square top?

Have my original main on my H18, hull number 4549, and am looking for a new main. Was thinking about a square top but what penalty rating will I incur for a race like the Mug Race? Is the performance worth it?

I am not sure of the penalty but if the sail is cut right it would be a non class legal sail of similar or equal size. The squaretop will definately improve the performance and speed. Comptips don't favor squaretops, a solid mast would be best.

Why won't a Comp-tip mast work well with a square top main? I'm about to start building a square top for my 18, but can re-design the sail if it won't work with my mast.

It's not that it won't work . . it just won't work as well.

Square top mains require a lot of leech tension (mainsheet tension) to keep the top of the sail from falling off to leeward.

Comptips are flexible (especially the tapered ones on the 17, 18 and 20) and don't support the top of the sail as well as an untapered aluminum section.

So what your saying is that I should buy a class legal set of sails for the class legal mast and a aftermarket square top & new jib for the old all aluminum mast.

Too bad the wife wont go for that. Not that that will happen, I just looked at the checkbook.

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1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net