my sail shape...

[airshac]

I have a Mac 22 and I bought a main sail off ebay that is dimensionaly the right size and it only cost $25+shipping. Its old and patched in several places but I think it will get me through this summer as I learn. I have two question you might be able to help me solve.
1. Instead of being a perfect triangle the leech is curved and has four long and four short battens. The problem this creates is with my back stay. If the sail is coming about the curve sticks out and hits the stay. I extended the bolt where the stay connects to the mast to off set it about 4" inches and that decreased the interference but it is still there. The sail will drag across the stay and pass behind it and I'm not too worried about the wear on the sail but is this normal?
2. At the clew of the sail there is a thin wire that runs about 3/4 of the way down the foot and all the way up the leech. If I pull on it the sail takes on a little better shape. What am I supposed to do with this?

Thanks for your input and for this great forum!

 

[Doc_holiday]

It's probably off a hunter.

 

[kloudie1]

Back stay interference.. Not normal .. sail has a lot more "roach" than would be correct for your boat. It is probably from a boat with no backstay, like some hunters and many catamarans. Roach in a sail is the part that sticks out aft past the straight line between the head and clew. The battens are there to support and shape the roach.
I don't know about the wire line..?? but if it works, pull on it !

 

[Ross]

get out your shears and sewing machine and cut away some of the sail that hits you back stay. Just fold in a hem to make it as strong as it was.

 

[Daydreamer]

My main has a bit of roach to it. The P.O. added a roller to the backstay at the interference. Seems to work well. You can barely see the disc between the tails of the windvane.

 

[sinnettc]

If it's only a couple of inches you're probably ok. My main has a bit more roach than the original, plus the battens stick out about an inch or inch and a half beyond the leech. It hangs up sometimes but usually only when close hauled in light air.

If it's more than a couple inches then go with Ross' suggestion. The only problem is that you'll likely lose the use of that leech wire.

 

[dlandersson]

I did something similar, I bought a (new) main sail with Hunter 216 on it. It's curved also, and just misses the backstay. A Hunter 216 is actually a smaller boat than a Mac26X, and this sail is just as big. My impression is that this is a Hunter design feature. Not sure what the outward curved leech does - I should probably find out.

 

[finding41]

Back stay flicker. That will do it.
I've seen them advertised on sailinganarchy.com
Here is the link http://www.rbsbattens.com/battens/rbs-powdercoated-epoxy-backstay-flicker/

 

[airshac]

If it's more than a couple inches then go with Ross' suggestion. The only problem is that you'll likely lose the use of that leech wire.

What is the leech wire for? Do I need to put a little tension on it and anchor it to the boom?

Thanks!

 

[Stu Jackson]

It's called a leech (or leach) line. It tightens the leach and stops it from fluttering in varying wind conditions depending on the set of your mainsheet, vang and traveler.

Google leech line or any good sailmakers' website and learn how to make it work for you.

 

[Tally Ho]

?...My impression is that this is a Hunter design feater. Not sure what the outward curved leech does - I should probably find out.

Since Hunter uses the B&R rig, with no back stay (at least on a lot of boats), they can run a bigger sail (with a larger roach).

Greg