Rigging a Head Sail Sock

[MUW]

Hi All

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to rig a Head Sail Sock for a Genoa / Fuller for a 26X?

Is it possible to raise and lower a sock from the cockpit? I would like to be able to at least take it down single handed.

Thanks again for all your great advise!

[Frank C]

NO problem, methinks. I drop mine during final rigging, before getting the trailer wet. I don't raise it again until the boat's back on the trailer. Guess that means my Genoa suffers UV exposure for the entire weekend ...
Oh w'hull~!

[James V]

I bought my sock from http://shop.macgregorowners.com/ . I attached the sail to the top of the roller furler and use the jib halyard to haul up the sock. Another line on the mast would do the same.

[paj637]

I attached a small block pulley with 50-60 feet of 1/4 inch line just above the top connection on the furler. You really can't single handedly raise my sock from aft because you have to zip it as it goes up and down. But it's a breeze to raise and lower.

[Moe]

I don't think it's possible. You have to start the zipper at top of the sock (like starting a zipper at the bottom of a jacket), then pull the zipper down while hauling up the sock with the unused jib halyard.

The jib sheets aren't at the bottom of the furled sail, but up on it aways. If you have a custom sock made for your sail, you may have to start a second zipper below where the sheets go back. Even if it isn't custom, it isn't unusual to have a second zipper on a sock.

Even though we have sacrificial Dacron strips on the C-18's new genoa to protect it over the weekend, Barb sewed a sunbrella sock to protect both during the week and for trailering. IIRC, the 240" zipper she got from SailRite was the longest they offer, and it just covere the C-18 furler, top to bottom, and the drum, with 6" to spare.

[Frank C]

I guess I might have misunderstood the question. I'm puzzled about the reference to single-handing, from the cockpit. I never cover the Genny while underway ... one might need to use it again, eh?

• 1. So, I always "singlehand" my furler sock, on the foredeck, never underway. I deal with the sock before launching or after retrieval (or conceivably, while at anchor).
  2. The CDI furler has internal halyard, so I use the factory jib halyard to pull the sock aloft.
  3. My furler sock, made by UK Sailmakers, is a 8" cylinder (25 inches of fabric width) from top to bottom, with a single long zipper, easily 300+ inches.
  4. The Genoa is furled while on the water, from the cockpit, including about 3 wraps of the sheets around the furled sail.
  5. After retrieving to the trailer, I unreeve the sheets from their blocks, walk them to the foredeck, and coil them securely at the sail.
  6. Finally, wrapping and zipping the sock's top hem around the sail, just above the sheets, I use the jib halyard to hoist away while holding the zipper tang, zipping the sock as it rises.
  7. Once fully hoisted, I zip the sock past the coiled sheets (enclosing them within the cylinder) and down to the bottom hem and tie-off with an embedded lace.

The UK zipper has a heavy-duty velcro wrap-strap at the top hem, securing the top of the zipper from being pulled open. There is no opening for the sheets to lead out from the sock. That's all good, since it permits the sheets to remain always protected, inside the sock.

FWIW, I've read numerous owner reports of frustration with furler socks, but mine has always been totally satisfactory. My guess is that's due to: A) ample cylinder size; B) heavy, durable sunbrella fabric; C) full-length, heavy-duty zipper, very easy to operate. The sock was only $95, a "bargain option" with the purchase of the sail ($920). However, I believe that UK sells the sock at $200 retail ... having owned it for 7 years, I'd say it's easily worth that retail price.

[K9Kampers]

MUW says:

I would like to be able to at least take it down single handed.

Yes, the head sail sock can be raised and lowered sinlehanded - meaning by yourself. I do mine after raising & before lowering the mast. Nobody has yet double-dog-dared me to do it while underway.

OR...

Singlehanded - the ability to perform any various task with one hand while holding & not spilling any various boat drink with the other hand.

[Moe]

I unreeve the sheets from their blocks, walk them to the foredeck, and coil them securely at the sail...since it permits the sheets to remain always protected, inside the sock.

That sounds like a great idea, and that's what we'll do too since we have a continuous zipper. Thanks, Frank.

The sock was only $95, a "bargain option" with the purchase of the sail ($920). However, I believe that UK sells the sock at $200 retail ... having owned it for 7 years, I'd say it's easily worth that retail price.

That was a great price. I think we paid almost $40 for the zipper. Barb had gotten a bunch of black Sunbrella on close-out so with that and the V67 thread, we have about $50 or so in it. She also made winch covers and pushpit covers with it. And since none of these matched the blue mainsail cover, she decided to make one of those in black.

[K9Kampers]

Re: coiling jib / genny sheets at the sail...

I like to "weave" NOT wrap mine around the sail. Hard to describe, hard to illustrate, easy to do. Working left / right / left ... I weave the lines in a way that each pass hooks itself on the last, securing with a square knot at the end. When I need the lines, just pulling them away from the sail simply "unweaves" them, ready for use! I may try to post a video of it later.

[MUW]

Thanks everyone! I have had a little trouble posting a longer reply.

A couple of blocks added to the top of the mast sounds like my newest project.

[MUW]

OK that worked let me try again!

Thanks for all the advise so far! Any pictures?

FYI I received my sock and it does appear to have a single zipper running up the entire length of the sock.

"weave" NOT wrap mine around the sail" Hmm tha sounds interesting but I admit I am clueless what you mean.

[James V]

MuW - I believe that K9Kampers is describing a way to 'coil' a the jib lines, not the sock. I have seen this done before but rarely. Nice trick to show off, just grab the end of the line and all comes loose. I have use this before a long time ago until it came unraveled when I did not want it.

[Zoran]

Does anybody have access to their jib sock, I need length since I am planning to make one, but my boat is stored with the rigging up at the dry dock. I need to take the mast down for the measurement. I do have sunbrella but I need to order the zipper (I need length),

Thank you,

Zoran

[K9Kampers]

Zoran- I just measured mine on the boat: 26'-4".


Here is a pic & step by step instructions of my genoa sheet weave:



1). Start by holding the line (both sheets held as one) as it comes off the cringle, in left hand.
2). Reach around the foresail with right hand, grabbing the line and drawing it around the sail in a CW direction.
3). Continuing CW, pass the line in right hand behind line in left hand.
4). Left hand takes line from right hand (now a loop), right hand then moves down the line.
5). Once started, the technique will be a fluid motion of holding a loop in one hand thru which the line in the other hand is passed, creating a new loop, alternating LEFT to RIGHT. Alternate passes will be made forward and aft of the foresail as the weaving motion alternates CW to CCW.
6). Tension on the line at all times will maintain the integrity of the weave.
7). If spaced properly, you should run out of line when you run out of room. Near the end of the line, wrap a length of each sheet end alternately around the base of the foresail & secure with a square knot.

This techinque is quicker, easier, and cleaner than wrapping the sheets in the same direction around the sail. Depending on the room inside a zippered sock, the weave takes up less space than coiling the sheets, (IMO).

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

A Mac owner in a Mast Up marina nearby made an interesting furler cover using clips (no zipper). He pulls up the canvas cover and engages the twist clips which appear to be spaced about 18" apart. It covers the furler well from sun rays. Obviously, hard blowing rain can enter the cover gaps to some extent.