We are looking at the bow pulpit where the lifelines attach. When flying the genny there is a great deal of contact at this point between the sail and the hardware. Has anyone done anything about this? We are thinking about having the bow pulpit cut down and adding to the lifelines has anyone contemplated this? Or done something else? It will take a lot of chafe guard to fix this problem and I'm told by others that it (chafe guard) goes fast when on extended passage. Thanks Scott
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re-cut sail
Have the sail cut higher with a new tack. If you are cruising, the extra visibility and reduction of chafe is worth it! There is very little effeciency lost by modifying the sail like this, and it is a pretty cheap modification too. Bill Murray S/V Good Faith
Have the sail cut higher with a new tack. If you are cruising, the extra visibility and reduction of chafe is worth it! There is very little effeciency lost by modifying the sail like this, and it is a pretty cheap modification too. Bill Murray S/V Good Faith
Before You Spend A Lot Of $$..
.. most of the boats you see around you have some bunching on the lifelines at the bow pulpit. Racers will take the second set of lifelines down to the first to make a slot for the jib. Or, they will take both sets down to the deck for a real deck-sweeper. If you are doing extended off-shore work. recutting the sail may be worthwhile. If not, know that most people go a decade or so before it is an issue. And, that's without chafe panels added. OTOH, on a two day downwind run, I had my chafe strip cut through, but it was six years old. IMHO, there are a lot of bigger issues to deal with. Rick D.
.. most of the boats you see around you have some bunching on the lifelines at the bow pulpit. Racers will take the second set of lifelines down to the first to make a slot for the jib. Or, they will take both sets down to the deck for a real deck-sweeper. If you are doing extended off-shore work. recutting the sail may be worthwhile. If not, know that most people go a decade or so before it is an issue. And, that's without chafe panels added. OTOH, on a two day downwind run, I had my chafe strip cut through, but it was six years old. IMHO, there are a lot of bigger issues to deal with. Rick D.
Raise It??
Scott, If there is enough length of luff spar above the head of the sail you could try adding a strop between tack cringle and the fitting on the furler drum. This would raise the sail and might alleviate the chafe. Of course this would also mean moving your genoa car back and you may not have enough room. If not, the best is to tape up the lifeline fitting where it meets the pulpit and forget about the problem. Everyone else does. It normally only manifests itself when reaching and there is little load on this area of the sail at that time.
Scott, If there is enough length of luff spar above the head of the sail you could try adding a strop between tack cringle and the fitting on the furler drum. This would raise the sail and might alleviate the chafe. Of course this would also mean moving your genoa car back and you may not have enough room. If not, the best is to tape up the lifeline fitting where it meets the pulpit and forget about the problem. Everyone else does. It normally only manifests itself when reaching and there is little load on this area of the sail at that time.
Duck tape is cheaper
Just wrap the connection with duck tape. And yes you will have a chafing problem if you don't wrap it. A little chepaer than cutting the sdail don't you think. Or if you want a nicedr look use leather or line lashing. But cut the sail? That's a bit expensive compared to these simple solutions. But, again... do something 'cause it will chafe if you do offshore and continuous sails. I've also wrapped my spars with carpet (temporarily) to prevent chafing of the main on longer offshore cruises. Jake
Just wrap the connection with duck tape. And yes you will have a chafing problem if you don't wrap it. A little chepaer than cutting the sdail don't you think. Or if you want a nicedr look use leather or line lashing. But cut the sail? That's a bit expensive compared to these simple solutions. But, again... do something 'cause it will chafe if you do offshore and continuous sails. I've also wrapped my spars with carpet (temporarily) to prevent chafing of the main on longer offshore cruises. Jake
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