Seems a little floppy! I don't have a boom vang, which I plan to add soon, but I do have the outhaul pulled tight and the main halyard pulled tight as well. Any advice? (I'm also missing a batten in the middle of the three, if that has any effect.)
Sail Shape
- Thread starter EnamrdSalr21
- Start date
The sail is probably blown out beyond its original shape, so no matter what you do it won’t look (or sail) like new. There might be some things to improve it. Replacing the missing batten will improve shape of the leech a bit. It looks like you don’t have a topping lift, but if you do be sure it’s slack while the sail is up. See if you can get the halyard any tighter. It looks like you have a little bit of a scallop shape at the luff which the tighter halyard will fix. When you’re raising it be sure the sail is luffing to reduce the friction. You could try to clean and lubricate the track to reduce the friction too.
It’s easier to evaluate sail shape on a beat than when off the wind. Especially without a vang it’s hard to tell much when the sheet is eased. Once you add a vang it will also be easier to keep the middle part of the sail off the spreaders once you ease the sheet.
It’s easier to evaluate sail shape on a beat than when off the wind. Especially without a vang it’s hard to tell much when the sheet is eased. Once you add a vang it will also be easier to keep the middle part of the sail off the spreaders once you ease the sheet.
David's right. A vang would help, but even with one, you're hanging your mainsail up on the spreaders by letting too much mainsheet out. Try to moving the traveller (not shown in your photo) to starboard all the way. Keep the sail off the spreaders - swept back spreaders require the main to stay in closer even when running, which is why tacking downwind is useful for boats with these spreaders.
Unfortunately no traveler on this little boat. The mainsheet attaches to a triangle on the backstay.
Sheet on the main to create some leech tension and then you will have a better image of how bad the sail is stretched. Generally if you are going upwind in moderate conditions you should be able to comfortably sheet the boom close to center line or to the center line if you have a traveler.
You need to pull in the mainsheet (a lot it seems).
With no traveller or vang, the only adjustment tools you have are the halyard…which looks like could be tightened a bit further, the outhaul…which you say is pulled tight, and the mainsheet. I think running downwind will give you a “floppy” look because you need to let the mainsheet out, and don’t have anything to keep the boom down.
The sails are probably baggy, but the sail controls aren’t going to help, especially when trying to run down wind.
What did it look like on a beam reach? Or close hauled?
Greg
With no traveller or vang, the only adjustment tools you have are the halyard…which looks like could be tightened a bit further, the outhaul…which you say is pulled tight, and the mainsheet. I think running downwind will give you a “floppy” look because you need to let the mainsheet out, and don’t have anything to keep the boom down.
The sails are probably baggy, but the sail controls aren’t going to help, especially when trying to run down wind.
What did it look like on a beam reach? Or close hauled?
Greg
Thank you for the advice! Unfortunately I didn’t pay enough attention to the sail shape during my first short trial run. I kind of thought of it afterward and I was lucky enough to have taken this one picture while I was out.
My next run I’ll take a much more meticulous look at different points of sail.
No, he is an inexperienced sailor who acquired an old boat that needs a lot of work. He might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the learning curve.
First of all, I want to say I really like the Oday 192, that little guy has so much to offer. Okay, here's my thoughts:
Putting more tension on the mainsheet will not get rid of that bulge. Nor will the halyard, nor will a vang. More leech tension actually increases the draft depth giving the sail more power, The halyard and cunningham will move the draft's position but not make it shallower. A vang would have to be able to bend the boom to change anything...not an option in my opinion.
Therefore, your two options to reduce draft depth are bending the mast with more backstay tension, something your fractionally rigged boat is designed to do, the other is to use your outhaul in an attempt to pull the belly out of the sail's lower third. Many, many sailors now opt for loose foot mainsails, the bottom of the sail is not attached except at the corners. Yikes, isn't that hard on the sail? No.... most of the load is on the corners. If it bothers you, then lash the clew to the boom, (loosely so it will slide) with a short sail tie.
Oh, there's a third option if trimming it out doesn't help. That would be to re cut the sail (ha, ha, been there ). By the way, a picture of the sail with the boom centered and the sail off the spreaders would provide a better evaluation. However, I'm guessing that sail is original to the boat so it's time to re cut or replace.
Putting more tension on the mainsheet will not get rid of that bulge. Nor will the halyard, nor will a vang. More leech tension actually increases the draft depth giving the sail more power, The halyard and cunningham will move the draft's position but not make it shallower. A vang would have to be able to bend the boom to change anything...not an option in my opinion.
Therefore, your two options to reduce draft depth are bending the mast with more backstay tension, something your fractionally rigged boat is designed to do, the other is to use your outhaul in an attempt to pull the belly out of the sail's lower third. Many, many sailors now opt for loose foot mainsails, the bottom of the sail is not attached except at the corners. Yikes, isn't that hard on the sail? No.... most of the load is on the corners. If it bothers you, then lash the clew to the boom, (loosely so it will slide) with a short sail tie.
Oh, there's a third option if trimming it out doesn't help. That would be to re cut the sail (ha, ha, been there ). By the way, a picture of the sail with the boom centered and the sail off the spreaders would provide a better evaluation. However, I'm guessing that sail is original to the boat so it's time to re cut or replace.
I took a video while I was sailing that day. Here is a screenshot. I believe I'm closer to center with the sail at this point, but I can't 100% tell since the whole sail is not in the picture. Next time I get out I will try and see if I can get a more complete shot!
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,879
I do not know the 192 rig.
The gooseneck is the hardware that attaches the boom to the mast. On many small boats, the gooseneck slides in the luff track. If so, on your boat, you can attach a line to the gooseneck and, after hauling the sail to the top of the mast, tighten the line, pulling the gooseneck down to tighten the luff. I like a small cleat on the mast to secure this line.
Technically, a Cunningham is attached to the sail, but on some small boats, the sail is attached to the gooseneck. Thus the Cunningham is attached to the gooseneck.
Here is an example of a boom fixed to the mast, and the Cunningham running through the luff cringle to tighten the sail luff.
The gooseneck is the hardware that attaches the boom to the mast. On many small boats, the gooseneck slides in the luff track. If so, on your boat, you can attach a line to the gooseneck and, after hauling the sail to the top of the mast, tighten the line, pulling the gooseneck down to tighten the luff. I like a small cleat on the mast to secure this line.
Technically, a Cunningham is attached to the sail, but on some small boats, the sail is attached to the gooseneck. Thus the Cunningham is attached to the gooseneck.
Here is an example of a boom fixed to the mast, and the Cunningham running through the luff cringle to tighten the sail luff.
I've admired the 192 as a worthy successor to the Mariner. From the last image EmanrdSailr21 posted, it looks like the foot is tracked. This probably means that the sail is either original or very old. I am in agreement with those that have responded regarding various changes to the running rigging, but the bottom line is that this sail is well past its sell by date IMHO.
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The boat will still sail with the the one you have. Given that 192s were produced between 1984 and 1989 (when the company closed), it is unlikely that you'll find one that is demonstrably better than what you currently have. If you are planning on keeping the boat for any length of time, start budgeting for a new, loose footed one. North Sails is a good place to start for pricing.
Dude! Your sail is blown, man. Replace it. Those swept spreaders would indicate the 192 was not designed to run dead down wind on the main. Use your Asym, and keep the main trimmed in, and off the spreaders. You're better off tacking (controlled jibes) on a broad reach instead of running ddw. Either way, that main has had the weinnie.
-ChillWill
-ChillWill
It does look a little better closehauled, so a lot of the trouble further off the wind is probably the lack of a vang. Those backstay mounted mainsheets provide basically no downforce at all once the sheet is eased, making the vang even more important. Still, the shape is blown out so a new sail will serve you well.
Enamrd .There are quite a few reputeable sail lofts that sell used sails. I've had excellant experiances with a few of them.
As your boat is fairly popular, onne would think a replacement with a used one would be less painful.
Measure your actual mast and boom . Many times a sail from a differant make and model will fit close enough
As your boat is fairly popular, onne would think a replacement with a used one would be less painful.
Measure your actual mast and boom . Many times a sail from a differant make and model will fit close enough
I would like that! Do you have any of the top of your head that you would recommend?