The International Canoe

Have got a choice of some new sails for my old nethercott GBR 193 with an Angell Carbon mast. there are three all in under a seasons use condition. An old morrison sail identical to my current one but not full of holes, a Morrison/roswell sail thats got a big head, and what i think is a more standard roswell sail that has not got a big head. photos attached (hopefully) any advice would be appriciated its making my head hurt trying to decide!
Thanks Chris IC 193

cant upload pics so on flickr at this link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57173432@N ... 985059473/

Are you trying to decide which ones to use or which ones to buy? I had two sets when I got my canoe and very soon found which set I never wanted to see again, and after a while got so fed up with the other ones that I ended up buying new... Its difficult to tell from photos I think, especially as the dynamics are so important... I think I'd particularly look at depowering and the like... the fatter headed sail, if all else is equal, ought to twist off and depower earlier than the other one, and most likely on or the other alternative will be better for your weight and your mast. Probably just trial and error to find out though.

Hi Chris,

what a great situation to be in.....to have a choice of good quality 2nd hand sails.

Jim is absolutely right....if you have any chance of actually trying the sails out, then I would suggest you do so. I have had a bundle of 2nd hand IC sails over the years and found that some looked 'great' but were just horrible to sail with, whereas others have been so nice to sail with that I continued with them even to the point of them being full of holes.

Hopefully, you should be able to talk to the owners and find out whether they worked for them. I have bought sails which were in great condition....but they were development sails and just didn't work at all and I doubt they ever did.

You also need to check what the sizes of these mains are......and correspond them to your jibs....to try and make sure you stay within the allowed size. You feel cheated if you are too far below it....and of course you are cheating if you are above it

As for fat-head vs normal.....I think you really have to try them and see. nonetheless, I find it interesting that although fat-heads seem to have been often tried out....they have never seemed to become standard across the fleet. I have only tried one once, and although it seemed quite powerful and did 'feather' more, I found the extra canvas up high, made it noticeably harder to tack with, which lead to a bit more swimming. But, to be honest, I am a truly crap IC sailor and enjoy anything that makes sailing 'easier' and avoid anything that increases my swimming time.
It might well be fine for you....only a test sail would really prove it one way or other.

Best Wishes

eib

My new Ullman fat head main is easier to tack than my older Morrison pin head main, But I suspect that is more to do with the fullness of the Morrison and the way the battens Pop through after the tack.

I'm beginning to think that the important issue with sails is how flat they will go in windy weather. Its no good at all having a full powerful suit of sails and not able to first tack, and second flattern them out when required.
Those sails I used in Oxford were very flat and 0.6m undersize. BUT i have not raced them against Phil or Alistair yet.

Hi Chris
Thats intresting, the Morrison that went with Monkey was a fat headed version, some have smaller heads, it is fitted with 8mm batterns which may be why its harder to tack. Monkey's sail was a lot easier to tack than my present sail, however now I have 20mm less luff round and 6mm batterns, only sailed it once but it seems better. What batterns do your Ullmans have? Also owe you for a couple of sail numbers!