Loose foot or not

[swank]

just bought a 1976 Newport 16. Needs a new main, the one that came with it is loose foot, but not sure if it’s correct sail. Any recommendations on if I should get footed or stay with loose foot.
Read some on both and don’t see many advantages or disadvantages to either. All suggestions are appreciated

 

[Meriachee]

Loose foot is way easier to get sail shape in the lower third. That comment tempered with the previous statement that it's a Newport 16. Probably not enough foot to the sail to matter one way or another.

 

[jssailem]

@swank Not knowing the Newport I can not say if it was “designed with a looose foot or not. Your boom will tell. If the boom has a grove the runs it’s length then the sail likely had a bolt rope that ran in the groove. That was the “style” back in the 70’s. But sail designers and boat owners affected progressed. We know that a loose foot is a better design. It gives us more trim options and better ways to make the boat go faster. It is also cheaper as it uses less cloth.

So bring your 1976 Newport into the 21st century. Loose foot main. There is a bonus.. It is easier and quicker to rig when you want to go sailing.

 

[Joe]

If you don't have an outhaul... loose foot has no advantage. If you do have an outhaul, loose foot is huge advantage. A track, or groove, in the boom allows the clew to slide with outhaul adjustment. The prudent sailor will lash the clew to the boom (loosely) for additional security but still allow it to move.

 

[Will Gilmore]

All of the above.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[rgranger]

Last summer I got a new main for my H26. The original was footed. The only option for new sails "off the shelf" were loose footed. So I asked this forum a very similar question to the one you just posted. Everyone said go with a loose foot.

My new main is great! It would not be fair to compare it to the old blown out sail but I have no complaints. The new main came with a large single sail-slug at the clew. That fits in the groove that the slugs for the foot used to sit. You then out-haul the sail from the clew but the rest of the sail adopts a nice curve off of the boom.

If I was challenged to say one negative thing about a loose foot sail it would be that it is harder to flake the sail since the foot wants to keep sliding off of the boom as you fold the sail. It is a trivial complaint.

 

[Jackdaw]

Your boat is fractional rigged and will benefit greatly from a loosed footed main. It should have a slug or a velcro band to hold the clew to the boom. As Joe mentions being able to adjust your outhaul is key, the original manual shows you have an outhaul adjustment on the boom.

FYI full docs here
http://web.utk.edu/~pdf/newport/newport/newport.htm

 

[Kings Gambit]

Sail makers seem to like loose-footed mains. On my previous masthead rig my Ulman sail maker suggested I convert an existing mainsail to loose footed, which I did. On the present fractional-rigged boat my Quantum sail maker suggested a new loose-footed main which is what I ordered and installed. Joe gives the evident reasons for this preference. Personally, I like 'em.

 

[Joe]

There's another choice, usually opted only by midsize and larger cruisers.... that's the "shelf foot" "An extra lighter weight pleat sewn into the foot - for use before the wind."

 

[Sailavie1]

The Self Foot looks like a good design to also collet rain water should this be a need offshore.

 

[jssailem]

Beyond serving as a rainwater catch basin, the shelf foot can double as a place to sit or rest like a hammock.

Is this a reason to run down to the boat and attach a shelf foot to your sail?
I think not.
But you could buy an old boat, raise the mainsail and likely find yourself with this antique feature.

 

[thinwater]

In theory there is an end-plate effect. But when hard on the wind--when that would matter--the foot is tight to the boom anyway. I had a shelf foot once. It was OK, you just needed good out haul purchase. You didn't need an in-haul bungee.

 

[Will Gilmore]

There was an old movie about a guy sailing solo with his cat. The cat would lay on the shelf at the foot of the sail until, in a light down wind shift, the boat jibes and the cat went into the water. A shark got him before he could swim back to the boat. That is the only scene I remember from the movie.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Mark Maulden]

Wasn’t that Robin Graham on Dove?

 

[rgranger]

Wasn’t that Robin Graham on Dove?

Yes

The movie was called "The Dove".

https://tobefree.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/the-dove-one-of-my-favorite-movies-and-books/

 

[pateco]

Very sad scene at 1:43. I need to find the complete movie for rent.

 

[rgranger]

The acting is very 1970-something. Reminds me of Mcgyver, the A-Team and Magnum P.I.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I don't think he was credited with a true circumnavigation.

Definition:
A) Start and finish at the same point, traveling in one general direction
B) Reach two antipodes (Two diametrically opposite places on Earth).

From the above it follows that a true circumnavigation must: cross the equator, cross all longitudes, & cover a minimum of 40,000 km or 21,600 NM [i.e., a great circle (which is defined by the antipodes)]

 

[Jackdaw]

The acting is very 1970-something. Reminds me of Mcgyver, the A-Team and Magnum P.I.

Umm, those are all 80s TV shows!

 

[Rick486]

There was an old movie about a guy sailing solo with his cat. The cat would lay on the shelf at the foot of the sail until, in a light down wind shift, the boat jibes and the cat went into the water. A shark got him before he could swim back to the boat. That is the only scene I remember from the movie.

- Will (Dragonfly)

Geez. Let's have good endings here! This is supposed to be fun!