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Author
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Topic: Mainsail
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Patrick Crooks
Member
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posted July 18, 2005 12:36 PM
   
While Shawna & I were out on the weekend I noticed that the mainsail was ballooning on all points of sail except while close hauled. Is this normal?My local sailmaker told me earlier this year that the sail was not stretched. I tried pulling on my outhaul which is the same as 2short's (Thanx for the idea) as well as attemping to lift the main higher and tighting up the boom vang, but none worked. This is the first boat I've had with the mainsheet at the and of the boom, is this something that happens with this style? I've noticed that my main does not have an extra cringle to be used as a downhaul. Should I put one on or should I pull down on the boom instead? Do you think that would help? And lastly I'm using Yacht Braid for my Halyards should I change to something else? Thanx in Advance. Patrick IP: 205.200.66.40 |
2short S565
Member
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posted July 19, 2005 09:02 AM
Are you loosening your topping lift? Thats the line that supports the tail end of the boom when the sail is down. If you are not loosening it off after the sail is up,then it will prevent the leach of the sail from being tightened and the sail will be baggy. When close hauled the mainsheet will have more pull and might possibly be stretching the topping lift enough to pull the sail tighter.
Bin there done that.If the luff of the sail is not being streched tight it may be because the boom is too high. You should be able to pull the sail up and pull the luff tight with the haylyard.
If not, loosen the halyard,then pull the boom down and tighten and then tighten halyard back up. The stock halyard is a combination of cable and rope to minimize stretch. Fred IP: 205.207.185.116 |
Richard
Member
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posted July 19, 2005 10:36 AM
Do you have slugs installed?
Since having slugs installed, I have found it necessary to push down on the boom to get enough halyard tension, just pulling tight on the halyard doesn't seem to be enough.
The halyard is not led back to the cockpit, I think if it was, I would be able to pull at a better angle to get enough tension.[This message has been edited by Richard (edited July 19, 2005).] IP: 207.200.159.187 |
Roger
Member
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posted July 20, 2005 12:38 AM
Try 'sweating up' the halyard. That is a technique where you snug it up as best you can, then take a half turn around a cleat horn. While still hauling back on the halyard, grab the halyard with your other hand at about eye level on your mast and pull the halyard towards you, (like you would an archers bow). As you let it back towards the mast slowly, take up the slack with your cleat hand. Do this a couple of times taking up the slack at the cleat each time. This is a physics trick. You can get twice the power by pulling back as you can pulling down. IP: 216.55.192.5 | |
