Mainsail luff problem at boom ????

[Lyn]

I have a 1982 H27' that came with a new ocean spar mast that had never been stepped when I bought her. I had to change the slides on the mainsail to fit the new mast but the the mainsail has a luff along the boom when the sail is up. When it catches a breeze she seems fine but it just doesn't look correct. There appears to be another 8 inches that the sail could be raised at the top of the mast, but where the foot of the sail attaches to the boom it is as tight as it can be. Any suggestions how to solve this problem or is this normal.It seems to me there shouldn't be any pucker or luff in the sail when raised in calm winds or into the wind.

 

[David Foster]

Find a local sailmaker

It's not normal (if I am visualizing your description correctly.) It sounds like the sial is just too big!Is there any evidence on the mast that the boom has been moved up?If not, I'd ask a local sailmaker to stop by and see it. The good ones will help you like this, seeing this service as part of bringing you back when you need to maintain the sails, or buy a new one.DavidLady Lillie'77 h27

 

[Ray Bowles]

Lyn, When you raise your main the first time

do you have enough slack in the leech to allow the main to raise all the way, or, is your leech becoming so tight that the luff can't raise fully.I found that when I was reefing and the boom was held too low, after this function, that when I raised the halyard the luff still had slack. By letting up on the main sheet I could raise the sail to full height and then retension the main sheet.Ray sv Speedy

 

[Darren]

Listen to Dave

I had the same dilema and did what Dave suggested. Problem solved!

 

[Doug T.]

Trying to envision...

You say "...has a luff along the boom..." (huh?) and "...appears to be another 8 inches the sail could be raised...but is tight as can be."Where, exactly, is the sail not tight? Along the luff? Along the foot? Along the leech? If the leech is tight, but the luff is loose, it sounds like you should either release the mainsheet (