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Pointing ability

S

sidetrack

Erik Dix
I am interested in purchasing a sailboat that is good for
cruising, and the Morgan family has caught my eye. I've heard
that a weakness in the Morgan Out Island is the lack of pointing
ability. I was wondering how much more pointing ability a Morgan
382 would have, given the different placement of the shrouds, and
the modified fin keel instead of the full keel of the Out Island.

 
Robyne. The 382,3s and 4s will point about as good as any club racer/cruiser. There ability is dependent on the state of the sea and the cut of your sails. In flat water with flat sails you can expect 30 degrees apparent or maybe better if you pinch a little. In rougher water you won't be able to do that well but should be able to do 35 degrees. At 10 to 15 degrees of heel, you can expect about 3 to 5 degrees of leeway. In 1978 when the 382 hit the water they were one of the hottest club racers around.
 
<div>Robbie,I purchased the my 382 about 2 years ago and she has supprised me. She does much better in light air than I expected. She will do about 75 to 85 degrees between tacks (wind, sea, & sail conditons dependant). The boat is no compairsion to the Out Islands. The 382,3,4s are an excellent comprimise and a real sailboat. They sail well yet have enought (well there's never enought) storage. It might help to give you some boats to compair again their wind ward performance. The 382/3/4s will point as high as the Ranger-29, Pearson-28, and within 5 degrees of the Lindenburg 26 and J-24 ( not bad company ). However, the boat is not as responsive as any of the above and sail very differently - you have to give the Morgan time to respond in her own way and time to settle into a new course. However, that's not a bad thing for a cruising sailboat - less work on you. Drop me an e-mail if you have specific questions.Fairwinds & Rum Drinks,Vic C.
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Robin: You will find that a full keel will not point with a modified fin. Trust me, I have a Charley 38, full keel, and friends with the Charley 41 (basically the same hull 3 ft longer) they point no better than I do, and I race regularly. The Out Island series is no better, and probably worse because of the sheeting angle and weight. If going to weather is important to you go with the 382's,3's or 4's.
 
Vic,
I have a M384 and have a hard time getting 90-110 degrees between tacks. For as well as the boat sails in all other configerations I have always wondered if it was me or the boat that stopped a smaller tack angle. What sail size, type are you using to achieve this? Are you using the inter or outer sheet track on the jib? Is this with a roller furling jib?
Gus
 
Gus. The shape of your head sails and being in flat water are extremely important with regard to windward ability. This is why you pay so much more for some sails. I have a 150%, 135% and a 100%. The 150% and 135% will easily do 30 degrees apparent in flat water. That equates to about 85 - 90 degrees between tacks. The 100% which I bought second hand (and was made for a Hunter 37) will barely do 110 degrees between tacks. If your in any kind of a seaway, 100 degrees between tacks is very good, provided the boat is making good speed through the water. I would talk to a sailmaker in your area that has a good reputation for building preformance sails. I'm sure if you spend some money you can get that extra 5 degrees to weather.
 
<div>Gus,Obviously the others are correct also. Pointing is dependant on sail and sea conditions. "Oconee" in 8 to 10 will hold about 75 degrees between tacks in relateively calm seas. However, she will lose a little speed to windward (between .25 & .5 knots). If I crack off to about 85 degrees she picks back up. She will hold 85 until about 15 knots and the seas pickup. As seas increase pointing decreases to 90 to 110 as stated by some of the others. I use a 130 on a roller as my primary sail and will hold it un-reefed until about 15k. Around 15 k I reef the main and at about 20k roll up a portion of the 130 (about 10%). Rolling much more than 10% the sail loses so much shape it become ineffective. I sheet the 130 to the rail and keep it about 18" off the spreaders.</div>
 
One other aspect to consider, is sheeting angle. The boat will point higher depending on where your tracks are located, either on the rail, deck, or cabin roof.
 
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