Loose Footed Main?
- Thread starter Ken Prichard
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Better sail shape.
My North loft told me they rarely make anything but loose-footed mainsails for cruising. Because the foot is secured only at the tack and clew you can shape it better. If you have ever adjusted the outhaul for more power in light winds you will appreciate the difference. I am sure that other trimming like twist also comes into play. Too technical for my feeble brain.
My North loft told me they rarely make anything but loose-footed mainsails for cruising. Because the foot is secured only at the tack and clew you can shape it better. If you have ever adjusted the outhaul for more power in light winds you will appreciate the difference. I am sure that other trimming like twist also comes into play. Too technical for my feeble brain.
Footloose
A quote from from North Sails: “In short, with modern, low stretch sail fabrics, slides or other attachment points along the boom do not offer any advantages.” http://na.northsails.com/Cruising_Sails/SolutionsLooseFootedMain.htm Mysteries of the loose-footed main - by Win Fowler in “Points East Magazine” http://www.pointseast.com/racing/030901tip-ti.shtml
A quote from from North Sails: “In short, with modern, low stretch sail fabrics, slides or other attachment points along the boom do not offer any advantages.” http://na.northsails.com/Cruising_Sails/SolutionsLooseFootedMain.htm Mysteries of the loose-footed main - by Win Fowler in “Points East Magazine” http://www.pointseast.com/racing/030901tip-ti.shtml
loose footed
I have a loose footed main because I also have in-mast main furling. At first I was worried about the loose footed concept but now that I've been sailing it for a year I think it's great. Real easy to tighten or loosen the outhaul for all kinds of sail shapes. Not all are helpful but it's great to be able to tweak them easily.
I have a loose footed main because I also have in-mast main furling. At first I was worried about the loose footed concept but now that I've been sailing it for a year I think it's great. Real easy to tighten or loosen the outhaul for all kinds of sail shapes. Not all are helpful but it's great to be able to tweak them easily.
we have one
We have a brand new loose footed, fully battened mainsail and love how well we can trim the sail now... made a HUGE difference on our H40.
We have a brand new loose footed, fully battened mainsail and love how well we can trim the sail now... made a HUGE difference on our H40.
Loose Foot Main
A loose footed main, like the kind on an in-mast furler, is essentially another genoa. Loosed footed jibs are the norm; they are powerful and easy to trim. It seems sail makers discovered these new types of mailsails can achieve great performance.
A loose footed main, like the kind on an in-mast furler, is essentially another genoa. Loosed footed jibs are the norm; they are powerful and easy to trim. It seems sail makers discovered these new types of mailsails can achieve great performance.
DIY loose footed mainsail
I have a good sewing machine. Can anyone give me any advice on how to convert the rope foot on my main to a loose footed main. The foot is only 8' on my Chrysler 26
I have a good sewing machine. Can anyone give me any advice on how to convert the rope foot on my main to a loose footed main. The foot is only 8' on my Chrysler 26
footloose
Loose-footed mains are nice, if you have end boom sheeting or a super-strong boom. Mid-boom sheeting can bow the boom and a vang can make it worse.
Loose-footed mains are nice, if you have end boom sheeting or a super-strong boom. Mid-boom sheeting can bow the boom and a vang can make it worse.
Sailmaker's Advice
Almost exactly a year ago I bought a new loose-footed main (along with a new genoa from the same company). The sailmaker's comments were that foot design was an individual's preference, and that he liked a shelf foot for ease of flaking and because it didn't drip rainwater along its entire length. However, I decided to go with the loose foot, somewhat out of curiosity, and to see if the trimming advantages really existed. After a year of racing and cruising with the sail, I am very happy I made that decision - it is much easier to trim. Indeed, it does not flake as easily as my old main, but that is a small price to pay. I roll it and stow it below anyway, so that is not an issue for me. And Mike makes a good point: if you have mid-boom sheeting, there is a lot of stress on the boom at that point, as most of the wind's force on the sail passes through the clew slug. But from now on, any main I buy will be loose-footed.
Almost exactly a year ago I bought a new loose-footed main (along with a new genoa from the same company). The sailmaker's comments were that foot design was an individual's preference, and that he liked a shelf foot for ease of flaking and because it didn't drip rainwater along its entire length. However, I decided to go with the loose foot, somewhat out of curiosity, and to see if the trimming advantages really existed. After a year of racing and cruising with the sail, I am very happy I made that decision - it is much easier to trim. Indeed, it does not flake as easily as my old main, but that is a small price to pay. I roll it and stow it below anyway, so that is not an issue for me. And Mike makes a good point: if you have mid-boom sheeting, there is a lot of stress on the boom at that point, as most of the wind's force on the sail passes through the clew slug. But from now on, any main I buy will be loose-footed.
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