What are your opinions regarding what's better for sail shape control on a genoa? Rope or wire luff? I would assume rope will allow a much broader range of draft position due to the ability to stretch. On the other hand, rope will sag in higher wind loads. Can the draft be moved on a genoa with a wire luff (no stretch)? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? The context here is a hanked-on dacron genoa. Thanks, Dave
Headsail luff-line (rope or wire?)
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Headsail Luff
The luff sag or lack of sag is not dependent on the luff rope. The luff rope is there to hold the sail against the headstay or foil. Halyard tension will set the draft position. Spectra halyards are much better in this respect because they stretch even less than steel does which means they hold shape better. What will wind up stretching is your dacron jib.
The luff sag or lack of sag is not dependent on the luff rope. The luff rope is there to hold the sail against the headstay or foil. Halyard tension will set the draft position. Spectra halyards are much better in this respect because they stretch even less than steel does which means they hold shape better. What will wind up stretching is your dacron jib.
Re: Headsail luff
Yes, I realize halyard tension is how you "set" the draft position. Halyard tension is the means, how tight (stretch?) you make the luff of the sail is the where the effect is. That's really the basis of my question. Do you think that a headsail with a rope luff will stretch more than a headsail with a wire luff? I think it will, but how much depends on the type of rope used. If this is indeed true, then the sail with a rope luff will allow for more shape variation (in terms of draft position) than one with a wire luff, right?
Yes, I realize halyard tension is how you "set" the draft position. Halyard tension is the means, how tight (stretch?) you make the luff of the sail is the where the effect is. That's really the basis of my question. Do you think that a headsail with a rope luff will stretch more than a headsail with a wire luff? I think it will, but how much depends on the type of rope used. If this is indeed true, then the sail with a rope luff will allow for more shape variation (in terms of draft position) than one with a wire luff, right?
Re: Headsail luff
Do you have any idea why wire luffs are so popular then? There must be an advantage. Do the rope luffs get stretched out and have to be replaced?
Do you have any idea why wire luffs are so popular then? There must be an advantage. Do the rope luffs get stretched out and have to be replaced?
Alan
Alan, If you look on some of the used sail web sites such as Bacon's and Atlantic, probably half of the hank on jibs/genoas have wire luffs. Maybe I'm drawing too much of a conclusion from that, but there ARE a large number of sails on those sites.
Alan, If you look on some of the used sail web sites such as Bacon's and Atlantic, probably half of the hank on jibs/genoas have wire luffs. Maybe I'm drawing too much of a conclusion from that, but there ARE a large number of sails on those sites.
Dave, the wire luffs might be why they are for
sale. And old and maybe worn out. I haven't used a wire luff sail since the '70s and have never owned one.
sale. And old and maybe worn out. I haven't used a wire luff sail since the '70s and have never owned one.
Fred
Fred, Thanks for the info. I've been doing a little research into converting a genoa from furler to hanks. I was wondering about the rope vs. wire luff. I'd certainly want what would give me the most control over shape and draft position. I'm going to get an appraisal of the sail first to see if it's even worth doing. The sail fabric still looks pretty good to me. It's still fairly stiff. I'm pretty sure it has a fair amount of life left. We'll see.
Fred, Thanks for the info. I've been doing a little research into converting a genoa from furler to hanks. I was wondering about the rope vs. wire luff. I'd certainly want what would give me the most control over shape and draft position. I'm going to get an appraisal of the sail first to see if it's even worth doing. The sail fabric still looks pretty good to me. It's still fairly stiff. I'm pretty sure it has a fair amount of life left. We'll see.
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