Flogging

[Carling]

I have a 1969 Trapper 28 and when close hauled or similar the main flogs and I can not stop it. I have recently had the sail refurbished and new standing rigging installed. I have tried altering the tension on the backstay and adjusting the leech line.

Or will I have to spend money on a new, less baggy, sail??

 

[sarabande]

Sounds as if the leach is too long, or perhaps the boom needs bringing up to windward a bit more ? Can you bring the mainsheet track further upwind or is it fixed to a single point ?

 

[flaming]

Without actaully seeing the sail it's very difficult to say what is causing it to flog.
What sorf of main is it? Is it a slab reef? Roller furling? Fully battened etc? And you don't say what part of it is flogging, but guess from the reference to leech lines that it's the leech!?

Assuming it's not the evil roller furling then have you done the obvious and checked that all the batterns are still in their pockets? Next step would be to put on more main sheet. If the sail isn't completely blown then you should be able to stop leech motor with mainsheet tension, using small amounts of leech line when that is going to over power the boat.

 

[Lakesailor]

Have you tried playing with the outhaul and gooseneck height and mast bend (less of) to try and induce some baginess nearer the luff so that the leech is tighter. Leaves you with less options for stronger winds though.

All a bit make-do. If you know your sail is baggy, you know the problem.
But I can't stand fluttering sails either.

 

[Carling]

I did try moving the track to windward but it did not make a big difference.

 

[Carling]

The sail is slab reefing and has no battens. It is the leech that flogs and it is driving me mad. We were sailing/racing for 7 hours on Saturday and every upwind part of the course was accompanied by a racket from the sail. Would adding battens be worth while or would I just be wasting my money?

 

[flaming]

A slab reefing sail with no batterns.....! Unless the leech is really hollow, like on a roller furling job, then I would suggest that batterns would be a really good idea, especially if wanting to be at all serious about racing!

This is another question though where a call to your local friendly sail maker is the right call to make.

 

[flaming]

P.s. A flogging sail is destroying itself bit by bit every time you go out.

 

[Salty John]

If the sail has any roach it will need battens, but they would have been included by the original sailmaker. I had a roachless, battenless main for several years and it was great - it certainly didn't flog.

 

[Carling]

I think that the sail was originally a boom reefing job and has been changed by previous owners...there are many modifications to this boat, some great, others not so!

 

[Lakesailor]

Solve all the problems and get a new sail. (with battens this time)

 

[flaming]

[ QUOTE ]
I think that the sail was originally a boom reefing job and has been changed by previous owners...

[/ QUOTE ]

If that's the case then I suspect that adding batterns may be akin to throwing good money after bad. It may be time to cut your losses and get a nice new main, especially if you're doing much racing.

 

[Carling]

Thank you all very much for your advice and opinions, you have confirmed what I feared and I guess I will have to spend a bit more money.

 

[temptress]

[ QUOTE ]
..... and I guess I will have to spend a bit more money.

[/ QUOTE ]

welcome to boat ownership!

Before yo ubuy a new sail go and talk to a local sialmaker about what yo uwant/need and how much it will ocst you. you will be surprised ath the number of option sopen to you. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[flaming]

[ QUOTE ]
talk to a local sialmaker about what yo uwant/need and how much it will ocst you. you will be surprised ath the number of option s open to you. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

And that's a whole 'nother thread...!

 

[temptress]

Just a thread - it a whole website with books as wel.................

 

[flaming]

[ QUOTE ]
Just a thread - it a whole website with books as wel.................

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean there is a boating subject that can't be answered with a simple thread on these forums....!?

Madness!