Loose footed v bolt rope main on Berwick

[DennisF]

Hi all,

I have a 1979 Berwick with the original roller reeling. I recently got a new mainsail, with reeding points added in case I decide to upgrade to slab reeling in the future. However, on fitting it this week I found it is loose footed other than a slide at the clew rather than the bolt rope I asked for. The sailmaker assures me that it should roller reef without problem with this arrangement, but has offered to fit a bolt rope if I am not happy after testing it.

What do people think of loose footed versus bolt rope for this sort of boat? Any advantages or disadvantages I should be aware of

Any help gratefully received!

 

[Vegable]

Suggest you re-post this on the Westerly Owners Association web site...google woa. A lot of friendly expertise there.
I had a Renown with a bolt rope and now have an Oceanranger which is loose footed. I assume the reefing you're referring to is the old wind round the boom and throw a couple of cushions in type reefing and if so I'd opt for the slab reefing option pretty quickly. Usually when you're reefing you've left it too late so imagine yourself hugging the mast for support whilst the boat is bouncing about, the boom waving wildly and the wind stopping you hearing anything. You're winding the reefing handle trying to throw in some cushions to take the belly of the sail on a bouncing up and down deck. Anything which makes reefing simple is to be encouraged. On the Oceanranger I have in-mast reefing which is a dream to reef for the type of cruising sailing I do, but others hate it!
But try the woa site for more informed help.
Mike
I don't know much about the pros and cons of loose foot and bolt rope but think you'll get closer to the wind with a bolt rope.

 

[charles_reed]

Loose-footed has definite benefits if you're intending to fit slab reefing.

Foresee difficulties using on boom roller reefing though. As suggested try the Westerly owners site - someone there may have some substantive information.

 

[DennisF]

Loose-footed has definite benefits if you're intending to fit slab reefing.

Foresee difficulties using on boom roller reefing though. As suggested try the Westerly owners site - someone there may have some substantive information.

Thanks both. I have also posted on the WOA forum, but no replies as yet :-( I'm planning to test the roller reefing next weekend, and if no further replies here I will update this thread with the results of the test to help any future searchers.

 

[DennisF]

As promised, an update to help any people searching this topic in the future: the loose footed main roller reefed just fine.

 

[VicS]

As promised, an update to help any people searching this topic in the future: the loose footed main roller reefed just fine.

Thanks for the update...... I wondered if it would or not.

BUT go ahead with your plans to fit slab reefing.
Although the through mast reefing system, which you presumably have, works well provided the sail is cut fairly flat you will find that with slab reefing you can maintain a better sail shape and it eliminates the annoying boom droop when deeply reefed. You can also still use the kicker without some half satisfactory improvisation.

 

[geem]

As others have said, I would convert to slab reefing ASAP. The performance of slab to old fashioned roller on the boom will be very noticeable once you reef. Somebody mentioned that loose foot wouldn't be as effective to windward as a bolt rope. Not my experience. I have always found the loose foot a performance advantage. All reefed slab reefing sails are loose footed!