Question about a Main Sail

[Richard Marble]

I'm looking at buying a new main sail and a sail maker asked me this question; what is the tack offset and outhaul cut up?Can anyone out there explain to me what he is asking?

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

My view

The tack offset could be the distance off the base in inches where the grommet goes.Can't reply re outhaul.Not that you asked, but the cunningham is usually 12 inches off the base.I'd send him a photo of your old sail, close-up on the corner so he can see for himself.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Another view.

My North loft did not ask any questions. They insisted on meeting me at the boat and taking their own measurements. But you pay for that kind of attention to detail.

 

[David Foster]

Sailmaker should measure your boat

I'm with Ed. I got competitive quotes from on-line and local lofts, then chose the local sailmaker I liked the best (Greg Koski of Doyle in Cleveland). He met my lowest price, and came to Lady Lillie to see my sails on the boat, and tke measurements. And he continues to be there for questions, advice, and maintenance.If there is not a local loft you want to use, then I think on-line lofts come in two flavors:1. Well informed lofts who have files on the many boats out there. The Doyle loft on this site is a good example. They know how your model is set up, and will do a good job of guiding your measurement effort. I suspect they also do a better job of matching their design to your rig from their database.2. Lofts who will deliver what you measure. I think this is the type you are dealing with. It stands to reason you may get a better price with such a loft. Some of them are off-shore producers. (Although some off-shore operations may also be in category 1.)Finally, if you want to continue with the loft you are working with, I would ask them what they mean, and exactly how they want you to measure your rig.Good luck. New sails are the best improvement we made to Lady Lillie!DavidLady Lillie

 

[Steve O.]

take your sail to the loft

That way they can see how it is set up.

 

[Ed Allen]

measurements

Tack offset is the distance the tack needs to be from the line of the luff. on a lot of boats the fitting is set back to allow room for the gooseneck and behind the normal strait line of the luff.the outhaul cutout makes room for the outhaul fittings on top of the boom, i.e. a track on top of the boom or the like and also allows for proper placement of the outhaul.The problem comes in with different minor variations in the setup that come with differnent owners and different ways of doing things. i agree with the other guys. get the boat measured by a loft. and get your prices baised on that measuremet. The builder of the boat can give you the basic numbers but he of course cant tell if it was modified in any way.over time booms and fittings get changed and the right thing to do is have it measured.hope this clearifys what the deal is.