Dear Friends:

Many of you with boats up to about 25 foot length over-all have asked for smaller jibsails or storm jibs for heavy winds.

The smallest regular storm jibs of about 30 sq. feet are even too large for those boats of about 20 foot length. The 30 sq. ft. jibs are about 14’3” on the luff, 10’3” on the leach and 6’ to 7’ on the foot. These heavy storm jibs are appropriate for a boat with a head stay 28” to 30” and for use off shore.

Many of the smaller boats never intend to go off shore, plan to stay on their home water, lakes, bays and such. The expectation is that the small jib would be use only of those times when a sudden squall arises and the boat merely wants to get into port. For such occasional, emergency use (and we emphasize short duration use), some people carry the jib from a much smaller boat.

The jib from a smaller boat is obviously a smaller sail; but, it should be remembered that it is also a more lightly constructed sail and the corners can be torn out if overstressed. The fabric will probably take the abuse but the construction as to corners, edges, seams, thimbles, etc. are not as heavy as on a proper storm jib built for sustained heavy wind pressures on the open seas.

If you decide that your intended jib use is of the infrequent, short duration, just-want-to-get-home type, then the jib from a smaller boat could be the least expensive way to go. Do pick the heaviest fabric possible in the size suitable for you. For size selection, we suggest a jib with edge dimension of 1/2 to 2/3 of the similar edge dimension of your regular working jib. (Example: working jib luff of 21’0, use a small jib of 10.5’ to 14’0 luff; working jib leach of 18’0, use a small jib leach of 9’0 to 12’0, etc.) We’ll be glad to answer any question you may have on selecting a storm jib for you needs.