Stuck tell-tales

[Hayden Watson]

My new genoa came with wool yarn tell-tales installed but they all stick to the sail. In my first sail, with wind up to 7-knts, they do not move at all. I was able to reach several of the ones at the lowest position and they would go right back to the same spot like they were spring loaded. Anybody have any tips on what can be done to make them work? In the past I have used the tape type instead of the yard type. If I decide to replace them, any suggestions on how to remove the stick-on disks?

 

[thinwater]

Try spraying them with Sailkote.

The disks should come off easily with xylene.

That said, there is nothing wrong with yarn tell tales. They should be wool, since other materials can stick. They are less prone to sticking in wet weather than ribbon and last longer.

 

[Marmalade]

Try wiping each yarn with a dryer sheet... seems to help.

 

[jssailem]

Dryer sheet should eliminate the static, if that is the cause.

Suspect Sailkote will make it all slippery.

Not sure what is causing the yarn to be returning to a fixed position.

 

[PaulK]

Not sure what is causing the yarn to be returning to a fixed position.

Excellent trimming?

 

[Hayden Watson]

Excellent trimming?

I don't think so. At the mid-height location, there are three yarns on each side. Here is a photo of my Tell-NO-Tales. I can turn the boat 15º in either direction and they do not change from these locations.

 

[JBP-PA]

Excellent trimming?

On my boat it is of course due to excellent trimming, but on someone else's boat that, um, isn't mine, really, it's that the telltales are old and fuzzy. The tiny little fibers get hung up on my aging sail (oops, not mine).

 

[stickinthemud57]

Similar problem. I recently switched over to a Rolly Tasker Lite Skin jib. The material RT uses for tell tales curls up like little pig tails, so I immediately replaced them with nylon ones from Davis instruments. Except at the tell tale windows, these stuck to the sail in light to moderate breezes, so I thought I would try yarn ones. Even worse.

I might try Sailkote on them before I go back to the nylon ones.

 

[Hollyberry]

If any sail stitching (incuding telltale windows) is 'within reach' of the tell tale they will often hangup on that...

 

[stickinthemud57]

If any sail stitching (incuding telltale windows) is 'within reach' of the tell tale they will often hangup on that...

Good point. I have plenty of self-adhesive dacron fabric. I might try covering any offending stichery.

Or I might resituate the offending telltales...

 

[All U Get]

I sprayed water with a super soaker once on the lowest telltales, but once I furled the sail I forgot about the static cling. I blame it all on St. Elmo or one of the other muppets.

 

[stickinthemud57]

I sprayed water with a super soaker once on the lowest telltales, but once I furled the sail I forgot about the static cling. I blame it all on St. Elmo or one of the other muppets.

I think I will refrain from employing your solution, fun as it sound. The people at my marina already think I am eccentric enough.