Tensioning the foot of the main?

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reefmagnet

.
May 9, 2011
1,000
High everyone. I've got an original unmolested roller reefing proctor boom on my Vega (I don't use it for furling however). It has a tang mounted into the track that connects to the clew of the mainsail via some line, but there is no obvious way of tensioning it - I just tighten the line as tight as I can by hand.

My question is am I missing something with the boom that moves the tang for tensioning, or is there some other system I'm missing?

Cheers, Jeff.
 
B

bruceblumenstein

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Mar 16, 2012
23
I went out sailing this morning in a rather light air so I loosened the clew line which runs to a small block attached at the aft boom end. The wind was barely so the line released from the jaws and the foot of the sail set back about six inches and I set the line back in the jaws and went along with a fuller sail drawing nicely.
Later in the morning the South wind was coming along with it's rippling advancement and intent to blow the fog out of the overhead so I lifted the boom up slightly and released the clew tail out of its jaws. With one hand I pulled with a grip on the clew web while pulling the tail line back into the jaws. This brought the clew back to its legal marker on the boom. The wind slammed the main, and off we departed on a tack. There is just that little block pulley but perhaps a double block would make the process easier. However you go or do, waiting to tension the sail foot after the big wind comes. means you will have to head up into the wind and slack the sail halyard even if you have Arnold Swartsenneger pulling on that clew tail for you. -Bruce
 
G

groundhogyh

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May 30, 2006
1,075
I have a small double block attached to that tang.Then there is a small high strenght line that runs through the block and through the clew cringle several times to get more purchase.
 
P

pjacobs55

.
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Hi Jeff,
I'm always amazed at how much force is required to tighten the foot of the main with the outhaul. I have a loose footed main so you'd think it would slide easily. But in a wind it requires both hands while standing on the cockpit seat to cinch it down.
I use a couple of small double blocks and a clam cleat, giving me a 4 to 1 advantage.

Picture: http://www3.telus.net/sailing/outhaul.jpg

Originally there was a piece of line looped through the boom end fitting a couple of times, and tied off in a knot ... 'knot' very convenient!
Releasing the main sheet a bit helps a lot to ease tightening it.

Peter
www.sintacha.com
 
R

reefmagnet

.
May 9, 2011
1,000
Hey thanks for that guys. I know what you mean about the amount of effort
required. My last boat which was 24 feet had twin triple blocks inside the
boom for tensioning the foot.

So anyway, it looks like I'll rig up a set of twin blocks for the Vega.
This doesn't create too much tail of line when tensioned I hope. What size
line would you recommend? 3 mm spectra or 5/6 mm doubler braid?

Cheers, Jeff.
 
A

albinvega3283

.
Oct 30, 2019
234
Hi All

Has this thread only been discussing main sails which are loose footed or does a standard bolt rope footed main require the same block tension to be applied for strong wind sailing?

David Wisdish
Ponteneur V3283

From: Jeff Brown
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2013 8:42 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Tensioning the foot of the main?


Hey thanks for that guys. I know what you mean about the amount of effort
required. My last boat which was 24 feet had twin triple blocks inside the
boom for tensioning the foot.

So anyway, it looks like I'll rig up a set of twin blocks for the Vega.
This doesn't create too much tail of line when tensioned I hope. What size
line would you recommend? 3 mm spectra or 5/6 mm doubler braid?

Cheers, Jeff.
 
R

reefmagnet

.
May 9, 2011
1,000
My sail has a bolt rope which I assume must have been standard on the
model. My last boat had a bolt rope as well and it required some effort to
tension in a blow from memory.
 
A

albinvega3283

.
Oct 30, 2019
234
Hi Jeff

I had not thought that the Vega main was large enough to require block and tackle force to tighten. I will give it a go and see if sailing is improved with an assisted tightened foot to the main. Thanks for the idea.

David

From: Jeff Brown
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 4:27 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Tensioning the foot of the main?


My sail has a bolt rope which I assume must have been standard on the
model. My last boat had a bolt rope as well and it required some effort to
tension in a blow from memory.
 
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