Foam Luffs?

[Andy]

Bill, how effective are foam luffs? I've heard that a foam luff in a Genoa makes it trim better if you have to partially roll it in due to heavy air. Does it do that much good and how much would it cost? Recommend or not?

 

[warren feldstein]

Foam luffs

Ihad a CS30 and sailed it for 1 or 2 seasons using a number 2 without a foam luff. If I furled more than say 20%, the shape of the sail would change to a BAG. It was totally useless. I added a foam luff. It was not very expensive. It changed the sail TOTALLY. I could now furl the sail considerably. On the new boat that I am purchasing, the sail is only 110 overlap. Perhaps I dont need a foam luff. I will discuss it with the sail maker. BTW, I also had a zipper up aeroluff, it works, but makes raising and lowering the sail VERY difficult.See what the sail maker has to say. You my find local references and go see it.

 

[Mickey McHugh]

H40.5 Foam Luff 155 Genoa

I used the stock 130 jib for the first 18 months then bought a 155 with a foam luff in March and have used it ever since. It allows me to furl to 80 when close hauled before the shape becomes a problem. I can still point but lose about 5 degrees. Reaching or running in high winds it works great furled as little as 50. Gives me lots of options without having to change head sails. When its time to replace, it will be with another genoa with a foam luff.

 

[Bill Colombo]

Foam Luffs

Andy, Foam Luffs do work well if you intend to use your roller-furler as a reefing system. Without the luff pad the genoa will get progressively fuller as it is rolled up. The luff pad is tapered so that its widest part is located where the sail has the most draft or shape. The pad increases the circumference of the roll so that it "sucks up" more cloth in the middle, and keeps the sail flatter as it is reefed. As you can see from some of the other responses, foam luff pads work quite well. A luff pad installation for your hunter 29.5 would cost $150-200.