Pentax Whirlwind Jib

I have a Pentax Whirlwind Jib from a boat I bought a few years ago. I also have a used Hobie stock jib. Is it weird that I like the Hobie jib more? In light air it fills better. It looks better in all wind('84 Summer Games pattern) and I think it might perform as well as the whirlwind, though it probably doesn't as it is stretched out and the Pentx sail is crisp. I never use the Pentax jib anymore. Should I just stop caring about the color differences and just sail the Pentax, or are Hobie original sails just the best and I should keep using the OEM?

Unless you care about winning races, sail whatever jib you want.

I would think that a Pentex jib is inappropriate for an 18, since it overlaps the mast so much. Pentex does not tolerate abrasion well. Every time you tack with that jib takes a significant amount of life out of it. Dacron (what the OEM sails are made from) is much more tolerant.

This assumes the Pentax jib is cut like a stock jib. We don't know if it is.

True, but the photos on the Whirlwind site show jibs that are substantially similar (overlapping) to the stock jib.

The used stock jib is better in light air because it is old and stretched out, the camber has increased in the sail giving better draw in the light breeze. Apparently that is better for you despite the slightly heavier weight fabric. In a stiff breeze that extra camber will decrease your pointing ability. It might also be the case that the Pentex jib has been designed with less camber or slightly different camber placement--or you might also have gotten a bad sail (some are mistakes that no one can tell but the end user).

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

I Doppler I could use the OEM in light air and switch to the Pentax around 10+mph winds. In summer there can be some pretty still days out here. Often feel like I'm sailing a swim platform, but then, isn't the H18 a great swim platform.

If you want something to help ghost around in under 7 kts breeze, you could have a windseeker sail made. It wouldn't be acceptable in any competitions, but they are fun sails for ghosting conditions. They are made from ripstop nylon or polyester kite fabric. They are called windseekers because they react in any zephyr. They stop being useful above 7 kts true breeze because they deform; but in conditions where everyone else is just a swim platform, you sail literal rings around them.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II