Hey, All. I have a small 22-footer and trying to save money any way I can. So, just acquired a main for my boat, but the seller measured the luff wrong and I ended up with a too large of a sail. I tried solving this problem by making a sliding gooseneck, but still, the luff is too long...22 inches longer than I want. WHAT TO DO? How would you cut the sail? From the head or from the foot? --If i cut it from the foot- I would loose an existing cunningham and reefing points would be too close to the boom... --If I cut from the top, the roach becomes too large and would be hitting my backstay, plus, if I do trim the roach, the first batten would also need to be cut....and that first batten also would be much closer to the head than before... Would I have to move the batten pocket down too??? How would you cut it? It's practically a new sail in very good condition and I would hate to loose it Please advise... Thanks,
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I'd cut the foot .....
and make a loose footed sail out of it. but but but you will have to do some bodaceous alterations: Assuming this sail is woven dacron ....... You will have to reset & 'preload' the luff boltrope using 6 ply sailmakers twine and a sewing palm .... Such a boltrope is usually 'shortened' approx. 1 inch for every 11 foot of luff length, (the boltrope is shorter than the luff length so that the sail is able to perform at its 'target design' wind range in 15 knots. Then you will have to add/sew a dacron reinforcing tape on the foot, then add reinforcement patches at the clew and tack, then set new cringles (can be hand sewn with palm, sailtwine and rings) ... or sew on D rings with webbing attachments. Can be done as a DIY project but if you havent done this before the BEST is to take it to a sailmaker and have the foot cut off, the boltrope 'preloaded' properly, reinforcement patches added, and new tack and clew cringles/D-rings set. All boats are not the same especially the angle that the sail makes with the boom .... a sailmaker will make the correct angle cut, for your boat. Its an easy job, but involves a lot of 'handwork' (expensive) so it may be the best solution to just re-sell the sail and buy one that already fits.
and make a loose footed sail out of it. but but but you will have to do some bodaceous alterations: Assuming this sail is woven dacron ....... You will have to reset & 'preload' the luff boltrope using 6 ply sailmakers twine and a sewing palm .... Such a boltrope is usually 'shortened' approx. 1 inch for every 11 foot of luff length, (the boltrope is shorter than the luff length so that the sail is able to perform at its 'target design' wind range in 15 knots. Then you will have to add/sew a dacron reinforcing tape on the foot, then add reinforcement patches at the clew and tack, then set new cringles (can be hand sewn with palm, sailtwine and rings) ... or sew on D rings with webbing attachments. Can be done as a DIY project but if you havent done this before the BEST is to take it to a sailmaker and have the foot cut off, the boltrope 'preloaded' properly, reinforcement patches added, and new tack and clew cringles/D-rings set. All boats are not the same especially the angle that the sail makes with the boom .... a sailmaker will make the correct angle cut, for your boat. Its an easy job, but involves a lot of 'handwork' (expensive) so it may be the best solution to just re-sell the sail and buy one that already fits.
Why not use the first reefing point
For a quick fix, can't you use the first reefing point? Otherwise, I would take it to a sail loft - they would charge you time and material and it shouldn't be more than a couple of hours to fix your sail. They would probably keep the foot if that is working for you. The best fix would be to send the wrong sail back for a refund and get a sail that fits. There are plenty of used sails on the market. If you inherited the sail from the P.O. and you cannot get a refund, there are places you can trade in. Try Minneys Yacht Surplus - you can find them on line. See if you can work out a deal.
For a quick fix, can't you use the first reefing point? Otherwise, I would take it to a sail loft - they would charge you time and material and it shouldn't be more than a couple of hours to fix your sail. They would probably keep the foot if that is working for you. The best fix would be to send the wrong sail back for a refund and get a sail that fits. There are plenty of used sails on the market. If you inherited the sail from the P.O. and you cannot get a refund, there are places you can trade in. Try Minneys Yacht Surplus - you can find them on line. See if you can work out a deal.
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