Mainsail outhaul car position on boom?

[Travelling Westerly]

Hello all

I was just outside hardening down some running rigging and noticed my inmast system outhaul car stops about 4 ft from the boom gooseneck.
I've never thought about it before but the high winds means the exposed clew is not fully under good tension because the car is so far back the clew is pulled more backwards than downwards.
I've checked other boats with inmast systems and they are a mixed bag in that some cars stop way along the boom and others stop only a foot away from the gooseneck. It's worth noting these ones have a secure clew in these winds.
So the question is why have the car stop so far away from the gooseneck? Does it alter the way the sail furls into the mast?
Thanks

 

[Tranona]

My Selden goes right up, as you say less than a foot from the gooseneck and the exposed clew is small and tight. Can you actually roll the sail right in, or is the car jamming in the track? Have you tried sliding the car along manually with no tension on it?

 

[Travelling Westerly]

My Selden goes right up, as you say less than a foot from the gooseneck and the exposed clew is small and tight. Can you actually roll the sail right in, or is the car jamming in the track? Have you tried sliding the car along manually with no tension on it?

Hi Tranona
The track has a set of, I believe, adjustable stops in so it might be I can alter the length of run. I'm wondering why it would, like some other boats, be set so far from the gooseneck?

 

[NormanS]

The further it is from the gooseneck, the longer you get the benefit of the double purchase.

 

[Travelling Westerly]

The further it is from the gooseneck, the longer you get the benefit of the double purchase.

Ah OK, so Its easier to pull out? Have I got that right?

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Would you ever expect to use it when it's rolled in that far?

 

[Travelling Westerly]

Would you ever expect to use it when it's rolled in that far?

I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand that bit. Can you explain a bit more for me. I'm a bit slow sometimes. Thanks

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I may be the slow one, but the way I imagined your arrangement was that your sail can be fully rolled with a tiny bit of clew showing and the clew car left 4ft back along the boom. The problem with that being that the sail won't get any decent downward pull on the clew until it reaches the car. My question was whether you'd ever expect to sail with such a tiny bit of mainsail?

 

[Travelling Westerly]

I may be the slow one, but the way I imagined your arrangement was that your sail can be fully rolled with a tiny bit of clew showing and the clew car left 4ft back along the boom. The problem with that being that the sail won't get any decent downward pull on the clew until it reaches the car. My question was whether you'd ever expect to sail with such a tiny bit of mainsail?

I'm with you now, and aligns to my initial question. You're right in the clew is "baggy" when furled as no tension downwards is being provided by the far away car. However it's only become a question whilst being subjected to 40 odd knts of easterlies. The clew is currently presented arse on to these winds causing it to bang around no matter the tension I put on the outhaul. As you say would I ever sail this way - no I guess not but I was also wondering if the car position had any influence over the furling performance.
Do you have inmast? Would be good to know where your car is.
I guess the other way will be to experiment with the position. Can't harm I guess?
Thanks for your help

 

[NormanS]

Ah OK, so Its easier to pull out? Have I got that right?

That is correct. My car used to go closer to the gooseneck, and I experimented with a temporary stop on the track (a short piece of line tied round the boom, but also through a handy eye on the underside of the boom). In general, the system behaved better, so temporary became permanent. Your problem may be related to the cut of your sail. When mine is fully furled, the clew is substantially above the boom, so the furling line is pulling it down slightly. In practice, when mine is furled there is so little left exposed, that it's not going to flap anyway.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I don't have it, but have used it. Yes, in theory it would affect the last roll or two of the furl as the angle reduces, but in practice the stiffness of the cloth will handle that. I'd look to see if I could move the stop easily, but use a shock cord out to a shroud if not.

 

[Travelling Westerly]

That's great help guys, thanks very much.
I have just altered the stop in the boom track and moved it much closer to the gooseneck now. Have marked the previous position so can hopefully experiment when out next, whenever that may be.
One thing that's improved is the clew is now tight. Might get some better sleep now.
Cheers