Clew/outhaul on loose-footed mainsail

[rob2]

I've just bent on a new loose-footed main. I've never used a loose-footed sail and was wondering whether to put a slide on the clew to hold it down to the boom or, as the nice man at Z Spars suggested, a velcro strap around the boom or maybe nothing. What do other people use and what advantages do different methods offer?

Rob.

 

[earlybird]

You need something. My Kemp boom has a fairly substantial slide to which the outhaul fastens. A velcro strap might be easier to fit quickly, but I feel that a slide would be better.

 

[dt4134]

I've just bent on a new loose-footed main. I've never used a loose-footed sail and was wondering whether to put a slide on the clew to hold it down to the boom or, as the nice man at Z Spars suggested, a velcro strap around the boom or maybe nothing. What do other people use and what advantages do different methods offer?

Rob.

A velcro strap is very common practice and I've always found it works well. Make sure it can slide back & forth as you tighten or ease the outhaul.

The big advantage is less friction so easier adjustment of the sail.

The slide would need to be strong to take the forces (you might not think it but the velcro straps can handle a big load) so you'd need a decent slug, you'd also get more friction and sometimes you find the slug will jam.

Using nothing isn't practical. Generally the outhaul can't stop the clew going up so when you ease it you'd get a horrible shaped sail.

 

[Skysail]

A slide in the boom groove would be more bullet proof.

 

[Robin]

I'm very surprised that a new loose footed main would have been supplied without a boom slide fitted as standard for the outhaul. A velcro loop of Dyneema web is an option but in addition to rather than instead of a slug for really high loaded mains. We had both but never used the strap on a really powerful main over 300 sqft.

 

[dt4134]

We had both but never used the strap on a really powerful main over 300 sqft.

And there's me using just a velcro strap on a 600 sq ft main.

To be honest, I was so used to dealing with velcro straps on racers that when the sailmaker suggested one for the main on the cruiser I just didn't think of it as the least out of the ordinary.