blaggard
Active Member
Im having a new mainsail and the sailmaker has asked if I want loose foot or roped foot. Never used a loose foot before, what are the pros/cons?
loose footed or roped
- Thread starter blaggard
- Start date
BAtoo
Well-Known Member
Loose footed for me; I think you can get better shape in the lower part of the sail being able to adjust it better and it should be cheaper (mine have been anyway!!) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Poignard
Well-Known Member
I like it because the sail seems to take up a better shape and I can tie the reef points between the sail and the boom, which I couldn't do before because my old sail had a roped foot in a groove on the boom.
Cerddinen
Well-Known Member
Almost all racing boats have loose footed. It is hard to imagine what the advantages of a roped foot are. Perhaps there may be explanations based around preventing wind spilling through the loose foot. But the fact that racers are loose footed demonstrate other factors dominate. Perhaps a roped sail will stow better when used with lazy jacks. Having had a loose footed main on my previous boat I plan to change from roped to loose footed when I buy a new main for my current boat.
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
Loose foot makes for a better sail shape in the lower part of the sail. It is normal to attach the clew of the sail to a car running in the groove in boom, rather than directly to the outhaul, so the foot of the sail may have to be a little bit shorter than a sail with a roped foot. The sailmaker can compensate for the shorter foot by adding a bit more roach, which gives sail area higher up, where it does more good. My own old mainsail is full battened, with a loose foot, and I am having the new one made the same way.
boguing
Well-Known Member
This one really gets my goat.
We're talking about the foot of the sail here. The shortest dimension, admittedly.
What was the type of airliner that you last flew on that the designer wasn't quite sure about how to finish off the wing root? He gave up and just left "a bit of a gap".
There is only one camber that is perfect for any given apparent wind speed. You control the camber with the clew outhaul.
Fact.
Given that camber - which is exactly the same on either sail - why would you not then have the 'shelf' fitted to the bottom of the sail to close the biggest 'tip loss' off above the boom?
We're talking about the foot of the sail here. The shortest dimension, admittedly.
What was the type of airliner that you last flew on that the designer wasn't quite sure about how to finish off the wing root? He gave up and just left "a bit of a gap".
There is only one camber that is perfect for any given apparent wind speed. You control the camber with the clew outhaul.
Fact.
Given that camber - which is exactly the same on either sail - why would you not then have the 'shelf' fitted to the bottom of the sail to close the biggest 'tip loss' off above the boom?
Seanick
Well-Known Member
Given that camber - which is exactly the same on either sail - why would you not then have the 'shelf' fitted to the bottom of the sail to close the biggest 'tip loss' off above the boom?
When you dont have a boom!
Boom Boom!
When you dont have a boom!
Boom Boom!
Robin
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Given that camber - which is exactly the same on either sail - why would you not then have the 'shelf' fitted to the bottom of the sail to close the biggest 'tip loss' off above the boom?
[/ QUOTE ]
Because it isn't necessary! The loose foot is cut with a rounded shape not a straight line and this leaves a fold of cloth that lays across the boom and guess what - just like a shelf foot used to do except it's bottom edge doesn't have a bolt rope in the boom groove.
Given that camber - which is exactly the same on either sail - why would you not then have the 'shelf' fitted to the bottom of the sail to close the biggest 'tip loss' off above the boom?
[/ QUOTE ]
Because it isn't necessary! The loose foot is cut with a rounded shape not a straight line and this leaves a fold of cloth that lays across the boom and guess what - just like a shelf foot used to do except it's bottom edge doesn't have a bolt rope in the boom groove.
flaming
Well-Known Member
As others have said the foot of a loose fitted sail is not straight, so in reality there is not a gap.
In addition I have always found the friction in a bolt rope main to be such that it is hard to get it to take its proper shape in lighter winds. Even with the outhaul completely slack there was not enough pressure in the sail to overcome the friction and actually increase the camber.
In addition I have always found the friction in a bolt rope main to be such that it is hard to get it to take its proper shape in lighter winds. Even with the outhaul completely slack there was not enough pressure in the sail to overcome the friction and actually increase the camber.
reeac
Well-Known Member
I asked the man at Parker & Kay about this matter when ordering a new mainsail a few years ago and he stated quite clearly that loosefooted was the way to go. After all loosefooted headsails are accepted by all.
Cerddinen
Well-Known Member
I had the opposite problem: not enough force could be applied to pull the clew toward the end of the boom to flatten the sail. When I really tried the webbing holding the slider to the sail gave way. I think the problem was exacerbated by the lazy bag also being located in the slot in the boom. The combination of sail and bag prevented any real movement.
lw395
Well-Known Member
I'm sure the racing lofts will be pleased to hear your explanation of how they've gone wrong over the years...
Loose footed is generally accepted for racing as giving best adjustability and shape. Normally cut with some round in the foot, so you get a little bit of free area below the line of the boom, which also restricts flow under the foot.
One downside is that if the foot round is excessive, when the sail is getting old, you may get some flapping or vibration in the foot. I have a dinghy sail that does this but its a very beaten up mylar sail that I use for practising.
A loose footed sail is also easier to take off or bend on, as you don't have to thread the bolt rope. I used to notice this when changing to the racing main before the crew turned up...
Loose footed is generally accepted for racing as giving best adjustability and shape. Normally cut with some round in the foot, so you get a little bit of free area below the line of the boom, which also restricts flow under the foot.
One downside is that if the foot round is excessive, when the sail is getting old, you may get some flapping or vibration in the foot. I have a dinghy sail that does this but its a very beaten up mylar sail that I use for practising.
A loose footed sail is also easier to take off or bend on, as you don't have to thread the bolt rope. I used to notice this when changing to the racing main before the crew turned up...
Dipper
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Never used a loose foot before
[/ QUOTE ]
I bet you have! When you reef your main, it will in effect be loose footed.
I agree with the others. Go for a loose foot.
Never used a loose foot before
[/ QUOTE ]
I bet you have! When you reef your main, it will in effect be loose footed.
I agree with the others. Go for a loose foot.
blaggard
Active Member
Good point dipper, didnt think of that. Loose footed it is I reckon
Cotillion
Well-Known Member
That hadn't occured to me.
I often wondered why the sail looked better and gave a better performance when reefed.
I often wondered why the sail looked better and gave a better performance when reefed.
dansaskip
Well-Known Member
Loose of course - its a no brainer