Forgot password

Going Loose-Footed with the Main

<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 
  • May 16, 2012 9:06 AM
    Quote
    Message # 922212
    Deleted user

    Is there much more to going loose footed than taking off the sail slides?

    The tack and clew must take more wear and tear - does the hardware on either end of the boom need to be beefed up?

    And for those that have gone loose-footed - what do you think? Has anyone switched back?

    Thanks for any suggestions or info,

    Stephen

    Last modified: May 17, 2012 4:00 PM | Deleted user
  • May 17, 2012 6:13 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 923198 on 922212
    Anonymous member
    By including 'sail slides' in your question I presume you mean a loose footed staysail?

    I removed the staysail boom as a safety measure. As a singlehander I really didn't want to take a chance of an accidental staysail jibe if I was on the foredeck.

    Unfortunately I've never been able to attain a decent sail shape since. Maybe a new cut of sail would help but without the boom the foot is too loose causing the sail to 'bellow' out and lose effectiveness.  I've tried different ways of rigging the running rigging thru both the cabin top & caprail tracks but I just cannot find a way to 'trim' the sail properly.

    I would love to hear if someone has successfully rigged a loose footed staysail that is functional.
  • May 17, 2012 7:04 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 923245 on 922212
    Deleted user
    I'm talking about the main. My stays'l is standard issue loose-footed w/boom, which so far I have no problem with.

    I don't have a problem with my main either, just thought I'd give it a try.

    My local UK Halsey sailmaker (who is in the process of trimming my gennaker) says it'll be fine, although she could improve performance with some tweaking. 
  • May 17, 2012 8:00 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 923287 on 922212
    Deleted user
    Talk to Kern about this issue.
  • May 17, 2012 8:57 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 923328 on 922212
    Anonymous
    Mike, I have a staysail with no boom that is no problem to trim. It was built by Kern as a boom-less staysail. From talking to others I know that the sail is cut differently than a sail built for the boom. 
    Last modified: May 17, 2012 9:08 AM | Anonymous
  • May 17, 2012 6:10 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 923741 on 922212
    Deleted user

    Mike.......

    The main on TAMZIN is loose footed and although I'm no expert by any means on sail trim it doesn't seem to effect the overall shape of the sail at all.  I'm not sure if the sail was orginally cut as 'loose footed' or if the p/o just took the slides off.  One advantage is that with a loose footed main you can then use a 'stack-pack' sail cover which I do find very effecient and wonderfully easy.  the best advice you've had so far is 'talk to Kern'.
  • May 18, 2012 5:30 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 924166 on 923328
    Anonymous member
    Gary Burton wrote:Mike, I have a staysail with no boom that is no problem to trim. It was built by Kern as a boom-less staysail. From talking to others I know that the sail is cut differently than a sail built for the boom. 


    That's good to know since I basically quit flying my staysail (except for looks :).

    I wish I knew how to recut my existing staysail (or even if I could successfully) since I left my boom back in the states.
  • May 18, 2012 9:00 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 924340 on 922212
    Anonymous member
    You can use a stackpack with a main with slides on the foot-you just have to take the foot out of the boom to install the stackpack, and then with the slugs through the pack slide the whole thing back on the boom.
  • May 18, 2012 9:00 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 924341 on 922212
    Deleted user

    so...back to the original question:

    Is there much more to going (to a ) loose footed (MAIN sail) than taking off the sail slides?

    The tack and clew must take more wear and tear - does the hardware on either end of the boom need to be beefed up?
  • May 18, 2012 10:16 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 924395 on 922212
    Deleted user
    I went loose-footed on my last boat, a Cape Dory 25. I found the primary benefit was in light wind performance--being able to ease the outhaul to produce more belly. There will be more stress on the clew in particular, so it should be well reinforced, and there should be a boltrope along the length of the foot. A substantial metal slide at the clew will help keep things under control. You don't want the clew getting away from you when it pipes up.
<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software