Is it time to replace?

[oldiesrocker2001]

Great idea about the snap buckles, Jimmy. Did you have to install grommets for them(they slide loosely around the mast on the way up and down?) to attach to the main or are they simply as wrapping lines? My 21 had bolt rope and I only sailed it once that way after putting all 200lbs on the halyard to hoist and as much as possible to pull 'er down - switched to slugs that week so didn't have much time with the main filling the cockpit.
A 5hr round trip may be a bit much even if your sailing season is longer where you are than mine. Although the expense may be worth it, if you can arrange a "park&launch" at the most likely lake with the boat already rigged with the need to only drive up, hook up, and launch when you get there.
The larger the boat, the longer to step the mast and rig is likely.
That being said, it's not likely that you keep the same hours as I do as a working musician(leave the house W/fully loaded van; perform till 1 am; drive home and unload music stuff as the birds start to chirp so that I can load up the boat "goodies" in a couple of hours to go sailing), and an early morning start would still get you home after a day's sailing in time for a late dinner. BTW, in sailing season, we usually set up a 'crockpot dinner' to be ready when we get home so nobody(I cook as much as the Admiral) has to work too hard for dinner after all that.:dance:

 

[jimmyb]

Great idea about the snap buckles, Jimmy. Did you have to install grommets for them(they slide loosely around the mast on the way up and down?) to attach to the main or are they simply as wrapping lines?

Oldiesrocker,
We simply use them as wrapping. When we l lower our main we drop the aft end of the boom to the cockpit floor to get the main under control. Then bunch it up and quickly wrap it to the boom if we are heading in riight away or if we are stopping for lunch or a swim we flake the sale a bit nicer and raise the boom again to get it out of the way. We find the buckles much quicker coming off the main when we raise it on a breezy day. 3 quick snaps and the wife is on the hallyard and off we go. Our next boat will get slugs on the main. Or maybe this one if we keep it.

Keep rockin' them oldies! jimmyb

 

[RichBone]

I bought my boat with what I believe to be its original main sail. (precision logo and 008 stiched on) If so that would make it about 20yrs old. It has no rips, no repairs and is very clean. It shows no signs of deterioration (thin or worn spots). When raised however, it has a bit of a belly in that the cloth is much softer and suppler than the "like new" jib the boat came with. We tension the downhaul & outhall very taught and apply plenty of downforce with the boom vang but Im afraid the sail may need to be retired. I think I recall reading that when the sails get to the point that they are bellying out like this they may be fine for lighter winds but as the conditions stregthen it will tend to heal the boat exessively. The jib on the boat is very "crisp" and stiff unlike the main. The boat has all the power it needs in lighter winds but I feel I may be having to dump wind from the main too often even with one of us on the rail when the winds get gustier. We both have no problem healing the boat but when we start stuffing the coamings in the water we depower.

So do you folks think Im in need of a replacement?
I may be way off here but if not why do loose or bellied sails make the boat heal exessively?

Thanks for any replies, :dance: jimmyb

Here is what my old main looked like. I thought it didn't look too bad- not blown out, plenty of draft.

I just got a new main. Man, what a difference. I can carry it with more wind, she points higher and it doesn't overpower like it used to.

Oh yeah, did I mention she was faster too?

Rich

 

[jimmyb]

RBone,
Thanks for posting with the pictures. This is very simular to what I am dealing with. To see the difference was very helpful.

jimmyb