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Preserving mainsail with furling technique.
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=60951
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Author:  Sailorv [ Tue Jul 04, 2017 2:03 am ]
Post subject:  Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

Hey experienced island owners!

So today I was having some issues going to windward with full canvas. I am a new owner, still getting the hang of her and going multihull. Transitioning from years of keel boat experience and dinghies (12-14'). I felt I was over canvased. I could have hiked out but I wanted to remain in my seat to preserve my steam (health limits me). So I furled her in a few turns. I felt like I needed to furl her in enough to get the top batten fully furled up against the mast. Meaning not furling it where half may be bending around the top of the mast. Am I being too worrisome? I'm awesome at that! ;) I was still able to reach 6.6kts today, close hauled (I believe, no dinghy windex or apps just my senses). I could have used a little more sail but again I fear I'm wearing down the batten or potentially straining the sail.

Lastly, what's a pre 2015 TI sail run these days? And would you consider buying used as a back up (possibly heading on vacation with her, want a to make a list of spares to have - won't be able to get replacement via mail where we're going).

Thanks for your thoughts.
Sailorv

Author:  tonystott [ Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

I have done a LOT of sailing of my 2012, and have never been concerned about partially furling the sail. The batten is a circular rod, and does not suffer from being wrapped around the mast, so just use however much sail unfurled as you want for a comfortable sail.

The furling ability is the secret weapon of Hobie Islands, standing them apart from most other off-the-beach sailboats.

Author:  stringy [ Tue Jul 04, 2017 3:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

What Tony said Sailorv!
My '10 TI sail is still going strong and it has seen a lot of use, with no regard for furling position. Prolonged UV damage is generally the cause of sail failure, with the clear panel going first, not mechanical damage from furling.

Author:  fusioneng [ Wed Jul 05, 2017 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

We have a 2012 TI, (our third TI) with one heck of a lot of sailing miles on it, (we used to average 15-20 miles a week year round). Yea our main sail is starting to look it's age but it's still going strong. I don't expect to need to replace mine anytime soon, or anything else for that matter. These boats are suprisingly durable, yes the bottom of ours is all scratched up but the scratches don't appear to effect sailing speed. I flip ours over annually and clean up the bottom with a single edge razor blade (swiping the blade vertically back and forth peels away the top layer removing small scratches and stains (looks like snow coming off as you scrape). At the same time I typically clean the sail then treat the sail with either Hobie preservitive or I think it's called 303 preservative ( can't remember the exact name). I also dis assemble my mirage drive and clean, lubricate, and replace any worn parts, (the mirage fins are a consumable item and need to be replaced once they get stretched out and wavy). Also the drive cables need to be replaced once in a while, keeping salt water out of the cables (basically soaking them with wd40 often) helps make them last longer. I typically spray WD40 on all the drive joints after every other outing, and spray them down with fresh water after every outing. That dang salt water kills everything over time, It's pretty important to rinse the salt water off everything after each outing.
Also make sure you release any tention on any bungys during storage, we always remove the front hatch and open all the round hatches during storage in the garage.
Other than that we don't do anything else, I'm amazed at the boats durability over time, (way better than anything else we have ever owned).
Hope this helps
FE

Author:  Sailorv [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 3:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

Hey thanks everyone. Really appreciate it. All great advice.
The gears busted on one of our drives, need to replace those. There is a slight wave with the fins.
If this trip turn's into a long one we may buy spare fins in case. And thanks to your advice we will probably just a sail repair kit. We have owned so many boats over the years we know how quickly something can wrong and your big plans change due to it, such as the manual windlass last packed up last Summer on the big boat half way thru cruising...so had to go to a dock :(

Looking forward to adding to the site with our adventures.
Cheers!

PS- probably going to an area with a lot of light wind with some strong. Should we really consider the Hobe spinnaker kit? And if so, do you know if it would be considered performance enhancing? My insurance asked about any performance enhancement.

Author:  TI_Tom [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

I would definitely consider the spinnaker a performance enhancer, specially downwind.

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Author:  fusioneng [ Fri Jul 07, 2017 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

More of a performance equalizer or neccessity for downwind. The TI really sucks the big one on downwind performance, adding the spinnaker kit brings the boat up to normal or similar performance to what it should be compared to similar type boats. Definately doesn't turn the boat into an H16, just rounds out an extreme weakness. Call it what you will.
FE
Edit: sucks the big one might be a little harsh, lets just say the boomless sail turns into a taco shell on downwind, the spinnaker equals out the performance envelope. My measure is to have a boat that has all around performance, upwind and downwind performance need to match, otherwise you can scream out offshore downwind and not be able to get back to shore, (been there done that many times), just stating,,,know your boats real capabilities,(not imagined).

Author:  TI_Tom [ Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

fusioneng wrote:
More of a performance equalizer or neccessity for downwind. The TI really sucks the big one on downwind performance, adding the spinnaker kit brings the boat up to normal or similar performance to what it should be compared to similar type boats. Definately doesn't turn the boat into an H16, just rounds out an extreme weakness. Call it what you will.
FE
Edit: sucks the big one might be a little harsh, lets just say the boomless sail turns into a taco shell on downwind, the spinnaker equals out the performance envelope. My measure is to have a boat that has all around performance, upwind and downwind performance need to match, otherwise you can scream out offshore downwind and not be able to get back to shore, (been there done that many times), just stating,,,know your boats real capabilities,(not imagined).
+1

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Author:  Sailorv [ Sat Jul 15, 2017 11:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

Thanks guys. Well put FS "folds like a taco shell" - indeed! Having read on here before purchase I had low expectations of downwind performermense but frankly it was worse than I thought. We have poled her out with the paddle or aft helmsman by hand holding out the sheet but that's not sustainable long term.

What's that whisker pole like hook on an aka or ama that some of you use?
Also, has anyone had success with going to a professional sail loft for a custom spinnaker or we figure you'really better off with a genneker?
Lastly, anyone here have a spinny or jib and still has full coverage with their insurance?
Cheers!

Author:  TI_Tom [ Sun Jul 16, 2017 7:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

Sailorv wrote:
Thanks guys. Well put FS "folds like a taco shell" - indeed! Having read on here before purchase I had low expectations of downwind performermense but frankly it was worse than I thought. We have poled her out with the paddle or aft helmsman by hand holding out the sheet but that's not sustainable long term.

What's that whisker pole like hook on an aka or ama that some of you use?
Also, has anyone had success with going to a professional sail loft for a custom spinnaker or we figure you'really better off with a genneker?
Lastly, anyone here have a spinny or jib and still has full coverage with their insurance?
Cheers!
I really don't think anyone's insurance cares much about sail changes. Most of the insurance that I looked at for our TI just considered it a really expensive kayak.

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Author:  mswlogo [ Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

fusioneng wrote:
More of a performance equalizer or neccessity for downwind. The TI really sucks the big one on downwind performance, adding the spinnaker kit brings the boat up to normal or similar performance to what it should be compared to similar type boats. Definately doesn't turn the boat into an H16, just rounds out an extreme weakness. Call it what you will.
FE
Edit: sucks the big one might be a little harsh, lets just say the boomless sail turns into a taco shell on downwind, the spinnaker equals out the performance envelope. My measure is to have a boat that has all around performance, upwind and downwind performance need to match, otherwise you can scream out offshore downwind and not be able to get back to shore, (been there done that many times), just stating,,,know your boats real capabilities,(not imagined).


Has any tried to modify the main sail with a "Sninnaker like Pole" to hold it out for JUST down wind? Probably could be a fairly lightweight flexible fiberglass rod that could "give".

Just curious. Just a thought.

I get my TI next weekend and debating how many accessories I really need to start.
It's almost always a downwind trip home.

Author:  Pottsy [ Fri Aug 25, 2017 4:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

I simply use the paddle to hold out the sail. Not perfect but saves you having to bring something xtra.

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Author:  fusioneng [ Sun Aug 27, 2017 3:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preserving mainsail with furling technique.

If you cut a small notch in the end of one of your hobie double ended paddles, you can use it to hold you sail out a little further. The notch catches either that little knotted rope, (that hold the furled sail closed), or on the sail clue pulley, (both work).
On long downwind runs in light air I typically stuff the other end of the paddle into the mesh pocket next to me (I sail from the front seat typically, (where all my boats controls are located).
I also have pulleys mounted at the far end of my rear AKA bars, that are normally used for my spinnaker control lines, I very seldom use my spinnaker so the pulleys are just sittin there unused, so I keep a couple pieces of paracord stuffed in my rear mesh pockets just in case I want to rig up a quick barbor hauler if I'm out on a long day mostly downwind.
The reason I don't use my spinnaker a lot is because I have a 33sqft jib and get fairly decent down wind performance by placing the jib to one side and the main to the other, saves having to switch out sails all the time, (I almost never run the jib and the spinnaker at the same time mostly because the jib blocks the air to the spinnaker). Yea my wing jib is furlable, but it's a royal PIA to furl, so I typically only unfurl it when I go out, then furl it when I get back before dropping it at the end of the day.
That's just my particular setup that I'm describing, and what works well for me.
Hope this helps
FE

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