Carrying a spare mainsail

[smj]

How many people carry a spare or old mainsail on their boat as a just in case scenario. And if you carry a spare mainsail what kind of sailing do you do, full time live aboard, blue water, weekend etc. Thanks, inquiring minds want to know!

[zboss]

We do not but we do carry all the necessary materials to fix a mainsail temporarily. Thread, some extra cloth, tape, and so forth.

[sailorboy1]

I don’t have a spare sail. I have better use for the boat space than an unused sail. Hell sometimes I start questioning the space the spinnaker takes up.

Full time cruiser

[daletournier]

I just replaced mainsail and gave the old one away. I don't want to lug it around.

If it completely destroyed itself I still have the jib which will get me somewhere easy enough, plus the code zero and old genoa and asymmetrical.

More than I need.

Full time cruiser.

[wyb2]

We have an old main as it came with the boat. Been cruising and living aboard for just under a year. Only time it's seen the light of day was when we pulled it out for inspection while getting the genoa repaired. Previous owner was a weekend sailor and told us it was an old genoa, so that gives you an idea how many times he used it in 8 years.

If we totally destroyed the main we might be glad we had it, but I probably wouldn't attempt to change it out in rough weather, so we would be sailing on with just the genoa for a while regardless.

Would much rather have a working or storm jib, or anything that could get used once in a while.

[Sojourner]

Got the old main, old genoa, old mizzen ballooner, old Amel ballooner. This despite new sails and a parasailor They came with the boat and eventually I'm going far away, so I really have a hard time chucking them...

[alctel]

I got a new main/gen last year and keep the old ones under the V berth. Figured nice to have a spare.

They DO take up a load of space tho so I am thinking about selling them

[puffcard]

Have no backup main, 37ft'er, we sail 7-8 months a year. Space to valuable, plus could have my spare shipped to me if I couldn't repair the current one. Sails are in pretty pretty solid condition.

[toddster8]

No, the old main is rotting in the woodshed. Thought I'd cut it up for canvas projects, but it's all stained... Um, I mean, "has excess character."
For a "spare" main, I have the trysail, which doesn't take up much room in the locker. And a repair kit.
The trick is to put the trysail up before you damage the main. :roll eyes: Yeah, like someone gave me driving directions the other day... "take the second-to-last exit..."

[Pete7]

Good question and it reminds me I must get the old main out of the loft and on e bay soon even if it only generates £50 it will help pay for something else and help someone else to.

So to answer your question, no we don't carry a spare main, but even with a newish Genoa we do carry a spare smaller jib just in case. With a masthead rig we can sail quite well on the Genoa or jib alone.

Pete

[OldManMirage]

Originally Posted by toddster8

No, the old main is rotting in the woodshed. Thought I'd cut it up for canvas projects, but it's all stained... Um, I mean, "has excess character."
For a "spare" main, I have the trysail, which doesn't take up much room in the locker. And a repair kit.
The trick is to put the trysail up before you damage the main. :roll eyes: Yeah, like someone gave me driving directions the other day... "take the second-to-last exit..."

Lol. Reminds me of what an Uncle told me about how to use 4-wheel drive. He said you keep it in 2-wheel drive until you get stuck, THEN you put it in 4-wheel drive and BACK UP !

I plan to get a Crisp New Main and a set of Jibs in a few years for when I go cruise full time. Until then it's the old stuff - and it won't come with me when I go hither and yon. Not enough room !

Question- has there been a thread discussing roller-furling vs. hank-on ? I couldn't find one.

[toddster8]

Originally Posted by OldManMirage

Lol. Reminds me of what an Uncle told me about how to use 4-wheel drive. He said you keep it in 2-wheel drive until you get stuck, THEN you put it in 4-wheel drive and BACK UP !

I plan to get a Crisp New Main and a set of Jibs in a few years for when I go cruise full time. Until then it's the old stuff - and it won't come with me when I go hither and yon. Not enough room !

Question- has there been a thread discussing roller-furling vs. hank-on ? I couldn't find one.

My old main is so old, it has one of those 70's zippers to open up the belly. There must be some neat project I could do with that part. The part with the emblem and sail number might make a good shower curtain...

[Kalinka1]

Hmm. seems I might be in the minority. I do carry a second main that is about 2/3 the size of the regular main. Regular main is a piece of crap. (won't go into that here) But OK in lightish Air. Use the smaller 40 yr old bullet proof sail in the shoulder seasons and when Offshore.Also carry a 150% Genoa, storm jib and chute. All will fit in my sail locker with room left over 35 ftr. Have changed them out while underway. My normal everyday head sail is a 130% with it and the small main the boat will just about sail all day by itself.

[TrentePieds]

Quote: "Question- has there been a thread discussing roller-furling vs. hank-on ? I couldn't find one.


Probably warrants a separate thread. Why don't you start one if you can't find one? :-)

TP

[Maka]

I have a spare Main, 2 spare head sails of different sizes for the roller furler and a spare Mizzen
Would love to carry them all but don't have room for any of them.
If one blows out I hope to get one of my spares shipped to me.