[quote=JohnES][quote=MN3]
"So far, these 30+ year old boats are staying together."
how many 5.7, 5.8. p19MX with bigger jibs and no foil have you seen survive?
I've heard of boats failing without a foil
nothing like hitting a big puff and a bow ripping off your boat a dozen miles offshore in the atlantic (happened to a friend of mine)
[/quote]
What you're saying has merit and is one of the reasons I make the recommendation not to rig a spinnaker/hooter on a boat that was not designed form the onset to carry one... I am under the opinion that there is not enough reinforcement in the way of stringers and bulkheads in the hulls to carry the load.
I did a spinnaker set up on a 5.8 and this really put a strain on the hulls even with the NA bow foil. I started to experience a lot of gel coat spider cracks around the main beam area and a noticeable increase of bow flex when pushing the boat on a beam or broad reach..
With regards to the purpose of the foil itself and only speaking from the experience with the 5.8 this was done to give the boat a lower footing jib for better "off wind" performance... it really had nothing to do with strength... thought some will argue it prevented the hulls from towing in when the main was sheeted too tight. The NA option I believe was first deployed in the late 80's a little before the spinnaker/hooter craze hit the beach cat community... I have sailed the 5.8 both pre-NA and NA set up... both with and without spinnakers... to me the best set up is a 5.8 that came from the factory with the NA option and square top sail. On a beam-broad reach... there is not better boat out there. Guess this is why this is one of the or popular classes in the Land of Oz.[/quote]
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