Hey Guys, I just set up a new loose footed main that has a clew strap. It doesn't seem like the clew strap and the normal slider on my boom want to work together. I belive the strap replaces the slider, but I'm not sure what the best way to rig this is. Anybody have a picture or a description of how their loose footed main is set up on their C-30?? FWIW, I have a 1977 with the old, external outhaul. Thanks in advance!! Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
J
John
y a loose foot?
I have a 1977 C30 hull # 593. Love it. But why use a loose footed main? I need a new main and may want to get one like that. I sure dont think much of the outhaul arrangement.
I have a 1977 C30 hull # 593. Love it. But why use a loose footed main? I need a new main and may want to get one like that. I sure dont think much of the outhaul arrangement.
Either don't use the slider or
use it. The choice is yours. If you use the slider, don't use the strap. If you use the strap, don't use the slider. Sail makers recommend that you use the strap because it gives you a little more control and makes adjusting the outhaul easier (the strap doesn't bind like the slider does), and the strap just keeps the boom from getting too far from the clew. If you have a bimini / conector under the end of the boom, you will probably prefer the slider as it keeps the end of the boom higher (closer to the clew) and away from your canvas. Steve Alchemist C-30T #4764 Alchemist C-320 #909 p.s. I have a loose-footed UK TapeDrive main on my C-320, and I had a loose-footed Doyle/Boston main on my '87 C-30T when I won the C-30. Nationals in 2000.
use it. The choice is yours. If you use the slider, don't use the strap. If you use the strap, don't use the slider. Sail makers recommend that you use the strap because it gives you a little more control and makes adjusting the outhaul easier (the strap doesn't bind like the slider does), and the strap just keeps the boom from getting too far from the clew. If you have a bimini / conector under the end of the boom, you will probably prefer the slider as it keeps the end of the boom higher (closer to the clew) and away from your canvas. Steve Alchemist C-30T #4764 Alchemist C-320 #909 p.s. I have a loose-footed UK TapeDrive main on my C-320, and I had a loose-footed Doyle/Boston main on my '87 C-30T when I won the C-30. Nationals in 2000.
A
Allen
To John:
John, Good question. The loose footed main allows for better control of sail shape using the outhaul, especially for a boat with a masthead rig like the C-30. On a fractional rig (where the forestay attaches to the mast about 4/5 of the way up the mast) if you want to flatten the shape of the sail to reduce heel you can tighten the backstay, which will bow the middle of the mast forward, increase tension on the luff & flatten the overall shape of the main. With a masthead rig, that option doesn't exist. If you tighten the back stay, you don't bend the mast as much, you just increase tension on the forestay leaving the sail shape with little or no change in shape. So, if you have a masthead rig & want to flatten the sail's shape you need to use other methods like tightening a cunningham (also called a downhaul) or the outhaul. This is where the loose footed main comes into play. With a loose footed main, you get a lot more control of the sail shape when you adjust the outhaul. Much more control than you would if you had a regular footed main. (See the "related link" below for a picture). With the loose footed main you can tension the outhaul and get a very flat shape that's ideal for high winds when you need to depower the sail. If winds are light, you can loosen the outhaul to increase shape and get the most out of what little wind there is. The problem with the loose foot is that 100% of the tension from the foot is loaded onto 1 point: where the outhaul attaches to the sail. This point loading makes it difficult to adjust the outhaul, especially in high winds (when you need it most!). To help reduce the friction from that high load, people rely on a clew strap which slides across the boom a lot easier than the regular slide that people normally use. I think abandoning the slide & using the clew strap is a great idea & I'm going to take Alchemist's advice. I'll post my results next week. I hope this was clear...It took me a long time to understand what effect different adjustments have on the main sail, and I still have a lot to learn. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks, Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
John, Good question. The loose footed main allows for better control of sail shape using the outhaul, especially for a boat with a masthead rig like the C-30. On a fractional rig (where the forestay attaches to the mast about 4/5 of the way up the mast) if you want to flatten the shape of the sail to reduce heel you can tighten the backstay, which will bow the middle of the mast forward, increase tension on the luff & flatten the overall shape of the main. With a masthead rig, that option doesn't exist. If you tighten the back stay, you don't bend the mast as much, you just increase tension on the forestay leaving the sail shape with little or no change in shape. So, if you have a masthead rig & want to flatten the sail's shape you need to use other methods like tightening a cunningham (also called a downhaul) or the outhaul. This is where the loose footed main comes into play. With a loose footed main, you get a lot more control of the sail shape when you adjust the outhaul. Much more control than you would if you had a regular footed main. (See the "related link" below for a picture). With the loose footed main you can tension the outhaul and get a very flat shape that's ideal for high winds when you need to depower the sail. If winds are light, you can loosen the outhaul to increase shape and get the most out of what little wind there is. The problem with the loose foot is that 100% of the tension from the foot is loaded onto 1 point: where the outhaul attaches to the sail. This point loading makes it difficult to adjust the outhaul, especially in high winds (when you need it most!). To help reduce the friction from that high load, people rely on a clew strap which slides across the boom a lot easier than the regular slide that people normally use. I think abandoning the slide & using the clew strap is a great idea & I'm going to take Alchemist's advice. I'll post my results next week. I hope this was clear...It took me a long time to understand what effect different adjustments have on the main sail, and I still have a lot to learn. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks, Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
J
John
Wow! Thanks
That was a GREAT explanation. I had heard of this type of sail but had not a clue as to what it did and what not. I thank you for the good job in your response. Very clear and concise. Are you an English major? How about when you lower the main and flake the material. Work OK? How about reefing? The related link was eye opening. Thanks again.
That was a GREAT explanation. I had heard of this type of sail but had not a clue as to what it did and what not. I thank you for the good job in your response. Very clear and concise. Are you an English major? How about when you lower the main and flake the material. Work OK? How about reefing? The related link was eye opening. Thanks again.
A Reefed Sail is Loose Footed
Think about it. When you reef your mainsail, you are in effect creating a loose footed mainsail (albeit with a reduced sail area). As for flaking, the clew is still attached to the out-haul, and it's hauled out (NOT Bar-tight), so there is essentially NO difference in flaking the main either loose footed or with a shelf-foot. You will probably want to make wure that the "foot roach" is on teh opposite side of the boom from teh first flake, but after that, everything's the same. Steve Alchemist C-320 #909
Think about it. When you reef your mainsail, you are in effect creating a loose footed mainsail (albeit with a reduced sail area). As for flaking, the clew is still attached to the out-haul, and it's hauled out (NOT Bar-tight), so there is essentially NO difference in flaking the main either loose footed or with a shelf-foot. You will probably want to make wure that the "foot roach" is on teh opposite side of the boom from teh first flake, but after that, everything's the same. Steve Alchemist C-320 #909
- Status
- Not open for further replies.