Rigging Conversion?

[Barbus McQue]

I have a Starwind 19 I’ve been working on, and I’m at a point where i have to decide how to configure the rigging.*

The previous owner clearly had it configured to have a furling headsail (turnbuckle at the top of the mast, thick diameter forestay, luff tape in headsails, etc..).*

I already have to replace all 4 of my shrouds as they are in horrendous shape, though the forestay and backstay seem to be fine.*

If I choose to convert it to a trailer sailor, id have to add hanks to my headsails; which luckily a friend of mine repairs and works on sails already. I’d also probably have to completely replace the forestay or at least reconfigure it to have the turnbuckle at the bottom where its more accessible, as well as some sort of quick release mechanism for easy trailerable rigging. I’d also need to trade in my sedan for a better towing vehicle.*

Or if I keep its current configuration, I’d need to buy a furler as it wasn’t included with the boat. I’d also have to pay for a mooring naturally as this setup would make for a miserable inconvenient time trailering in and out. In my area a mooring is about $200 a month. I’d also need to get a dinghy.

*I’m unsure which route to take. Any wisdom you could share would be greatly appreciated.*

[Spot]

Welcome to the forum.

Trailer sailors can have roller furlers, the two do not preclude each other as to force all furler-rigged boats to only be in slips or on moorings. Granted, a loaded forestay with jib and furler drum and lines is not the same (as easy) as being able to just leave a plain forestay loose on deck while towing.

I've been sailing on a small boat that is roller furled and was trailered a couple hundred miles to the event. The skipper was a gifted sailor.

If your jib is small enough to pass by the mast without hitting it, you could consider rigging it to be self-tacking. The biggest improvement for me was adding a Highfield type quick-release lever to my forestay to make it easier to rig.

[Barbus McQue]

Originally Posted by Spot

The biggest improvement for me was adding a Highfield type quick-release lever to my forestay to make it easier to rig.

Thanks for the response! With a quick release lever like that, do you still need to re-tension the forestay every time? Or does the mechanism tension it to a preset amount for you?

[Spot]

The quick-release replaced a turnbuckle that broke previously and has a set of holes that provide basic tension adjustment, with one hole being just about what I had with the turnbuckle. I should probably check it with a Loos gauge and see what it really is as I am not the best judge of too loose/too tight.