Plum Crazy 3280 needs a better mainsail. Currently the set up is a hog stepped aluminium mast and boom with quadrant levers for shroud adjustment and a muscle box for fore stay (jib) tension.
Can I fit 2nd hand 2009 style sails ? Finances do not permit new sails or a conversion to deck stepped single string and carbon spars.

Any thoughts most welcome.

Matt Baker

Matt I did this last year on a much older boat than yours and it now sails better, faster and points better than ever, only thing is new style sails are shorter in the luff and longer in the foot than the older ones.
You need to check that your boom is long enough new sails are 2503 in the foot. You will need to shorten the mast or put up with the sail not going to the top, but as sails seem to be all different sizes around that time you will need to check yours. Matt Biggs has some cheap 2010 sails on the for sale list I have seen these they are good. Hope this helps.

Matt,

We did that a couple of yeas' ago with 3387 (NSM 2). Povided the luff and foot measurements match up you shouldn't have many problems.

Remember that the newer sails are loose footed - just needs a slight adjustment to the clew outhaul - add in a velco strap to hold the clew to the boom.

You'll possibly need to tweak the top batten - the current  carbon fibre mast is a little more flexible than the aluminium ones - I've needed a slightly shorter & more flexible one (3387 has the aluminium mast stepped at the top of the centreboard level).
I also need to use a fair bit of rig tension - no problem if you have the low bow tank & bulkhead.

The Spinnaker will need adjustements (possibly just the pole height and lengths of pole uphaul/tweaker).

Oh yes - and a new set of numbers...

Colin (3387)

While sails cut for your rig are obviously preferable, good sails for a carbon rig will be better than a suit of 1987 sails that have been used most weekends!

In addition to the advice above you will almost certainly need to tweak the spreaders back a bit.

Thanks for the tips people.

After 2 rough days of sailing in Weymouth bay I have ripped up 2 out of 3 main sails so the hunt is on for any reasonable sail.

Not to worry it was great fun right up until I lost a buoyancy bag and had to be towed back in :+(

Thanks again
Matt B

Try the 2nd hand boats list as there are many boats advertised with 2 or even 3 sets of sails that could be sold separately.
eg 3263 has 2 sets of sails for only £400 including the boat
(I'm not suggesting these boats are bought for their parts as this is not in the spirit of the class but where spare sails can keep another boat going this has to be worth looking at).