Brian,

I got a new 135 made by Quantum Sails in Traverse City, Mi. This sail is a substantial improvement over my old stretched 150. It draws so much better, is cut a little higher so I can see better and is a little easier to roll up. I ordered the sail in November and got a good off season discount. I believe that in recent years Catalina is shipping all of its new boats with 135s. I think it was the correct decision.

Brian,
I agree with Richard. A 155 is great for racers, but for us mere mortals, a 135 or 140 seems like a better size. I downsized from a 150 to a 140 on Juniper and am very happy with it. You might want to check with Chic Lasser. I bought a new RF main from him over the winter (actually him and Mack Sails) and it is a beautiful, well built sail at a very reasonable price. Given a choice I'd go with the radial panels, but let Chic give you his thoughts. Hope this helps.

Brian,

If you do not have a use for your old 155 we out in on San Francisco Bay could use it. We would never hoist it, we would just use it as movable ballast bellow whilst being over powered with our 110's in the summer.

If I were in an area with light enough winds to have a 155, I too would likely get a 135 as a working sail and supliment it with a cruising spinnaker that will allow you to point quite high yet still stay inflated in very little wind. I understand your issue of aging, keep in mind with sails as other things it does not make any difference how big it is if you can not keep it up and driving.

We downsized to a 135 from an older 150 this year and it has been a great improvement. So far, other than dead downwind in light puffs of air there's no speed loss at all and the ease of handling, improved pointing and ability to delay reefing has been a big benefit.

I actually have been considering the same thing recently. I pulled out the 135 from the forward storage last weekend. It looks brand new. PO must have replaced it as soon as he took delivery. The 155 that is set up now is very old and blown out. Thanks for bringing this up. My mind has just been made up. I will change it out this weekend.

"lori Lee"
How did you make out going from your 150, down to your 135? Is there a different in pointing? What about speed?

I know there are all these measurements that determine the actual dimensions, but if I wanted just to unfurl the sail on a quiet day in the dock, how far back would a 150 vs a 135 reach on deck? I think mine's a 150, and the genoa is a "tall" sail (goes very near the top of the mast, a dockmate has a sail that stops well over a foot down from the top).

Dan
S/V Tao, 1983 #114

Dan, there is only one measurement. It's called LP for "luff perpendicular." It's the dimension to the clew perpendicular (90 degrees) from the luff. Who said high school math wasn't useful? :)

If you need more, any good sailmaker's website will fill you in.

I've come to believe a C36 even here on the Chesapeake would be better served with a smaller, high tech head sail around 110-120 than it would with a Dacron 135 or 150. I don't think a cruising laminate wouldn't give up much in light air compared to a dacron sail and would result in a much better balanced boat when the wind approaches 18-20 knots.

I'm keeping my eye out for a used laminate in that size range to test my theory.

I have had my best results racing with a 140, we have had it up in 30knts with a reefed main. At that level it puts you in survival mode.It only becomes a disadvantage in winds less than 8

[QUOTE=GloryDaze;15205]I have had my best results racing with a 140, we have had it up in 30knts with a reefed main. At that level it puts you in survival mode.It only becomes a disadvantage in winds less than 8[/QUOTE]

I'm guessing you were racing with a full crew providing rail meat.

I replaced our 150 wth a 135 and even with that the boat becomes a handful when the winds approach 20 knots, but we are cruisers, usually sailing double handed. With crew on the rail, we can carry full sail with a bit more wind but with sustained winds much over 20 we put a reef in the main and if we don't have crew will roll in some of the headsail as well.

Yes, she goes upwind really well with 900lbs on the rail

Any one had experience with Mack sails? My 135 is toast and I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a new one. Dont want any of the Chinese made sails......

I also agree , a 135 is a much better choice for the 36...

Hate to tell you; but many of the "big name" sailmakers; (including some North sails, Doyle, UK, etc.) have their cruising and some racing sails sewn in China now... it's not where they're put together when it comes to sails, it's whether good CAD design, and what type of materials (including thread, grommets, etc.) that they are made of...
Mack is a reasonably good lower-to mid-tier sail IMHO. I'd definitely go with radial panels.

Yeah, I have a friend who runs the local North loft in Annapolis and he told me the same, he said the only way he could get me a sail at a decent price (still higher then Mack) is if it came from the big Chinese loft everyone uses...The mack guy told me they use the highest quality commercially available dacron (6.77 Marbelhead dacron, mitre cut) made in the US and you never know what the chinese loft uses and that much of the sailcloth is now made in China.... decisions, decisions....

I bought a RF main last year from Mack, and it's a beautiful sail. Well made, and a gorgeous shape. You might want to contact C36 owner (and former Commodore) Chic Lasser. He's a Mack rep and can probably get you a very attractive price.

Does anyone have Chic Lasser,s contact info?