Bolt rope to loose footed main?

[marke14]

I am considering a new set of sails for our boat, and I was at our local (Costa Mesa, CA) Doyle loft where I was quoted on both a new genoa and main.

I mentioned that my main had a rope bolt along the foot, which slides in a groove along the boom. It does not slide well I should add, and my outhaul situation has no mechanical purchase so it's a "heave it and cleat it" kind of deal.

Anyway I mentioned that the foot was not loose and the younger fellow who was quoting me (strictly ballpark based on the measurements) told me that they generally recommended a loose footed main, but didn't elaborate.

Is it advisable to convert to the loose footed main, for a 25 foot daysailer?

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

I have a loose footed main on my Beneteau 393 and no problems with performance or reliability. The outhaul is an important control line that affects draft and you should be able to use it easily and readily.

 

[thinwater]

Yup, I've had both.

If the slide is not working well, ditch it and use a clew strap (Google it). Much easier to adjust and to remove the sail. In fact, I would ditch it even if it were working well.

 

[Spindrift NH]

The Doyle sail cover called a "Cradle Cover" requires a loose footed sail, perhaps they are anticipating that you'll be purchasing a sail cover for that new sail?

 

[cb32863]

My 235 has a loose footed main and a Velcro clew strap. Go loose footed, much better sail shape. Just cause you have a "25 foot day sailor" doesn't mean you shouldn't have the best you can.

 

[Charlie98117]

My sail maker made the same recommendation for a loose foot and said he has a standing offer to change to a footed sail if anyone was unhappy but he's never had any takers. I like the loose footed configuration, it really does help the shape I believe.

 

[Joe]

Either loose foot or "shelf foot" is the way to go. The shelf is an additional panel of lighter weight sailcloth sewn into the foot that allows it to open out from the boom, just like the loose foot does. The panel folds into itself when the outhaul is tensioned...enabling for a consistent draft depth change. Sailmakers will charge extra for the shelf... it is more commonly seen on larger vessels. The shelf does not carry any of the sail's load.

 

[Brian S]

The argument for a loose foot is that it is MUCH easier to see how much draft you have in the sail, and to a small extent, the position of the draft. I can hardly see a difference in my bolt rope footed main with outhaul on or off. On my old 15 footer, I went from bolt rope to loose foot. When I get a new main for the O'day, it will be loose. I can't think of a drawback to it. For extreme racing boats, it's funny they will still make a loose footed main, but often with that shelf like Joe describes. The purpose is to lessen end plate loss of drive as air spills from one side to the other. In effect, this will have a similar function to that of winglets on the tips of airplane wings. As you describe a "25 foot daysailer" I don't think you'd need the shelf, but having the benefits of a loose foot would serve you well from a sail trim standpoint. And if you seldom mess with your outhaul tension, it's probably time to start. Get this book! http://shop.sailboatowners.com/prod.php?51998/

 

[Brian S]

Also, without a bolt rope, you don't have to worry about the bolt rope shrinking...

 

[markwbird]

Go loose foot. Better sail shape.

 

[Jackdaw]

For extreme racing boats, it's funny they will still make a loose footed main, but often with that shelf like Joe describes. The purpose is to lessen end plate loss of drive as air spills from one side to the other. In effect, this will have a similar function to that of winglets on the tips of airplane wings.

I can't remember the last time I saw a shelfed mainsail on a serous racing boat. They went loose footed years ago. Plate effect is indeed a real thing, but it only works on the headsail. Any gap between the end and the plate has to be less than 1-2% of the length of the sail/wing/etc for it to work. So no benefit on the main at all; the deck/cabintop is too far away.

 

[marke14]

Thank you all for the comments - much appreciated! I am always astounded at how little I know about sailing and sailboats.

A clew strap - I will be experimenting with this soon, thank you very much for that tip!

I agree, I need to get my outhaul situation fixed. I think with a loose foot, I'd be able to change the tension MUCH easier, even without mechanical leverage.

I went through my pictures and found a few to show what I've got going on with my boom. I guess I do have a 2:1 purchase with a block inside the boom (which has a tendency to get fouled).
Looking at that picture, I should at least run the outhaul rope over the larger of the two blocks, to make it easier to tension.

Looking from the end of the boom:

From the other end; the new line is my as-yet unused reefing line:

A closer look at where the outhaul exits the boom - it is secured to a small cleat on the underside of the boom, which can just be seen above.

 

[SOCAL C50]

I converted my main to a loose footed sail and I swear I have better performance, I was told to remove the boltrope but I left it on and just added a slide to the outhaul end of the sail.

 

[Ken13559]

Socal, my clew outhaul slides on the boom slot. So if i dont thread my mains bolt rope in the slot but connect the tack to goose neck and clew to outhaul, I've a loose foot mains. Right?
Would that work?

 

[SOCAL C50]

Socal, my clew outhaul slides on the boom slot. So if i dont thread my mains bolt rope in the slot but connect the tack to goose neck and clew to outhaul, I've a loose foot mains. Right?
Would that work?

Yes that is correct, you still attache the tack and clew. It is recommended that the sail be modified (removing the boltrope)

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE=".......I've a loose foot mains. Right? [/QUOTE]

My B323 came loose-footed and with a "lazy bag" as they called it. For a few reasons, I converted to a regular sail cover with turnbuttons under the boom. It didn't work out all that well, because the sail had only tack and clew to hold it to the boom. With sail ties, you need to figure-8 them so the sail stays (somewhat) on top of the boom. A plus, though, is to remove the sail I unbutton it from below the boom, rebutton above the boom, and I can slide it off like a big sausage. I'm in the planning stage to make a sail cover that is half lazy bag and half regular sail cover.

 

[SOCAL C50]

[QUOTE=".......I've a loose foot mains. Right?

My B323 came loose-footed and with a "lazy bag" as they called it. For a few reasons, I converted to a regular sail cover with turnbuttons under the boom. It didn't work out all that well, because the sail had only tack and clew to hold it to the boom. With sail ties, you need to figure-8 them so the sail stays (somewhat) on top of the boom. A plus, though, is to remove the sail I unbutton it from below the boom, rebutton above the boom, and I can slide it off like a big sausage. I'm in the planning stage to make a sail cover that is half lazy bag and half regular sail cover.[/QUOTE]
I forgot mention that I have lazyjacks, that make all the difference in the world.

 

[marke14]

For a few reasons, I converted to a regular sail cover with turnbuttons under the boom. It didn't work out all that well, because the sail had only tack and clew to hold it to the boom.

This is an excellent consideration that I had not thought of (we have this type of sailcover and leave the sail rigged on the boat).

I should get some lazy jacks ... we had them in our training boats and it was so nice.

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE="....I should get some lazy jacks ... we had them in our training boats and it was so nice.[/QUOTE]

I DO hjave the lazy jacks from the OEM bag. I adapted them to use with the 2nd sail cover. The 'jacks still work to drop the sail, but, still, the sail will just slide off the boom.

 

[SOCAL C50]

I don't have a problem as the jacks keep the sail on the boom, I'll flake the sail while in the jacks and tie it off, my boom is only 2.5" wide. After the sail is tied off I'll loosen the jacks to be able to put the sail cover on.