Is my mainsail worn out ?

J

JimC

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Symptoms are: boat doesn't point too well to windward, 50 degrees or worse from apparent wind. Excessive weather helm when only moderately hard pressed. Leech flutters and can only be stilled by tightening leech line to the point where the leech is 'hooked'. When it's drawing the sail forms a fair curve with the deepest point about a third of the way back from the mast, but it looks rather a deep-bellied curve and it's virtually impossible to avoid back-winding it with the overlapping genoa. Halyard, outhaul and kicker all tight and traveller to lee to flatten sail as much as possible.

Assuming it does need replacing, any reccommendations for sailmakers, I'm in NW England. Also, as sails are presumably all of similar age, any way of telling if roller-reefing genoa is also past it. Boat is a Sarum 28.

Thanks
 
How old is it & whats it made of?? Doesnt sound good tho'........However before you go down this route check your rigging is set up & correctly tensioned - most rigging is too slack- if its not properly set up then even a good sail wont do itself justice.
However I've always used Quantum Sails tho' not sure if they have a branch your way.
 
If its not too stetched you would be able to flatten the sail to some extent by having a cunningham eye fitted. i wouldnt think it would be expensive to get one put in.
 
sounds bad to me, agree with the cunningham, it does make a differance, also, try lifting the boom with the topping lift to open the leach a little and also slacken the tack line. I found steve goacher's sails (GOACHER SAILS) to be of excellent quality and the price is compentative with most of the available brands. plus you get a bespoke sail, not an 'off the peg' one.
 
I never understand why so many people spend money on all sorts of luxuries but flounder around with rubbish sails. Go on, bite the bullet and treat the boat.

- Nick
 
If it looks like this, it's had it

mainbagginess.jpg


You need a new main (this by Steve Goacher)

newmain01.jpg
 
Traveller shouldn't be to leeward but on or above centreline unless its blowing a bit.

If it is too baggy, but the cloth is still good, a sailmaker might be able to recut it, and give it a few years more life. I had that done to the luff of my main (North, 1990) and it works really well now.
 
Well it is difficult to say. You may get better performance from a new sail. However I reckon a sail needs replacing when it starts to show too much damage and gets holes in it.
My first reaction is my old cry...Don't spend money..... that is from me on my 4th set of sails. But they were flogged pretty hard over 25 years.

Don't worry about a bit of backwinding from the genoa.
You should try to get some mast bend to help with the excess camber. Haul on the backstay (fractional rig) or backstay and inner forestay on a mast head rig. Expect to get 2 or 3 inches of middle mast forward. You may need to loosen inner shrouds a little. More so for fractional.
When you have got too much weather helm you may find a good reef will take out the excess camber and get the boat going to windward again. however remeber when reefed you stilll need only more so to get the outhaul and halyard really tight. good luck............. olewilll
 
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