105 mods
- Thread starter irlsailor
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Wet Spreaders
Super Anarchist
What's the end goal? You'll spend money on a new headstay, money on new jibs and for what - a non-OD compliant boat that's no faster and harder to handle. Even if you store the furler unit - which is a pain in the ass because it's 40ft long and doesn't like to be disassembled without heat (5200 and red Locktite), you'll probably pay for at least a new forestay wire when you sell the boat because the new buyer will want the furler fitted.
If you really need to be able to change jibs while racing, get jibs with RBS roller battens. They drop onto the deck just fine and can be lashed down easily. They don't furl up real tight, but we never had problems jibing with the funky furling job.
If you really need to be able to change jibs while racing, get jibs with RBS roller battens. They drop onto the deck just fine and can be lashed down easily. They don't furl up real tight, but we never had problems jibing with the funky furling job.
stealingisacrime
Member
Get a rigger to make a new headstay - it is simple and easy. Keep the old one in storage, I would also keep an RF jib with it for resale.
The jibs can be modified by your sailmaker, but not a great route to go if you want to add a reef, as it may be better value to just go with a new headsail.
Making a triangle is easy, finishing all the do-dads and corners is $$$ and you want to change a lot of the expensive stuff. Once you add up grommets, hanks, battens and pocket, old pocket removal, luff tape removal, blah, blah blah... you are climbing cash mountain.
Some of the boats in France have a different jib design for IRC - I think it has more roach, horizontal battens and a reef. I would look at that as a new sail option.
The jibs can be modified by your sailmaker, but not a great route to go if you want to add a reef, as it may be better value to just go with a new headsail.
Making a triangle is easy, finishing all the do-dads and corners is $$$ and you want to change a lot of the expensive stuff. Once you add up grommets, hanks, battens and pocket, old pocket removal, luff tape removal, blah, blah blah... you are climbing cash mountain.
Some of the boats in France have a different jib design for IRC - I think it has more roach, horizontal battens and a reef. I would look at that as a new sail option.
I have done this. The net cost was basically zero as I sold the furling unit on eBay for more than the cost of a minor sail recut (adding a triangle at the bottom to get the foot sweeping the deck), getting the battens switched to horizontal, adding hanks and swapping out the forestay (which you should do every 10 years anyway).
EDIT: not on a 105 but absent OD considerations shouldn't make a difference
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You might be able to remove the furling drum but leave the rest of the foil up and use it like a tuffluff or carbofoil.
ive just done it with a Harken Mk IV unit.
You would use headsails with a bolt rope rather than hanks but there is little difference in performance. However the hanks might damage or snag your kite if doing a windward drop.
A furling sail will always be less efficient than a proper jib with horizontal battens. If you are racing in IRC your rating will probably go up slightly but for me it was worth doing.
ive just done it with a Harken Mk IV unit.
You would use headsails with a bolt rope rather than hanks but there is little difference in performance. However the hanks might damage or snag your kite if doing a windward drop.
A furling sail will always be less efficient than a proper jib with horizontal battens. If you are racing in IRC your rating will probably go up slightly but for me it was worth doing.
You only get IRC furling credit for overlappers >=130% of J. Not relevant for the standard 105 jib IIRC.
