Loose Footed Main Considerations

[Steve Carpman]

We are looking at a new main for our 1991 Hunter Legend 37.5. One of the options we are considering is a loose footed main. I have researched loose footed mains on this forum and understand the advantages over a main where the foot is fixed to the boom. There are two issues where I need some help. First, if the sail has full lower battens, will we still be able to control shape with the outhaul or will the full battens dictate shape? Second, one sailmaker indicated a dutchman flaking system will not perform as well on a loose footed main as it does on a main fixed to the boom. Has anyone had any experience with dutchman flaking performance with a loose footed main?

 

[Steve Dion]

Sailed on a boat with a Dutchman and loose footed.

Steve:I have sailed on a boat with a Dutchman and a loose footed main. I do not think that they had full battens (cannot remember, even though I was aboard for two weeks).I would contact Dutchman and see what they have to say. I actually thought this was really the best of both worlds and seemed to work fine.

 

[Del Wiese]

like loose footed

I have a loose footed main, with full battens on my Legend 37. I like the control you get over draft in the lower part of the sail. My sailmaker put in a shelf that "pops in" when the outhaul is slackened to seal off air from escaping between the boom and the sail.

 

[Peter Milne]

Loose Footed

I had my fully battened main refitted last spring to be loose footed. Before doing so I spoke to Dutchman and they assured me that the system would work.And indeed the Dutchman does work fine. No problems, plus I get better sail shape and it reefes better.Peter MilneS/V Blue Heron

 

[Butch Berchem]

Loose foot

Several things to consider. Why do you or would you want to have full bottom battens? The bottom of the sail will follow the top if the top as two full battens. As for a Dutchman system, it should really not matter. If the foot of the sail is tight as it would be for going up wind it is the same wether it's loose or attached. The foot is just eaiser to control the shape of the bottom third of the sail if it's not in the boom, less drag.