Loose foot Main
- Thread starter Michael15707
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Hah! Ok, perhaps I should have pushed the question just a little harder. How was your experience? Good, bad??
Yes here too
Michael, we chartertered a Beneteau 40 in the BVI's this winter. It had in mast furling with no battens and a loose footed main. It was easy to furl and roll out, but the sail shape was pretty bad, particularly on a close reach. I wouldn't want it on my boat. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
Michael, we chartertered a Beneteau 40 in the BVI's this winter. It had in mast furling with no battens and a loose footed main. It was easy to furl and roll out, but the sail shape was pretty bad, particularly on a close reach. I wouldn't want it on my boat. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
I went with...
a new loose foot main from North Sails last year. When I got my Hunter 31 it came with a slug foot main sail. It was pretty played out. North Sails talked me into a loose foot main. Maybe because its less work for them but they said I would have more control over sail shape with the loose foot. All-in-all I am happy with it.
a new loose foot main from North Sails last year. When I got my Hunter 31 it came with a slug foot main sail. It was pretty played out. North Sails talked me into a loose foot main. Maybe because its less work for them but they said I would have more control over sail shape with the loose foot. All-in-all I am happy with it.
Michael...
some more detail ALWAYS helps!!! What boat would be nice. I had my original main from an '87 28.5 Hunter recut ( in '96) to loose footed with full battens installed and it gave the sail much better shape and extended it's life by at least 5 years. That would be my experience. Most all modern racing sails are loose footed.
some more detail ALWAYS helps!!! What boat would be nice. I had my original main from an '87 28.5 Hunter recut ( in '96) to loose footed with full battens installed and it gave the sail much better shape and extended it's life by at least 5 years. That would be my experience. Most all modern racing sails are loose footed.
Question for Gary
Was the problem of poor sail shape due to the main being loose footed or that it was a batten-less furling system, or both?
Was the problem of poor sail shape due to the main being loose footed or that it was a batten-less furling system, or both?
Warren
Hard to say. It was a charter boat and the sail was probably about seven years old. But with the outhaul all the way to the end of the boom, there was still quite a bit of draft in the sail. A stretched sail, absence of battens, loose foot, all of the above? Maybe a good quiz question! Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
Hard to say. It was a charter boat and the sail was probably about seven years old. But with the outhaul all the way to the end of the boom, there was still quite a bit of draft in the sail. A stretched sail, absence of battens, loose foot, all of the above? Maybe a good quiz question!
Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5One on Order
I'll let you know in a couple of weeks. I have a loose footed sail being put together by Quantum. In theroy it should give better performance in a wider range of wind. I went with the loose footed because on any given day the wind can go from 0 to 20 and back on Lake Michigan. It's got to be better than the 13 year old main I currently have.
I'll let you know in a couple of weeks. I have a loose footed sail being put together by Quantum. In theroy it should give better performance in a wider range of wind. I went with the loose footed because on any given day the wind can go from 0 to 20 and back on Lake Michigan. It's got to be better than the 13 year old main I currently have.
Mine is old as well
"It's got to be better than the 13 year old main I currently have." Yep, that's kind of how I'm feeling. I have the original main (94 Hunter 26), and she's about had it. On second thought, drop the "about." So, a new main is def. in order, but traditional or loose footed is another story. This guy I know pushes the loose footed -- he has one on his Hunter 23 and loves it. But I don't know -- something about it seems so wrong.
"It's got to be better than the 13 year old main I currently have."
Yep, that's kind of how I'm feeling. I have the original main (94 Hunter 26), and she's about had it. On second thought, drop the "about." So, a new main is def. in order, but traditional or loose footed is another story. This guy I know pushes the loose footed -- he has one on his Hunter 23 and loves it. But I don't know -- something about it seems so wrong. 
Tell me more
"My new 25 came with a loose footed main." Tell me more about how that is working out for you.
"My new 25 came with a loose footed main." Tell me more about how that is working out for you.
H260 Furling
The cost of a new mast, boom and mainsail was about three thousand. But, It took me six months of engineering: -Finding what would fit the existing standing rig -Design and test a new mast raising system because the gin-pole mast hole interferes with the furling drum and the mast is too heavy to lift by hand or by mainsheet. -Modifying and enhancing the furling mast to work properly. -Designing a solid vang to handle furling line, eliminating the toping lift. But, it was worth the 9 month effort. -Nils Anderson
The cost of a new mast, boom and mainsail was about three thousand. But, It took me six months of engineering: -Finding what would fit the existing standing rig -Design and test a new mast raising system because the gin-pole mast hole interferes with the furling drum and the mast is too heavy to lift by hand or by mainsheet. -Modifying and enhancing the furling mast to work properly. -Designing a solid vang to handle furling line, eliminating the toping lift. But, it was worth the 9 month effort. -Nils Anderson
my main
Several years ago I asked a sailmaker to cut off about 10" from the aft end of my mainsail to raise the boom up off my head space. (You H23 owners will understand how the low swinging boom can be a lethal weapon in a jibe.) The sailmaker suggested a loose foot and explained that it allows better shape. I have to agree with him. I once saw a picture of a standard main with a shadow in the belly of the sail just behind the mast. I noticed that the curved portion of the luff was missing near the boom because the attached foot stretched out the "belly". With a loose footed main the luff has draft all the way down to the boom. I asked the sailmaker if I loose much propulsion due to loose of air under the loose foot. He explained this would be more that offset by the improved sail shape. of course it's much easier to bend on the boom and adjust the outhaul. I'm happy with it.
Several years ago I asked a sailmaker to cut off about 10" from the aft end of my mainsail to raise the boom up off my head space. (You H23 owners will understand how the low swinging boom can be a lethal weapon in a jibe.) The sailmaker suggested a loose foot and explained that it allows better shape. I have to agree with him. I once saw a picture of a standard main with a shadow in the belly of the sail just behind the mast. I noticed that the curved portion of the luff was missing near the boom because the attached foot stretched out the "belly". With a loose footed main the luff has draft all the way down to the boom. I asked the sailmaker if I loose much propulsion due to loose of air under the loose foot. He explained this would be more that offset by the improved sail shape. of course it's much easier to bend on the boom and adjust the outhaul. I'm happy with it.
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