tell tales and a furling main

[Lovin it]

I have a Selden furling main on my Hunter 31. The head sail came with tell tales installed. The main sail does not have tell tales, but I would like to have them.Is there a reason that the main sail did not come with tell tales? Is there some sort of problem with putting tell tales on a furling main?Thanks.

 

[RichH]

There is only ONE definitive source for tell tales and their use and placement

all other authors, etc. use the following as their 'root source' for placement and use of telltales. Doesnt matter if the sails are roller furling or conventional:www.arvelgentry.com ---> magazine articles ---> then the 'sequential' articles: Checking Trim on the Wind, November 1973Achieving Proper Balance, December 1973Sailing to Windward, January 1974Are You at Optimum Trim?, March 1974These article although written for the 'layman' are 'somewhat' difficult and really need to be read over and over several times. Arvel Gentry is a world famous aerodynamicist/sailor who debunked the slot-effect, was the FIRST (after the Wright brothers) to explain how sails 'really' work, etc. All the 'stuff' you learned in highschool science classes about sails/wings, etc. is totally WRONG, even the Wright brothers knew differently. Gentry's articles essentially set the entire sailing world on its collective ear. hope this helps.

 

[Napa Ed]

website link

http://www.arvelgentry.com

 

[Frank]

folks.......

I think what lovin it is asking is not so much placement but are there any problem or difficulties with the tail tales when you roll out or roll in the main. Frank

 

[higgs]

Od

I can't figure out why tell tails are not included on the main. Cost is minimal and they are important.

 

[jerry]

Have 4 tell tells on the leach

and I use every one of them. Greatly improves my trim. I was amazed at how much very small adjustments in the sail controls made big differences in performance. We have Charleston spar in mast furling main with vertical battens.

 

[frank balcer]

guess......

that means go ahead and put them on.

 

[higgs]

I wonder

Perhaps they are not there because they might get fouled inside the furler.

 

[David10790]

The Furler will shred them

My main tell tales need to be replaced every year, as over time they do get shredded in the furler. The higher ones seem to go first. No big deal - simply put new ones on in the spring.

 

[Lovin it]

Thanks for the input!

It seems that the biggest problem that folks foresee with putting the tell tales is that they will wear quickly and need replacing. I also asked my hunter dealer about this and his response was along the same lines. "They won't last as long as on a non-furling sail, but there's no real problem with doing it."So now my plan is to put short one's on the main (4 inches of yarn) and attach them with a dab of glue. Scott B.: Thanks for saying so. I appreciate it.Frank B.: Glad you turned me on to sailboatowners.com!!

 

[RichH]

DONT glue them .......

the glue can soften the plasticizer that is sometimes used to FILL between the yarns. Suggest you use either the Davis Tell Tales (commonly available) or use small 'dots' of insigna cloth (adhesive backed ripstop nylon or dacron) to affix them. Commercial telltales or those made from ripstop can be 'wrinkled' so that they dont 'stick' to a sail. ;-)

 

[Joseph Shirley]

Fair-weather Sailors

I have seen all kinds of telltale descriptions on this forum and swear that 90+% recommend ribbons or tape or strips of cloth of some sort, and I'm sure that they all work just fine on bright sunny dry days. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and have cruised and sailed many races in the rain, and In the rain, all those ribbon type telltales stick to the sail (even if they are wrinkled) and are practically useless (I think), unless you have someone permanently stationed to continuously slap the sails to shake the telltales loose. Now I know I'm going to hear the other side of the argument.I prefer yarn, and attach them through the sail with a needle through the cloth, with a figure eight knot on the back side. The ribbons are OK for the end of the batten pockets however.On racing sails, some sail-makers install one clear telltale window about 1/3 of the way up the luff of the jib for steering telltales (if you pay for it), and will put telltales on any sail anywhere you want them to, but again you have to specify and pay extra for it. Most sailors just prefer to put them on themselves.Good SailingJoe S

 

[Joe]

tell tales.......

lovin' it........ I posted a link to an excellent telltale article just a few days ago.Use red and green yarn for the pairs of "steering" telltales on the headsail, available at any chandlery.For the leech tells on the main, 3 or 4 single, nylon ribbon types are preferred, attached near the end of the batten pockets. Also available at any chandlery.Link to "Telling Tales" article:  http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/95_11_Tellingtales/Tellingtales.htmlexamples.... http://www.apsltd.com/Tree/d3000/e1916.asp