My main sail fits best when reefed
- Thread starter Rhylsailer99
- Start date
Rhylsailer99
Active member
Currently becalmed zero wind 
Refueler
Well-known member
My older boat - boom touches sprayhood when main is hauled up tight - when kicking strap is not released .... if I release that - I can get another small bit on halyard and boom is then clear of sprayhood.
????? yours ????
????? yours ????
Wansworth
Well-known member
Always found my mainsails set better with at least one reef
Refueler
Well-known member
With mine similar - but that's because the first reef is pulling in the 'roach' ... basically flattening the fullness of the full sail. Guy who had sails replaced on my 25ft'r - had them cut with full roach .... not what I would have chosen.
fredrussell
Well-known member
Not to state the obvious or anything but boom will rise a bit once sail is powered up. Can you apply just a bit of topping lift just to get boom off sprayhood whilst sail is ‘depowered’ without scandalising the sail?
Do you have a rigid vang or kicking strap?
Do you have a rigid vang or kicking strap?
Rhylsailer99
Active member
When I am tacking I have to release the boom so it rides over the spray hood. The only way I've found is to replace the long shackle with a much longer soft shackle Its the first time ive sailed this year without a reef lol. I prefer a reef ad it sits much higher over the spray hood.
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fredrussell
Well-known member
Is this a brand new sail? Talking to the sail maker would be the best thing.
BabaYaga
Well-known member
Is the clew attached to the boom track by something, other than the wirerope, thimble and schackle visible in the first photo?
There is a black structure obscured by the webbing, is this a slide?
There is a black structure obscured by the webbing, is this a slide?
Rhylsailer99
Active member
Yea it has a black slider that fits inside the boom.
My new sail is loose footed but the old one had a bolt rope, and never had issues with it hitting the spray hood. I think for now I will go back to stretching the attachment to the mast as shown in the pic.
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Rhylsailer99
Active member
It does only seem an issue when the wind is very light. Applying a bit of topping lift makes the sail shape almost totally collapse
, did try that today.BabaYaga
Well-known member
I have a similar looking boom (Seldén, early 80s), on this the outhaul (wire rope with thimble) attaches to a car that runs inside the track which has a holed tab up the slot for the shackle. Difficult to know for sure, but I get the impression the black slider increases the distance between sail and boom by 10mm or so, compared to what I believe was the original idea.
Pye_End
Well-known member
Lop the bottom off and put a new higher clew in if it is a pain.
penfold
Well-known member
Seems like a pretty basic requirement that a new sail doesn't leave you with the boom rattling off the spray hood; get the sailmaker to sort it out.
KevinV
Well-known member
I'm confused - it sounds like you're raising the sail with the kicker tensioned?? I'm sure I must be misreading that?
William_H
Well-known member
To raise the boom firstly make sure the clew is as close to the boom as possible. Tie a rope around it or a velcro tape to get clew as close as possible.
Then raise the halyard as I think you have done by extending the tack attachment the photo with the rope lashing. Do make sure you have a pull in to the mast to counteract out haul as you don't want to put load on luff sliders. If neceessary a lashing arounf the mast to pull tack forward. All assuming you have enough space at the head to get enough luff stretch. You might be able to shorten the halyard attachment at hea to get it that bit higher if necessary. All a bit kake do and as said perhaps return to sail maker to raise clew. ol'will
Then raise the halyard as I think you have done by extending the tack attachment the photo with the rope lashing. Do make sure you have a pull in to the mast to counteract out haul as you don't want to put load on luff sliders. If neceessary a lashing arounf the mast to pull tack forward. All assuming you have enough space at the head to get enough luff stretch. You might be able to shorten the halyard attachment at hea to get it that bit higher if necessary. All a bit kake do and as said perhaps return to sail maker to raise clew. ol'will
Refueler
Well-known member
I don't think I am different to many out there - who tends to not adjust kicker that often.
I and I am sure many others arrive at a reasonable kicker that does its job without being too restrictive.
2+2 does not = 5 .... ok ?
My comment was based on occasionally having tensioned kicker on a previous outing ... forgotten to slack back to usual ... raised sail next time .... and found boom slightly lower.
Another factor that can do it ... raising sail while sail is trying to do its job ... the halyard then has difficulty getting that last few cms up ... luff up and viola - sail up, boom up ... all good to go.
Rhylsailer99
Active member
Correct And I removed rhe original slider and modified the thimble to allow the sail to be pulled very tight if needed.
That did help a little bit but still have the same problem. It's almost like the roach/diagonal part of the sail is too long compared to the other 2 parts.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
Just a suggestion to check everything is free for hoisting. On ours it’s the mainsheet that is occasionally forgotten. I am reminded when I can’t winch the black mark out of the clutch. Our halyard being marked for full up, and each reef.
Rhylsailer99
Active member
My mast has new pulleys fitted last year, and the sail can be pulled tight easily.. Kicking strap is loose. I will contact the sail maker as the ssil is not even 12 months old. I can pull the foot of the sail very tight and also raise it tight, but still it seems to drop too low.