Where to install jib leads

amayotte · Post by **amayotte** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 1:52 pm

Hi,
I have bought 2 feet of T track and new jib leads for each side of the boat but am wondering where the best place to install them would be.
Before this the leads were clipped to the toerail...which distorted it and now looks crappy.
Can anyone help me with where to install them. ie) close to toe rail or closer to cabin, and where to put them x number of toe rail holes back from the bow?
I hope I explained myself good enough.

Thanks,
Adam

surveywaters · Post by **surveywaters** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 4:39 pm

I won't be the one to answer, but some information needed would be, which foresail are you flying? The jib or genoa would be the main question.

Banshi · Post by **Banshi** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 5:45 pm

I think sail had a good write up on just that this month

Banshi · Post by **Banshi** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 5:45 pm

"SAIL" that is

kokezaru · Post by **kokezaru** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:38 pm

I am considering adding a track for a jib fairlead myself. My thought is that the placement should accomodate the sails that you will be using.

Starting with your smallest sail, if you can determine the optimal placement of the fairlead, that would be your forward starting point for the track (you could go a little farther forward to make sure you have an adjustment range). If you have a 90%, 100%, 110%, they would probably be able to use the same track, close to the cabin. For the larger sails, 120% & 150%, you will still be better off using the toe rail.

Whenever I have a question about rigging, I go down to my local harbor, with over 100 sail boats, and just start taking notes. It is amazing how much variety there is of rigging setups. Below I included six boats showing the placement of the jib track. Take your pick.

amayotte · Post by **amayotte** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:16 am

Wow.
Thanks for the photos.
First thing I get from those photos is that 2 feet of track probably isn't enough...oh well.
The placement is for my 150% genoa so I will probably place it close to my toerail.
I found some article that describes how to determine where to place it by adjusting the sail while sailing and reading the telltales.

I will also look for that SAIL article, thanks.

Adam

Mario G · Post by **Mario G** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:37 am

Its still a little new to me but on my 77 C-26 I have track 3/4 the forward deck, it has a profurl so I can go from storm(LOL) jib to 170 genoa and have good sail control. sorry not sure if I have a picture.

On my parts c-22 it had a 3 ft track mid ship.

amayotte · Post by **amayotte** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 6:23 am

Mario,

I have a Profurl also. did you mean that you use three quarters of your forward deck for track? How much track do you have - 5' or so?
with that much track do you use all of it at various times or is that much actually needed?
I'm not a racer or anything so I don't need to fine tune as much as some.

Thanks

Mario G · Post by **Mario G** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:06 am

I could be wrong but I would guess 8' or more as you can see from the row of bolts behind the 1st mates head

to a good 3' into the V-berth

amayotte · Post by **amayotte** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:28 pm

Mario,

would you say that it's beneficial to be able to adjust the leads or is it more for racing and trying to achieve that extra knot?

Also looking at your pictures it looks like the track is installed a fair ways from the toe rail...is that a problem?

Thanks,
Adam

Mario G · Post by **Mario G** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 3:04 pm

I'm not sure the 1st mate and I use them like they were ment fore when it comes to racing but we both like the versitility when it comes to her tacking in the thinner channels (shes great at it and seems to enjoy it) and I'm always to get a nice run going with the sail full.
The only problem I find with the positions there mounted is the nuts in the interior I'm going to cover them in teak.