Finally was able to get out with the "spinnaker" (old E-scow reacher, very flat) and Hobie 16 jib instead of the big G-Cat genoa. Bag launched it off the front tramp. On the 3rd went out with my Dad and daughter and tried out the big sail. Light air that would ramp up to about 8-10 then back down again. Once we threw the "spinnaker" we just beam reached and sheeted it in! Wow! We kept sailing out of the wind patterns ahead of them. Kept the jib up and was able to have both headsails pulling. Sailed tight angles for the speed since it was fairly light. And the shape was great for tight reaching, sheeted to to the back beam. We really buried the bow once but it just came back up and we kept on trucking. My daughter was just laughing and loved the spray. I'm sold. This light weight boat accelerates at an incredible rate.

Sounds like a blast! How much sail area would you say you're running with your main and jib?

I believe the G-cat main is 162sf, G-cat jib is 60sf and the Hobie 16 jib we just put on is 55sf and adds battens.

An update- finally.


Made one carbon fiber F17 mast from two broken ones. Still need a mast step, rotator, downhaul. Now working on a boom from a carbon tube. Hope to have it up by June. Finally move into this century.

What was the source for the carbon tube used for the boom? More available?

Dave

I saw an ad on Beachcats for a couple of tubes a catsailor had leftover from some project. I bought one and finally have a chance to use it. That was over a year ago. I have found tube remnants for sale using google.

Also-
I hear windsurfer masts work quite well.

When you google the tubing, what keywords do you use?

Dave