Choosing Sails for New Boat - Help!

[pacmaann2]

Hi, I am just learning how to sail, and need help choosing a new headsail for my 34 columbia mk2. Unfortunately someone stole the headsail off the boat before I bought it, and now I need to find a new one for relatively cheap. I have been looking at secondwind sails and some sail makers and came up with a few general specs

Columbia 34 Mk II (full keel) 1970 1975 352 168 loa 33’7" lwl 27’4"


beam 10’0" draft 5’6" displacement 12000 ballast 4700 i 42 j 13.8 p 36.3 e 13

This is the recommended sail from one sail maker.
Luff 35.37*ft (10780mm) Foot 18.36*ft (5596mm) Leech 30.58*ft (9320mm) Perc LP 115.00* Length Perp 15.87*ft (4837mm) Deck Angle 11.99* Area 280.67*ft2 (26075mm2)

So I started looking for sails with these general specs and wanted to see what other people would recommend from this sailsearch.
Sail Search Results
As a general guide how much can I deviate from the 280 sq ft number?
Also would a bigger sail give me more speed? Is there any posts that can help me understand everything as far as choosing a sail?

[Cheechako]

the recommended sail is about a 130% genoa? What matters probably the most is where you will be sailing and probably when. If you are sailing the Chesapeake in summers only, you will want a pretty big sail so probably 120% to 150% genoa. If you are doing fall winter sailing you may have to go down only.... and as low as 110%. It's very much about the weather where and when you will be sailing. Keeping the luff within a couple of feet of spec is best for performance

[imagine2frolic]

Many times a local loft will have used sails for sale, or something they can cut down for you. Then you can always google used sails for sale, and start your search......i2f

[pacmaann2]

G1445-1B jib 40'2" 35'5" 16'2" 14'3" VERY GOOD $475 NORTH, dacron, 4.5 oz., cross cut, double stitching, luff wire, leech line, foot line, reef point 12'8", 286 sq. ft
this one seems like it is about right for me what does anyone else think
also I am going to be sailing Florida/Bahamas and some of the Caribbean islands

[Cheechako]

If i have it right the luff looks to be about 5 ft too long...? Also, is 4.5 oz a little light for your only headsail? maybe not on a 35....Maybe someone else can chime in here. It sounds like a good sail, wire luff, reef point... probably an old one...Once you decide, definitely try offering half.... The reef point might be handy with one sail, but it will also effect your "normal" sailing performance...There's a sailplan shown on the link you provided. If I were you I would lean toward the smaller Lapper shown on the plan, or somewhere in between that and the larger one shown.... I cant see the numbers ...

[pacmaann2]

as I am reading more now it looks like the luff is usually 80-90% of the i so that 40.2 might be alittle large

[pacmaann2]

ID Tag Type Luff Leech Foot LP Condition Price
G2202-4C jib 35'6" 30'2" 16'8" 13'9" GOOD $575 dacron, 8 oz., cross cut, triple stitching, covered rope luff, leech line, jackline, some hardware corrosion, #2 hanks, reef point 6'0", 244 sq. ft.

Would this be a better choice based upon your recommendations?