I purchased hull #11 (N22) last fall and have been working on refurbishing the boat (it had some “deferred” maintenance). One area to address soon is the sail. The boat came with sail #8 (the previous owner got it from another N22 owner that was replacing it. As you can imagine, the sail is past it prime (although still looks pretty good considering its age.
Any recommendations on the best replacement for recreational boating on the Great Lakes around Michigan? Is there a known, reliable sail maker that has done a N22 and has the proper sail plans?
Mike,
The halyard tension looks okay. I can’t tell from the photo how much choker tension you have on. If that is max choker than the sail has stretched too much. If it is not all the way back try flattening the sail until about 2 or 3 feet of sail are touching the boom and then take another photo. That should let us see how far back the draft on the sail has shifted. Everyone has their own view on where the maximum draft should be but probably between 30 and 40%.
Is the clew of the sail held on by a shackle or lashings? If lashing is used and is too long it will allow the boom to come back and hit the mast before the sail is fully flattened.
Again heard to tell from the photo but as you say the sail cloth and stitching look to be in good shape.
Your windex suggests you were pinching a bit when the photo was taken (not a criticism, rather an observation) and that may be causing a bit of luffing that is also effecting the shape in the photo.
New sails always work better so don’t let me put you off a purchase, however if you would like to delay the expense, crank up the halyard and the choker tension, trim to close haul and then fall off a bit. At that point take the photo of the sail. If at all possible have the photo taken by someone in a dinghy or on another boat as well as from the cockpit. A photo of the tack would help as well.
Mark,
Thanks for the reply. The boat is still “on the hard” (I got a little behind on refurbishing it due to a broken collar bone - skiing issue). I am replacing the companion way hatch, teak deck grip rails and re-coring one of the seats but it should be in the water in mid to late June. I will get some better pictures of the sail then. FYI, the clew is held with a lashing but I do not think it is too long. Thanks for the feedback (even with such a cropped picture!)
Attached are some pictures of the updates I am working on (the sail is one of many concerns).
Hope the collar bone has healed well.
The sheer stripe looks good. Have you repainted that? The grab rail on the deck also looks like a job well done. Did auto correct substitute grip for drip in your message?
Just remember it is a pleasure craft, not a work boat. Get out sailing soon.
Ernie Abugov here - I sail N22 O/B “Moustaches”, out of Toronto.
I bought my boat in 2012 with a North Laminated sail, that had been on the boat since 1999. It was ugly and mildewed and had more than a few race miles on it. Two years ago, I replaced it with a new sail from Mack Sails in Stuart, Florida. In hindsight, I have nothing but pure praise for this firm. The new sail is gorgeous and the boat goes faster, the price was the best, the sail was made in the loft in Stuart (not halfway around the world) and the service, flexibility and the assistance of Travis Blaine, from Mack, was, as they say, priceless.
You’ll note that most of us sign with our names, boat type and hull #, boat name and, most important, location. That is helpful to those of us in answering some of these questions that come up.
Are you in the USA or Canada ?? And, are you a member of INA ?? If not, I hope you join and that way guys like me can email you directly without concerns regarding security, trolling, etc.
I do have a few specific suggestions but I’d prefer to email you on these as they concern sales tax issues, etc.
It only counts as two hobbies if you get out sailing. In most of the continent there are two seasons. A long boat maintenance season and a shorter sailing season.
I do like working on the boat, especially if it goes well but I don’t want to miss the sailing season. On a nice day at anchor I will pull out the sand paper and varnish to give the bright work a bit of attention. Makes for a very satisfying day if the effort is followed by a good ale.
As for the two hobbies for the price of one, I can only say you must get good discounts on your boat bits.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C. the land where the boating and maintenance seasons have a long overlap.
Working on boats is like most projects - it can be a love / hate relationship depending on the day and what else “snaps” during the last “fix”.
Thanks for the tip on the signature, I will add #11 “Moondance” Harbor Springs MI to mine. I actually live in Ohio but the boat is in Harbor Springs (Lake Michigan). Great for sailing, poor decision for working on it! Yes, I am an INA member.
Thanks also for the lead on a good sail maker. Were you happy with the reefing eyelet location, slides, batten locations etc?
Welcome to the group. We keep or 30U in Suttons Bay, MI, on the west side of the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay so we are practically neighbors. There are at least five Nonsuches scattered around Grand Traverse Bay and there have always been quite a few up your way too. I helped a friend bring his 29’ Tiara down from Wallstrom’s in Harbor Springs last Sunday. Saw just one Nonsuch up there that day. Think it was a 26 or 30 though. Have a good season on your new vessel.
Ha! Just read this (catching up on a year of slacking off). I’m the guy with NS 22 hull #8 that gave away my (your) sail to Moondance’s previous owner.
Mine was ably replaced by Doyle Sails in the Saint Clair Shores area. Contact info is: Al Declerq, 586.404.5120; address is 24227 Sorrentino Court, Clinton Township, MI.
I had mine constructed with the Tides System. Makes for really easy hoisting and dropping of sail. Al came to boat for measurements, etc. but I’m a lot closer (Monroe, MI).
Feel free to contact me if you’d like further info.
John
In your original sail photo, it looks like your topping lift is tight and it’s, just possibly, holding up the aft end of the boom, contibuting to a problem with the sail shape, eyc.
In almost all cases, the topping lift should be slack and the sail itself should be supporting the boom.
