Launched, but still not fit for sea

[gandy]

We launched on Sat after a crack of dawn (relatively) start to get to the boatyard. Loads of final touches were still not done, so we spent the rest of the day on the mooring pottering around with shackles, whipping twine etc to get everything shipshape.

The bombshell came on Sun morning when we tried to get the genoa up. This had just been modified with a new luff tape to suit the furling gear, and it was too tight. No only couldn't it be hoisted more that 10ft up the spar, but we had a fearsome stuggle to get it down again. I thought I'd have to cut the tape to get the sail down at all.

20 mins to go before I can phone the sailmaker, then there's all the logistics of getting the sail to and from them.

Am I allowed to say "bollocks"?

 

[webcraft]

We had similar probs fitting a new boltrope to our old genoa - except it was too small and kept falling out.

The answer - too late for you or I now but aimed at other people thinking of fitting a new luff tape/boltrope - is to get a short sample from the sailmaker first and try it in the groove.

- Nick

 

[capt_courageous]

I really do think you must have said a lot of other interesting words at the time. Most of us would have. Hope you get it fixed soon.

 

[gandy]

That's an excellent idea Webcraft. Wish I'd thought of it a month ago. Aside from checking the fitting it could be hoisted up and down a couple of time clear grit out of the groove, or to wax it.

This time I have a 2" offcut of the foil that I've packed with the sail. I note it takes a couple of pounds of force to slide this along ... so I reckon it would take around 1/2 ton of force to finally hoist the 32ft luff.

 

[Twister_Ken]

>The answer - too late for you or I now but aimed at other people thinking of fitting a new luff tape/boltrope - is to get a short sample from the sailmaker first and try it in the groove.<

Yerbut that's what sailmakers are spozed to do.

When I had a new genny made, first thing Jeckells did was to send along a man with a tape measure and a pocket full of bolt ropes. Result, sail fitted and worked straight out of bag.

 

[Cornishman]

[ QUOTE ]
Am I allowed to say "bollocks"?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you just have. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Thistle]

Aye! I've seen this kind of thing too often both on board and ashore. I now get anyone else who's involved in the job to come and do their own measurements. It generally doesn't cost anything and has saved me much time, £, and grief when, for example, a replacement window arrived 30cm too short and a toughened glass door was delivered 5mm too long. In each case the tradesman (?) who made the mistake sorted the problem out as quickly and quietly as he possibly could and at his expense.

In the sailmaker's case, getting someone to look over a boat for a few minutes with a tape measure must save them a lot of problems in the long run.

 

[gandy]

I guess these things are a lot easier if you've a choice of sailmakers close enough to pop across and do the measuring. We don't, unfortunately.

Still at least we're afloat. A colleague took this on Saturday evening.

 

[Twister_Ken]

>I guess these things are a lot easier if you've a choice of sailmakers close enough to pop across and do the measuring.<

Err, Jeckells, Wroxham Norfolk.
Me, Lymington (was then).
They still managed to get a bloke there.

 

[capnsensible]

Me, Gib, sailmaker Hong Kong, won't do that again!!!

 

[gandy]

Maybe I should have got Jeckells do do the mods. I'd be pleasantly surprised if there were many other sailmakers who'd do a 450 mile round trip to measure up for a £120 job. I can't remember if I asked Jeckells, but a number of sailmakers didn't even want to quote for the work.