I need a new main sail and was talking to North sails about it and the sailmaker told me that the North sail would be loose footed. Does anyone have experence with this type of sail? What are the pros and cons of this type of sail? Thanks Gypsy Wind
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loose foot main works fine
I have a loose footed main on my P30 and it works fine. Quantum Sails in Bristol RI did a great job on my sails and I think they have many designs for Pearson boats.
I have a loose footed main on my P30 and it works fine. Quantum Sails in Bristol RI did a great job on my sails and I think they have many designs for Pearson boats.
Have one
Gary, i have a recently purchased Pearson 30 with a loose footed main. Two quick observations. Sail has an aerodynamic shape all the way down to the boom. Tensioning or loosening the outhaul is fast and easy, there is no bolt rope friction Frank _/)
Gary, i have a recently purchased Pearson 30 with a loose footed main. Two quick observations. Sail has an aerodynamic shape all the way down to the boom. Tensioning or loosening the outhaul is fast and easy, there is no bolt rope friction Frank _/)
Got one last year
I replaced my old main with a full batten loose footed from Somerset sails. Got a great deal but had to add lazt jacks to deal with the full battens. It's easier to take on and off.
I replaced my old main with a full batten loose footed from Somerset sails. Got a great deal but had to add lazt jacks to deal with the full battens. It's easier to take on and off.
One of the reasons...
I chose North to make a new main for my H28.5 was that the guy I was dealing with in Annapolis was very knowledgable and responsive to many of the questions I had prior to committing to buying. In addition to coming to my boat to take measurements to ensure the sail would not interfere with my bimini, we discussed a variety of issues anyone thinking of buying new sail should consider (i.e., material, cloth weight, battens, reef points, cunningham, etc). When it came to a loose vs conventional bolt roped foot, he indicated that loose footed sails were clearly his preference and they were selling more sails that way then not. He also indicated that it was more of an individual preference thing than anything else and that the only real difference in the two styles was that the loose footed sail was easier to bend on and take off and to adjust outhaul tension. He also alluded to, but did not state so directly, that it was easier and cheaper for North to make a loose footed sail and since they sold at the same price, the profit margin was greater on the loose footed sail. In the end, I chose (it's your choice, not the sailmakers)a conventional bolt roped foot as that is a a style I have used for many years and have never found the design wanting. If my style of sailing and perhaps racing included tweaking the outhaul frequently I guess I would have chosen the loose footed style. I only loosen up the outhaul now and then when the wind is really light and I have nothing else to do....
I chose North to make a new main for my H28.5 was that the guy I was dealing with in Annapolis was very knowledgable and responsive to many of the questions I had prior to committing to buying. In addition to coming to my boat to take measurements to ensure the sail would not interfere with my bimini, we discussed a variety of issues anyone thinking of buying new sail should consider (i.e., material, cloth weight, battens, reef points, cunningham, etc). When it came to a loose vs conventional bolt roped foot, he indicated that loose footed sails were clearly his preference and they were selling more sails that way then not. He also indicated that it was more of an individual preference thing than anything else and that the only real difference in the two styles was that the loose footed sail was easier to bend on and take off and to adjust outhaul tension. He also alluded to, but did not state so directly, that it was easier and cheaper for North to make a loose footed sail and since they sold at the same price, the profit margin was greater on the loose footed sail. In the end, I chose (it's your choice, not the sailmakers)a conventional bolt roped foot as that is a a style I have used for many years and have never found the design wanting. If my style of sailing and perhaps racing included tweaking the outhaul frequently I guess I would have chosen the loose footed style. I only loosen up the outhaul now and then when the wind is really light and I have nothing else to do....
Boom Strength
Anyone care to comment on the boom strength requirement if you don't have end-boom sheeting? Without the boltrope distributing the load along the sail foot and entire boom, the boom will bend. Not sure of details but the boom can break.
Anyone care to comment on the boom strength requirement if you don't have end-boom sheeting? Without the boltrope distributing the load along the sail foot and entire boom, the boom will bend. Not sure of details but the boom can break.
Lots of information in the archives here.
We have been discussing "loose footed mains" for years and a search of our archives will give you tons of information.
We have been discussing "loose footed mains" for years and a search of our archives will give you tons of information.
Boom strength - one answer
I just discussed this with my sailmaker who is doing some work on the main for our Oday 34. The boltrope in the foot of our sail had shrunk and I was going to have it replaced, but then I asked if it would be practical to convert to loose footed. He said it would be no problem, and I asked specifically about the boom load since I have mid boom sheeting. He said it really wouldn't be a factor, as the boltrope really doesn't do much in the way of distributing the load. For what it's worth, my boom will bend if I oversheet the main as it is - loose footed or not
I just discussed this with my sailmaker who is doing some work on the main for our Oday 34. The boltrope in the foot of our sail had shrunk and I was going to have it replaced, but then I asked if it would be practical to convert to loose footed. He said it would be no problem, and I asked specifically about the boom load since I have mid boom sheeting. He said it really wouldn't be a factor, as the boltrope really doesn't do much in the way of distributing the load. For what it's worth, my boom will bend if I oversheet the main as it is - loose footed or not
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