High aspect genua on SO 36i performance

[leodid]

When the wind goes above 20 knots I need to furl the standard genua on my SO 36i.
I am planning to get an High Aspect (100%) genua.
As I can see the genua rails will not be long enough (to the front), so I think that I will have to install two shorter rails in the front.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Didier

[MartyB]

This is a pretty easy install. If you go to teh main page in the hints an tips. Tim has shown some after installed jib rails for a 100 to 110 on the cabin top of his SF35. I have done some similar 2' long tracks on my Arcadia for a 110 vs the 142 I use in winds under 15-18 mph. I saw another Arcadia a few months back, as on option too, he had put a pully on the front side shroud, and from there would run the jib sheets thru the genoa tracks back to the winchs. Now that I am typing, I have seen another local arcadia that put the tracks on the upper part of the cabin above the windows. I will assume Tim does as I do, and the other Arcadia does for the cabin top mounted tracks, sheets are run to the winches for the halyards etc on the cabin top.

I should throw out one caveat here, All four boats are setup more for racing than cruising. One of the Arcadias does have a bimini, and it appears to be made such that the jib sheets should not cause a problem.

Good luck,

marty

[Tim]

Hi Didier

As Marty says we added tracks to the coach roof of the SF35 for our #3 genoa which made a massive performance improvement 

We checked with Jeanneau first that the coachroof was strong enough to handle the pressure and put some very large backing plates behind them.

For sheeting we initially tried using the coachroof winches as Marty suggests but switched to using the primaries quite promptly. This is because upwind in a breeze with a Kevlar headsail we had to dedicate one winch to keep sufficient halyard tension and needed the other winch for trimming jobs during the beat - particularly outhaul and main halyard.

This worked fine actually. Some rubbing strips stop any friction on the handrails and it tails in fine.

Cheers
Tim

[MartyB]

Tim,

Had not thought about what you have done, re move the sheets to the main sheeting winches. I would suppose/think another option, altho expensive, would be to add a second set of winchs for the #3/blade style jibs. I have room on the outside of the cabin to do this, and would actually work a bit better, in keeping the sheet angle out of the cam cleats to the winch at a lower angle, vs on the higher end that spinlock recomends, ie 20 degrees or so, down to less than 5. Not sure what winds you have where you sail, and how often you use a #3 would be the deciding factor as to if this is good use of funds for triming etc. Out of a given 100 trips out, I think I use the small jib less than 10-15% of the time, so this would be on the lower end of the how to appropriate funds for me any how. RIght now it is get rid of the origanal 22 yr old Ton dac sails so I can compete more in line with how the boat is rated etc!

I used some BIG fender washers on the back of the cabin top. BUT, with smaller sail than you, less pressure etc this may work for some.
Marty

[Tim]

We looked at more winches too but those Harkens are certainly not cheap! But essential if you decide to sheet on the coachroof winches. Not only for the halyard tension issues described earlier but you need the leeward winch free for the kite sheet when doing a bear away set - especially if there is enough breeze to require a #3 headsail.

[leodid]

Thanck you Tim and Marty.
I will try to mount it, will let you know when it is done.
Didier

[MartyB]

Didier,

If you have not done this, here is a pic of my job tacks.

Marty

[MalcolmP]

Marty

Thanks for uploading the informative photos, hopefully others will follow your example on otehr threads, it will make the Forum, even better ;D

Malcolm