posted: 11 May 09 at 1:08pm

Thanks Guys.

I fitted a RWO furler. Had to move the Highfield and works fine when I furl the sail slowly. If I furl it too fast the forstay wraps up. However, it does not wrap at the top. It wraps about 2 foot up. The forstay is very, very loose with the jib up. I was thinking about reducing the length of the forstay to sort it out - would that work?

BTW I have a guide at the top and the space between top of jib and sheeve pretty short thus reducing the chances of it wrapping up there.

Alternatively I though I could always shackle the forstay to the mast when fully rigged.

Dics

Posted By: Roy Race
Date Posted: 11 May 09 at 1:31pm

The RWO furler is the best.

I tried this and found that having the forestay quite
tight doesn't really help. It still gets wrapped up. The
options are to either have a disc at the top to separate
the forestay away from the jib luff, or you could try
fitting a fairly loose rope forestay instead of wire.
3mm dyneema works ok. That way, the forestay can get
wrapped up in the furl and it doesn't really matter. No
chafe.

Alternatively, just get rid of the forestay when you're
on the water.

Posted By: dics
Date Posted: 11 May 09 at 2:05pm

Thanks. I already have the disk at the top but the wrap starts only about 2 foot up from the deck. I think I will just shackle the forestay to the mast for the easiest and quickest fix.

Posted By: Lukepiewalker
Date Posted: 11 May 09 at 3:20pm

I just acquired an RWO swivel on ebay which has a pokey wire bit for the forestay to go through, I'll see how it works.

-------------
Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard"
Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch"
Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air"
Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile"

Posted By: Lukepiewalker
Date Posted: 12 May 09 at 9:04pm

RWO swivel with pokey bit works a charm.

-------------
Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard"
Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch"
Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air"
Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile"

Posted By: dics
Date Posted: 13 May 09 at 8:52am

I had the choice of the two and went for the one without the pokey bit as I already had the disk thing! I might fashion a pokey bit of wire or just remove the forstay when rigged. Other than that it works a charm. Just hope the boat floats now!