I am new to sailing, but have been a powerboater for years. I have always flown an ensign fron a sternstaff, which I think looks great. The problem with my sailboat, is that there is no place on the open transom to mount a staff. I would like to try flying the ensign from the leech of the mainsail, as was done in days of old. I know where it should go, and the size of ensign to fly, but am unsure of how to attach it. Can I sew it to the main? Can I attach it with short lengths of line to the velcro straps holding my battens in place? Has anybody done this? Any help would be appreciated.
Mainsail leech ensign
- Thread starter jking
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Ensign on the Main
Yes, I did this on my O'Day 35. No probkems, and it looked cool. Using 1st Mate's Singer sewing machine, I sticthed a pair of loops of 1 in. poly webbing (from local fabric store) spaced to match the hoist of the ensign. Each strip of webbing also trapped a S.S. ring; ensign was clipped to the ring with small plunger-type snaps. Just be careful to aviod sewing across the "tunnel" that carries the tension line along the leach. Per "Chapmans" the ensign flies 2/3 of the way up the leach from the clew.
Yes, I did this on my O'Day 35. No probkems, and it looked cool. Using 1st Mate's Singer sewing machine, I sticthed a pair of loops of 1 in. poly webbing (from local fabric store) spaced to match the hoist of the ensign. Each strip of webbing also trapped a S.S. ring; ensign was clipped to the ring with small plunger-type snaps. Just be careful to aviod sewing across the "tunnel" that carries the tension line along the leach. Per "Chapmans" the ensign flies 2/3 of the way up the leach from the clew.
Topping Lift
I took the "fixed" topping lift off my O'Day 25, and replaced it with a combination topping lift ensign halyard.
I took the "fixed" topping lift off my O'Day 25, and replaced it with a combination topping lift ensign halyard.
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