Mainsail dimensions for different boats? :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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Mainsail dimensions for different boats?

kson

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Dec 15, 2022

Last visit: May 25, 2023

Posts: 4
Posted: May 25, 2023 - 07:30 PM

I have a 20' trimaran with a beachcat-sized rig. I need new sails, my jib is torn and my main is 25 years old and pretty blown out. So I thought I'd look for some beachcat sails in decent shape for the main at least, but most ads just list the kind of boat, not the sail dimensions. The dimensions of my main are:

Luff 26' 7"

Foot 8'

Fully battened like a beachcat, moderate roach.

The boom and gooseneck are kind of janky too, so if a new sail had a slightly shorter foot that would be ok, I'll build a new boom. More roach or a square top would be ok.

What classes should I be looking at for a 26' to 26' 7" luff on a main, anyone know off the top of their heads?

And relatedly, once I get a main I need a new jib which I think I just have to have made, the jib is a lot bigger than a beachcat jib. Who would you go to in the Houston/Galveston area for a new jib for a boat like this?

Thanks!
onekiwi

Rank: Mate

Registered: Oct 24, 2013

Last visit: Jul 22, 2024

Posts: 251
Posted: May 26, 2023 - 12:07 PM

I have a Prindle 18 sail for sale
26,75 luff 7.67 foot sounds ideal!

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Carl

Dart 18x2
Nacra 5.8
Acat
Windrider Rave x2 for sale
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charlescarlis

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 30, 2018

Last visit: Nov 21, 2024

Posts: 593
Posted: May 26, 2023 - 12:59 PM

If you do a brand new jib - I had good luck with C&C (Butch). He's very attentive/responsive. Good prices too.

I have a spare Tornado main, if you're interested in one fairly cheap. But, it has a luff of 28.8 feet and foot of 7.92 feet; maybe a bit too big.

As far as dimensions, you can get a few off the Sailrite web site; there are a TON of boats in the list and SOME limited information from sites like sailboat data, etc.

https://www.sailrite.com/search?keywords=sail%20data

Edited by charlescarlis on May 26, 2023 - 01:37 PM.

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Chuck C
NACRA 500 Mk2
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klozhald

Rank: Chief

Registered: Apr 19, 2011

Last visit: Nov 20, 2024

Posts: 1460
Posted: May 26, 2023 - 09:16 PM

Is your jib fractional or masthead rigged?

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Sheet In!
Bob
_/)_____/)_/)____/)____/)_____/)/)__________/)__
Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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charlescarlis

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 30, 2018

Last visit: Nov 21, 2024

Posts: 593
Posted: May 28, 2023 - 12:44 AM

I think all beach cats are fractional, or at least most.

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Chuck C
NACRA 500 Mk2
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bcdd97

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 07, 2017

Last visit: Jun 16, 2024

Posts: 12
Posted: Jun 01, 2023 - 09:02 AM

Approximate Sizes of Potential Beachcat Mains:
Prindle 18 26.75 x 7.7
Prindle 18-2 Similar to P18
Hobie 18 26 x 8.5
Hobie 17 26 x 7.3

There are likely other boats in the 17 to 19 ft range that would work - Nacra 5.2 or 5.5 or 5.7.

For the jib, Prindle 19, Tornado, and Hobie 18 are the biggest you'd typically find. Once you decide on your main, a sailmaker could advise on an appropriate jib that would best balance the main. You'd want to correlate the boat's center of lateral resitance with the sailplan's center of effort. Besides the area of the sails, you can modify the center of effort through the rake of the mast. You can modify the center of resistance through the position of the centerboard. If you have a daggerboard, that's not really an option.

I'd go with a local sailmaker, provided he can provide the sail in a reasonable timeframe.
texastuma

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 22, 2012

Last visit: Nov 20, 2024

Posts: 410
Posted: Jun 07, 2023 - 03:18 PM

ksonI have a 20' trimaran with a beachcat-sized rig. I need new sails, my jib is torn and my main is 25 years old and pretty blown out. So I thought I'd look for some beachcat sails in decent shape for the main at least, but most ads just list the kind of boat, not the sail dimensions. The dimensions of my main are:

Luff 26' 7"

Foot 8'

Fully battened like a beachcat, moderate roach.

The boom and gooseneck are kind of janky too, so if a new sail had a slightly shorter foot that would be ok, I'll build a new boom. More roach or a square top would be ok.

What classes should I be looking at for a 26' to 26' 7" luff on a main, anyone know off the top of their heads?

And relatedly, once I get a main I need a new jib which I think I just have to have made, the jib is a lot bigger than a beachcat jib. Who would you go to in the Houston/Galveston area for a new jib for a boat like this?

Thanks!

One thing you could also do is just scan the SCHRS database: https://schrs.com/ratings.html VLM is your mainsail luff dimensions.

Looks like the P18-2 is your best option with a luff of 8.01m. For the jib, the P19 and Tornado Classic are the same jib. The Hobie 18 is larger and the Nacra 6.0 is even larger. This just depends on where you r leads are and the set-up on what size you can go with. I run a N6.0 jib on my modified 18-2, so it does work.

Edited by texastuma on Jun 07, 2023 - 03:24 PM.

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Scott

Prindle Fleet 2
TCDYC

Prindle 18-2 Mod "FrankenKitty"
Tornado Classic "Fast Furniture"
Prindle 19 "Mr. Wiggly"
Nacra 5.8 "De ja vu"
Nacra 5.0
Nacra 5.8
Tornadoes (Reg White)
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