posted January 25, 2005 08:58 PM            

I purchased a used CL 16 last year that was in decent condition and with a bunch of elbow grease, teak refinishing and a new center board brought the boat back to even better condition.Apparently the boat was originally purchased at the 1981 Toronto Boat Show

I was only out in it a few times before winter and enjoyed it immensely.The boat is quite dry and has enough sail area to make it interesting.

I did manage to capsize it once with a friend aboard but was able to right it myself easily and we both just clammered in and sailed away.

I'm a cruising sailer and am looking for some ideas and experiences regarding the sails and set up to see if i can make things as easy as possible so here goes:

1.Has anyone experience with a larger jib and smaller main?( probably against class rules )

2.If there was less roach on the main would there be any significant change in handling or performance?

3.The jib is currently on a little furler and is attached separately from the forestay and i find that when furling it either gets wound around the forestay or the line just spins around the drum(i tried different sized rope but no better results). Can this boat just have a hanked on jip to the forestay?

4. There is a cleat on the bow side of the mast and i find when tacking that the jib sheets catch on it when coming across so i'll probably just remove or reposition it?

5.If i were to get a fully battened main would it still be able to be wound around the boom to reef?

Thanks and any comments would be appreciated!!

posted January 26, 2005 03:23 AM            

The Sandpiper mainsail has the same luff dimension but is 12" shorter in the foot. Therefore, it probably has less roach too. If you were to hoist a Sandpiper main, the centre of effort would shift forward 3" (half of 12" at the boom, but half of that halfway up the sail). Theoretically, the higher aspect ratio main should be aerodynamically more efficient. The skipper would experience less weather helm and/or more lee helm.

posted January 26, 2005 09:26 AM               

1.Has anyone experience with a larger jib and smaller main?( probably against class rules )
The CL16 has a lot of power with the existing sail plan. Class rules are very tight about sail plans. If you need more speed try a spinnaker it will give you a fantastic ride.

2.If there was less roach on the main would there be any significant change in handling or performance?
The sail plan is very well balanced, small changes probably wouldn't give you any better performance.

3.The jib is currently on a little furler and is attached separately from the forestay and i find that when furling it either gets wound around the forestay or the line just spins around the drum(i tried different sized rope but no better results). Can this boat just have a hanked on jip to the forestay?
I had a furling jib when I bought my used boat. I had the same problem. When I loosened the jib halyard it worked a little better. Attach the forstay to most forward hole oin the bowplate and the jib to the aftmost hole, this will help a little.
As far as the line sliding on the drum: Try a line that is rolled up when the sail is out so pulling will roll it up and rewind when opened by pulling the sheet.
I currently have a hanked on Jib.

4. There is a cleat on the bow side of the mast and i find when tacking that the jib sheets catch on it when coming across so i'll probably just remove or reposition it?
I have two eyes on the bow side of the mast for the spinnaker boom and the genny pole. I have a similar problem, best solution is to ensure that the sheet is loosened completely and the new sheet is not cleated down too soon.

posted January 26, 2005 08:07 PM               

I'm a cruising sailor too. I've lot's of race experience (on a keelboat) in my past, but today, it's strictly sunday sailing.

The sail plan on my CL16 is identical to yours. I've noticed that the boat is nicely balanced with it and for this reason, I wouldn't recommend changing it. That is, unless you sail in an area with predominantly heavy winds where a smaller mainsail might be an option. In most cases, a reefed mainsail should suffice.

What's the problem with the large roach of the mainsail? Any change here will affect the light air performance and balance of the sailplan.

I have the same small headsail on a furler that you have described. I too have had the problem with the continuous-loop furling line and it's predisposition to slip on the reel. The solution here is more tension on the furling line. On my boat, this furling line is attached to the port side shroud with a heavy bungee cord. This cord tension the line so that there is no slack in it. If the furling line starts to slip, a little more tension with the bungee cord will cure the problem. Too much tension also is not a good thing. Experiment to find the happy medium and you'll find that the furler works like a charm. A little practice will also prevent the sail's wrapping on the forestay.

You mention the possibility of use of a hanked-on foresail. There's no reason you cannot do this. There will be an advantage in that you can use a larger, or smaller headsail if you wish. You'll also be able to tension the luff better which should result in a little better upwind performance. The downside is having to deal with a loose sail on the foredeck! The furling headsail is a far better option for a cruising sailor.

I too have had the problem of a jib sheet grabbing the haliard cleat on the mast when I tack. Generally, it's easily released but I recognize it could represent a capsize threat in heavy air. Moving the cleats is an option. Personally, it doesnt' happen often enough to make it worthwhile.

As others have mentioned, jiffy reefing is the usual option for the mainsail. It works so well, I don't know why one would consider anything else.

Happy sailing!

posted January 26, 2005 08:54 PM               

I wish I had a furler...

I also wish I had jiffy reef and a Cunningham on my mainsail. I can't afford to buy a new one. Does anyone know of a used mainsail available; preferably with two reefs and cunningham?

I'll be going to the Vancouver Boat Show in February; anybody need anything checked out??

posted March 06, 2005 11:59 PM               

Check out Sailrite at http://www.sailrite.com/

There's a link to their entire catalog, and you can find jiffy reefing in the index.