I bought a distressed Hobie Holder 14 and found that the sails, mast, and boom were not the original but from an Australian catamaran, a Trac.

I need to cut 3' off the top of the 23' Trac mast, then resew the mainsail to fit the shorter mast. I can either take the 3' of mainsail off the bottom, or I can take it from the top and reconfigure the sail into a flat-top sail.

Which is preferable?

Or is it even feasible to remake a fully battened catamaran sail into something that will work on a monohull?

Gary,
Northern Wisconsin

I'd just take some area off the bottom. You may want to add reef points also because you probably won't be able to flatten the sail as much as with a rotating mast.
You can use the excess to reinforce the tack and clew. Use a webbing strap and "D" ring if you can't get the required grommets. Need a decent sewing machine though.

Before you cut up the mast and sail you might put them in the classifieds here and see if you can sell them for enough to buy a proper mast and sail for your Holder.


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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Take Damon's advice and look for the correct sail and mast for your boat. Adapting sails to fit hardly ever works out and isn't worth the time, effort and money. You'll end up ruining a perfectly good sail and mast and be in worse shape than you already are. Just my 2 cents.

Also, the AMF Trac 14s were built in America. I understand they are the American cousin of the Windrush.