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• December 21, 2004 submitted by Greg Lewis
  I am considering a leisure furl system for my 55' boat. Is is possible to
  modify an existing main to work well with a leisure furl boom or do you have
  to start with a brand new sail?
  
  
• December 20, 2004 submitted by Theo Riethmuller
  I accidentally pulled my spinnaker halyard out of the mast on my 25-
  foot trailer sailor. Can you tell me the easiest way to put it back in?
  
  
• December 13, 2004 submitted by Tao Garande
  I am buying Hunter 37 cutter and she is carrying a 150 RF genoa. Will this
  over power the boat in stiff wind and can that be remedied by rolling it in?
  
  
• December 6, 2004 submitted by Kevin Churchill
  We are looking for performance and durability in the 20+ (apparent) knot
  range. Is a 100% Jib right for our C&C 39?
  
  
• November 29, 2004 submitted by Michael Bornn
  I sail an Ericson 35-2 with conventional stitched Dacron sails. My sails are
  tired and in need of replacement. I sail mostly between Los Angeles and
  Catalina and the Channel Islands. Would Marathon 3DL be a good choice
  for me?
  
  
• November 23, 2004 submitted by Rick Donn
  I have a Beneteau First 42 Tall Rig and have two questions regarding a
  bow spring mount and an inner forestay that I am installing.
  
  
• November 19, 2004 submitted by Joe Atherton
  I plan to return an Island Packet 31 to a cutter rig. I want to remove the
  staysail wire while not in use. Would you suggest a detachable staysail
  wire or something different?
  
  
• October 27, 2004 submitted by Cathy Kreyling
  My husband and I recently purchased a Tartan 37 which we normally sail shorthanded on the Chesapeake Bay. We would like to purchase a cruising spinnaker - would you recommend your G2 or G3?
  

• October 25, 2004 submitted by Larry Green
  I have a Tayana 52 with a North full batten main with five battens. I removed
  the battens prior to Hurricane Charley and now am not sure how to properly
  tension the battens.
  
  
• October 21, 2004 submitted by Pete Celone
  I am considering Marathon 3DL sails for a catamaran we are buying. I would
  like to understand more about the lifespan of these sails prior to structural
  or shape problems.
  
  
• October 14, 2004 submitted by Lou Von Woglom
  My current main on my S2 7.3 is 20 years old and I am considering buying
  a used J/22. Can it be fit to my boat?
  
  
• October 11, 2004 submitted by Al Mellors
  After reading Steve Dashews' "Encyclopedia", I'm pretty well convinced that I could get better cruising performance on my 47 ft. twin headsail ketch by changing to a high roach main and sloop rig, the mizzen being little more than decoration and a place to hang stuff. Read on...
  
  
• October 8, 2004 submitted by Eric Swanson
  I am trying to decide between in-mast furling or not. Is there a trade-off between convenience of hoisting/sail handling and overall sail performance?
  
  
• September 28, 2004 submitted by Marc Lasserre
  I have a Bavaria 32. There is too much slack in the forestay tension even when tightening the backstay. There is no turnbuckle to adjust it. Could you tell me what I could do to remove some of its slack?
  
  
• September 28, 2004 submitted by M. Fox
  Looking to purchase a Catalina 350 with full batten mail and am concerned about ease of flaking-Dutchman system?
  
  
• September 21, 2004 submitted by Peter Ramsden
  I want to fit a 42 foot luff length asymmetric spinnaker to a 37 foot cutter with a masthead rig and 46 foot forestay. Is the sail too small & what are the normal sizings for asymmetrics?
  
  
• September 21, 2004 submitted by Don Parker
  I'm writing to learn more about a unique storm jib/staysail, rumored to have been developed by Dan Neri.
  
  
• September 20, 2004 submitted by Lamar Walter
  I sail on a San Juan 28 and the owner recently purchased a North RF 150% headsail and a ProFurl system. When racing, we had trouble with the external spinnaker halyward getting wrapped around the furler. Is there a solution to this problem?
  
  
• September 20, 2004 submitted by Michael Goddaert
  We are currently developing a 56ft blue water cruiser and as we are planning to maximize the roach in the main to improve its efficiency, I was wondering if there is a specific maximum overlap (with the backstay) in a single mast configuration?
  
  
• September 17, 2004 submitted by Russ Brown
  I have a fully battened mainsail that when hoisted all the way to the top of the mast fouls with the topping lift near the peak. Am I setting something up wrong?
  

• September 7, 2004 submitted by Tim Kelly
  I have a 35 ft Endeavour that came with a Gennaker and a whisker pole. I used the whisker pole with the Gennaker on a downwind run in 10-15 knots and the inside of the pole bent. Is it too much compression on the pole?
  
  
  
• August 29 , 2004 submitted by Richard
  I read your Q&A supporting the use of citrus-based cleaners. What about OxyClean? I talked to someone that had good luck, but they had not idea if it would do any damage.
  

• August 29, 2004 submitted by Richard
  I have a North furled 150 genoa with a foam luff. While the canvas itself is in very good shape, the UV cover is in poor condition. Can the UV cover material be replaced? Is it worth the expense?
  
  
• August 24, 2004 submitted by Tom Berkemeyer
  My mainsail is two years old and getting dirty. It is Dacron / mylar cloth. I have
  a citrus-based cleaner that has worked for everything else on the boat and
  would like to know if it is OK for cleaning the sail?
  
  
• August 23, 2004 submitted by Hooper Sails, Australia
  Is it an advantage to have a telltale window in a cruise laminate genoa?
  
  
• August 19, 2004 submitted by John Reid
  Trying to select headboard shackle and new halyard for the Mainsail on our
  Tartan 42 - used for long-distance ocean cruising. Do you have any calculation
  for the forces on the head shackle?
  
  
• August 16, 2004 submitted by Patrick Carey
  I own a Pacific Seacraft 34 with a 120% headsail and a full-battened main. I
  would like to point higher than the usual 45 degrees. Any ideas for a headsail
  re-design?
  
  
• August 13, 2004 submitted by E. Berns
  What is the recommended wind range for a typical 0.75 oz nylon poleless
  cruising spinnaker?
  
  
• August 10, 2004 submitted by Javier
  I have a North 130% genoa that came with the boat and was in storage
  for a couple of years. I washed it with mild soap and water to remove most
  of the stains. Is it wise to "steam clean" it to remove mildew and oil?
  
  
• August 3, 2004 submitted by Lee Bartkowski
  I have an Ericson 28+ which has a fractional rig. The mast was re-rigged
  last Fall and a bail and block installed at the masthead. Do you recommend
  a taller Gennaker hoisted to the masthead or the standard luff length for headsails?
  
  
• July 29, 2004 submitted by John Purslow
  What is the attachment called that goes on the bottom of a sail to give extra depth?
  
  
• July 28, 2004 submitted by Don Albanese
  I have a 100% jib from my previous J/35. Can this sail be made into a Gale Sail
  for my Tartan 4100?
  
  
• July 19, 2004 submitted by Steve Mathewson
  I have North full batten main and a 150% genoa on my Catalina 34 tall rig.
  Please advise best design information for suitable cunningham for cruising.
  
  
• July 16, 2004 submitted by Dan Bochniak
  I have been told that full batten sails are difficult to raise. I am looking to buy
  a Catalina 320 and they have full batten sails and Dutchman system. Do you
  have any advice?
  

• July 15, 2004 submitted by Gary Souza
  Is there a basic rule as far as the maximum I can roll up my 135 headsail and
  still hav some sort of "workable" shape? There is no foam/rope in the luff.
  
  
• July 1, 2004 submitted by Kathleen Toubman
  I have a Columbia 8.7 with a new North main. I would like a diagram of the sail rigged and reefed.
  
  
• June 27, 2004 submitted by Zan Marquis
  I want to set up my 68-foot Peterson racer/cruiser for single-handed
  sailing. How about an asymmetric spinnaker on a roller furler?
  
  
• June 20, 2004 submitted by David & Linda Mott
  When you refer to battens not extending beyond the backstay, do you
  mean that the roach continues past the backstay, but the battens are
  shortened to reduce the effect of fouling, or do you simply mean that the
  mainsail does not go past the backstay?
  
  
• June 15, 2004 submitted by Paul Richards
  I saw your response regarding Paul Doughty's issue with the roller
  furling main jamming in the slot. Occasionally, mine does the same.
  Am I correct that when furling and unfurling, the mast should be straight?
  
  
• June 13, 2004 submitted by Steve & Ruth Anderson
  We have a new North main that we inherited that is too big for the boat.
  Can I cut down the sail to fit?
  
  
• June 7, 2004 submitted by Miles
  I have a Hylas 44, which I am in the process of adding a staysail stay
  and debating whether or not to put roller furling here. We plan to cruise
  short-handed.
  
  
• June 3, 2004 submitted by Tom Goebel
  I bought a used North Sails jib and I am not sure it will work with my boat.
  I'd like to convert it to a hank-on, but I'm not sure if it's okay to clamp the
  hanks on over the wire?
  
  
• May 27, 2004 submitted by Ellis McKinley, Jr.
  I have a Jeanneau 43, sail short-handed with my wife in a variety of conditions
  and plan to do some extended cruising in the near future. What Gennaker
  would you recommend for us?
  
  
• May 24, 2004 submitted by Ulrich Kesselring
  Can a "Dutchman" system be used on a heavy displacement cruising 85-foot ketch? And what is the best material?
  
  
• May 10, 2004 submitted by Paul Doughty
  I'm having problems with the in-mast furled mainsail on a newly acquired
  boat. The sails gets jammed when trying to roll it out. Is the mainsail simply
  too stretched out to furl and then unfurl correctly, or is there something wrong
  with our technique?
  
  
• May 8, 2004 submitted by Gary Souza
  Is there any way to remove rust stains from a Dacron jib? Does your 30/1
  bleach bath remove rust?
  
  
• April 23, 2004 submitted by Mário Quina
  I have a 2003 Bavaria 38' with a furlex genoa and a full batten mainsail.
  Can you advise me on the right tensions of the shrouds?
  
  
• April 23, 2004 submitted by Jim Easley
  I have a 150% furling genoa on my 31-foot cruising boat. I also have a
  Gennaker, which came with the boat. What performance improvement
  should I expect on the downwind points of sail if I fly the Gennaker instead
  of the genoa?
  
  
• April 1, 2004 submitted by Forrest E. Joseph
  I have a Hunter 40 with a roller furling jib that is probably the original. Which
  135% roller furler would you recommend I upgrade to for the best overall performance?
  
  
• March 22, 2004 submitted by Richard Lancaster
  I have a sunbrella cover which seems to have shrunk to the point where I
  can no longer fasten it at the front. The condition otherwise is great, is there anyway for me to stretch it back out?
  
  
• March 22, 2004 submitted by Jorge Gonzalez
  I have a J/30 that is sailed and club raced shorthanded. Would a Gennaker or similar asymmetric work for this boat?
  
  
• March 22, 2004 submitted by Ray
  If I put a jib furler on my O'Day 22, do I have to remove the hanks and luff wire?
  
  
• March 5, 2004 submitted by Ted Steadman
  I have recently purchased a Cambria 44 with a Stoway main. I would prefer
  using a full batten main with slab reefing. I am considering installing the
  Strong mainsails system. What mainsail would you recommend?
  
  
• March 5, 2004 submitted by Ian Balmer
  We have a #2 genoa for our 50 foot cruising yacht and I am disappointed with
  our pointing ability. Would a 100% jib improve our windward ability in moderate winds?
  
  
• March 2, 2004 submitted by Larry Stanley
  I plan to replace the main on my J/40 and need it to be lightweight, hold its
  shape and be durable enough to last 7-10 years. What do you recommend?
  
  
• February 26, 2004 submitted by Carl Hunt
  I usually hoist my Gennaker inside the fore triangle instead of in front of the forestay as intended. As a result, I am concerned about the side forces on the
  jib halyard sheave. Should I be concerned about this?
  
  
• February 25, 2004 submitted by Tom
  I want to make the tack height adjustable on my Oday 272 by running a lead
  from the tack, through the block attached to the anchor roller and back to the cockpit. Is this possible?
  
  
• February 9, 2004 submitted by Darrin Sweet
  Can you suggest a Gennaker or spinnaker for my Catalina MkII for the
  Halifax-St Pierre Race? It's about 2-4 days long.
  
  
• January 29, 2004 submitted by João Santos
  I have a Dufour 38 Classic with North main and genoa and I would like to
  know how can I tune the rig.
  
  
• January 27, 2004 submitted by Dave Kusmik
  I am in the market for a new headsail for my Catalina 400. What size do you recommend and which set of tracks should I be using?
  
  
• January 27, 2004 submitted by Robert Smejkal
  We are buying a new Dufour 34 and are stuck deciding between an in-mast
  fuling and full batten main. Which do you recommend?
  
  
• January 26, 2004 submitted by Frederick Feldbauer
  Can you give me the pros and cons of a self-tacking sail plan? My wife and I
  sail quite a bit by ourselves and I am intrigued by this idea.
  
  
• January 25, 2004 submitted by Gregory Smith
  Looking to replace my North Dacron main on my J/44. Can you suggest a cloth?
  
  
• January 21, 2004 submitted by Rich Schultz
  I have a terrible time trying to tack a 130% genoa on my Cabo Rico 38 cutter.
  Would I be better off with a different cut genoa?
  
  
• January 20, 2004 submitted by Terry Shoup
  Can you explain waht the I P E and J measurements are?
  
  
• January 18, 2004 submitted by Tom
  Do self-tacking jibs prefer lower aspect ratio sail numbers and what other specifics need to be followed to make a main & self-tacking jib plan most beneficial in a variety of conditions?
  
  
• January 5, 2004 submitted by Jeff Sigl
  I have a 1979 Hunter 27 that I sail in southern New England (Buzzards Bay,
  Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound)
  

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