I'm wanting to make a jib sock for my Nacra 5.2 that has a roller ferler jib for mast up storage next season. I know my length should be a bit longer than the sail, but what diameter should I count on? Also anyone have a picture of the top of one? I'm curious how much water can get down into the sails. I'd like a design to try to prevent much of that happening.

thanks. I have a 1988 Nacra 5.2
Oh, I would assume to make if from 1-2 layers of sunbrella fabric and try to find a plastic zipper to sew up it hoist it with the main Halyard.

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1988 Nacra 5.2
YouTube link to see boat in action:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLddinE6IorSrPpZrlvcwAjRzSIQsKYPG1
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Go the simpler route & use a UV strip. Any sail loft can sew a strip along the leech & foot of the jib.
There is nothing to hoist, zip or unzip.
You furl the jib & the last round is where the UV strip is, it covers the entire jib.
To go sailing, unfurl the jib.
I use it on all out Cats, it adds zero seconds to setup or putting away.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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i personally would simply remove the jib after use. It only takes a few minutes, and reduces any chance of your jib getting messed up.

Also your furled jib adds a fair amount of windage to your cat in a storm

If you go to Google images and search jib snorkel you will find the pictures that you are looking for. You need to add snaps to the bottom of the snorkel to allow room for the jib sheet where it attaches to the tack. I would not worry about water getting to the sail. Making it tight will be a pain to raise and water will get in anyway. If that is a concern then remove the sail as suggested. We have been using one for years and have had no issues but we are also shielded a bit from the wind. Post some pics of the snorkel as you make it.

Edit to add we use the main halyard to raise it and it has a zipper.



Edited by pknapp66 on Dec 05, 2015 - 07:36 PM.

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Pete Knapp
Schodack landing,NY
Goodall Viper,AHPC Viper,Nacra I20
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csmonte,
here is a photo of a jib sock i had made by a local patio awning company. the top had a hem (doubled fabric) with a grommet right near the top. into this grommet i put a carabiner. i used the jib halyard to raise the sock because the jib was attached to the swivel at the top of the forestay and did not get raised or lowered. it was always up. the hardest part was raising it past the lower batten in the furled sail.

i no longer have this boat but as i recall, i had them make the diameter about 8" so i would guess the width of the fabric was about 24". when up, i twisted the sock and tied off the bottom to keep it from flogging in the wind. i don't think a lot of water entered the top during a shower, but i'm sure some did. it never seemed to be wet or moldy when i opened the sail.

the awning company only had 10' zippers so they had to use two to make up the length of 20' that i needed. a bit of a pain but it worked.



on another boat i had, a nacra F18, i just bought a sock from Racedaytramps. i was happy with theirs and it had one continuous zipper. if i had another cat that needed a sock, i would purchase from them again.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/J…e-cat-18SX-/360429367729

if you make your own, here's where you can get a continuous zipper. don't forget to buy the puller too.

http://www.sailrite.com/e…ea_a=Length%3AContinuous

jon

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Aquacat 12 (sold)...'87 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'03 Nacra Inter18 (sold)
Venture 15 (sold)....'89 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'91 Nacra 5.8NA (sold)
'99 Nacra Inter20 (sold)
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I am having Whirlwind sails build me a "sock" for my new red jib sail. Check with Chip for what you want.

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Bill 404 21SE
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thanks for the reply's, Nice examples and thanks for the pic. Good idea to twist it to take up slack for wind if its too loose. Also cool trailer. I like how the beach wheels ride under the hulls. The strip on the end of the jib would be the easiest, I have whirlwind sails about a year old so I'm not sure I want to mess with sewing anything on it yet. I would definitely want a one piece zipper setup if possible. I'll have to price out some material and the zipper to see if its worth not purchasing one. I have access to local sunbrella @ $21/yrd which is nice.

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1988 Nacra 5.2
YouTube link to see boat in action:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLddinE6IorSrPpZrlvcwAjRzSIQsKYPG1
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You are going to do some sewing on your jib. One item not yet mentioned is the 2 small battens in the Nacra jib. It WILL NOT furl snugly with those 2 battens, & they will complicate a snorkel..
You need to have the battens taken out, (they currently sit horizontal with the hulls), & re-sewed, at an angle that matches that of the forestay. I found the jib vibrated at the leech without them. They were removed, & replaced with 2 that were twice as long, but sewn in at appx a 45* angle, giving the same effect. Here is my N5.7
http://www.thebeachcats.c…pictures?g2_itemId=88333
I was just in at Triton sails, to have the H18 sails gone over, & I asked the owner about a snorkel, as I too leave the jibs up all season. He told me quite plainly that he could make one, but the snorkels were hard on the jib, due to chaffe, & the UV strip was the better way, unless you were in a low wind situation. He showed me one that had buttons & a criss cross line that was used to snug the snorkel against the sail, but said after a year or two they still caused wear.
I have UV strips on 4 Cats, with zero issues. The longest is 4 years old, that jib is almost toast now, due to sailing, there is no UV damage. I also leave a line looped through the jib tack. It is left dangling while sailing, I tie it as a safety when putting the boat away, just in case the furler line lets go.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…pictures?g2_itemId=88355
I don't know why more people don't use a UV strip if they store mast/jib up. I never waited, get it sewn on while the sail is new, it has no negative consequences for performance, & actually beefs up the leech. Once done, it is a task you never think about again, it is there all the time, ready to use. Just furl the jib, tie the safety.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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