baggy mainsail question...

[causeway]

My main is terribly baggy, especially on the section closest to the luff.

When I put the flattening reef in It looks pretty good.

Can I just take the bolt rope out of its slot and use the flattening reef points and make the sail loose footed?

Any dangers in doing this? I'll be using a set downhaul and adjustable outhaul. If that makes any difference.

Many thanks

 

[europe172]

You could just try to see if it works for you, you will never know if you just listern to advice, have a go and report back

 

[causeway]

Yeah, I think I'll do just that. Shake down sail tomorrow so we'll soon see!

 

[lpdsn]

My main is terribly baggy, especially on the section closest to the luff.

Try a bit more halyard tension. If you end up with wrinkles parallel to the mast, and they're still there when you've trimmed the sail in, ease off slightly.

 

[causeway]

No matter how I tension it, the bagginess is severe. It takes the 'depth' out of it when I use the flattening. It just looks like a well worn sail instead of a fully blown one. Scheduled 20kn gusts tomorrow so a flattening reef might be a good idea anyway!

 

[Daydream believer]

Are you able to put a bend in the mast to take out some of the belly

 

[Daydream believer]

My main is terribly baggy, especially on the section closest to the luff.

When I put the flattening reef in It looks pretty good.

Can I just take the bolt rope out of its slot and use the flattening reef points and make the sail loose footed?

Any dangers in doing this? I'll be using a set downhaul and adjustable outhaul. If that makes any difference.

Many thanks

The bolt rope will still be the same length whether in the boom or not so will probably do nothing. But as others have said - try it

 

[causeway]

Are you able to put a bend in the mast to take out some of the belly

I have the backstay on pretty tight already, so I don't think that will work.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have the backstay on pretty tight already, so I don't think that will work.

It depends what rig you have . If you have a 7/8 rig you can ease the lowers a bit, tighten the uppers to put a slight bend in the mast & then tightening the backstay will bend the mast a bit more
Not the same with a masthead rig

 

[causeway]

It's single spreader masthead and has a pretty massive section. Doesn't bend much!

 

[Lakesailor]

Is it a conventional bolt-rope? It may have shrunk. Can you unpick the bolt-rope at the head and try hoisting the sail. If the creases have gone you need a new bolt rope.


This was my old sail with a shrunken bolt-rope. The other is a new sail.

 

[causeway]

I think that is exactly what's happened. Some of those characteristics are shared with my sail.

How much would it cost, roughly, to have a new bolt rope sewn in? Bearing in mind it's a fairly tall masthead rig.

 

[chrisb]

Call yourself a live aboard and it will all be ok

 

[causeway]

I had been living aboard, so not far off.

 

[Lakesailor]

See a sailmaker. Some may replace the rope, some may want to sew in a new moulded bolt-rope tape.

 

[causeway]

I'll give my local place a call once I've measured it.

Thanks for the replies everybody.

 

[John the kiwi]

Try and find a local well recommended sail maker and get him to view the sail hoisted, then take his advice on repairs.
My sails used to look like the "before" photo above, but for about 10 % of cost of new sails spent on adjustments by the sailmaker, they now look like the "after" photo. Not quite as white though!
The boat sails better and flatter and i have deferred a new main until next season or maybe the one after.

 

[causeway]

Just to square the circle, this worked a treat. Boat pointed great and looked better on all points of sail.