Retrofit headsail with a padded luff

[JeremyF]

Has anyone had a padded luff retrofitted to a headsail? If so, does it work?

My current headsail is hopeless with any rolls in it all. But, as its only 1 year old, I'm reluctant to bin it.

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[dickh]

Mine has a padded luff, from new I suspect and it works well - whether it can be retrofitted you will have to speak to your sailmaker.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[tome]

Jeremy

I understood that foam luffs were developed for exactly this purpose originally - to enable conventional headsails to be used with furling gear. I'm sure our original genoa (now replaced) had the foam fitted after furling gear was added.

Talk to Gerry Payne at Arun Sails (01243 573185) - he'll advise you

Regards
Tom

 

[Twister_Ken]

If I had a year old headsail that didn't work I'd be camped on the sailmaker's doorstep demanding satisfaction (or pistols at dawn).

Throw it back at them, and tell them to sort it.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I had a quote from one of the high volume sail makers who advised against a padded luff. In the end I bought from Hyde Sails one with a padded luff, which sets much better than I ever expected. More expensive - but worth it.

My main worry when I changed from hanked headsails was that almost ever boat I saw in the solent had a bag for a head sail. I was therefore surprised that this sail maker - despite my worries - said that a padded luff was a waste of time.

Chuck it back at them.

 

[Ray_G]

I had a padded luff retrofitted to the headsail on my last boat about 1 year after I purchased her from new. The padded luff transformed an otherwise poor sail (in its partly rolled state) and was well worth the relatively small cost.
On the other hand, my current yacht does not have a padded luff (Elvestrom Sails) and the headsail sets well without it.
My advice is don't hang about. If the headsail doesn't set well - get a padded luff fitted.

 

[JeremyF]

The current sail is an unpadded Elvestrom as fitted to Bav's (No comment please Ken)

I was going to have the sails laundered at Lucas sails, as they do a deal with Bav Owners Assoc. So it sounds as if they might be able to fit a padded luff, as this sail definitely needs it. I think the rigging tension is correct, as I had it set up by XM in June. Although it sets nicely when fully unfurled, after only 2 rolls, it gets baggy, especially towards the upper third. My immediate thought was to move the cars forward more, but no great improvement.

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[Twister_Ken]

Which prompts the thought that maybe the car should be trimmed forward before rolling commences, so that there is more sheet tension in the top of the sail as it is rolled although...

...most sails seem to have a couple of metres or more of luff at the head of the sail which is without luff tape. This is, I suspect, deliberate because with a swivel at the halyard, when the sail is reefed, the foil will start to rotate and roll up a turn or two from the middle of the luff before the head starts to furl. So maybe it's not ever possible to get the top third to look/work right when reefed?

But the fact remains that you've got a 'new' sail that doesn't work properly. However, you have no relationship with the sailmaker. But you do have a relationship with whoever sold you the sail (presumably the Bav agent). So chuck it back at them to sort out.

 

[jimi]

Ken, I shall certainly try that, I know that at the moment I always move the cars forward after reefing . Sounds a good tip!

Jim

 

[JeremyF]

Sensible advice from Ken

I'll try that as well, Ken, this weekend. You are also right that there is a couple of foot at the bottom of the luff that isnt with luff take, and in the furling gear. I dont really understand your point, Ken. Does it mean that the top of the sail starts to furl first, before the bottom does anything. If so, I would have though that this would help rather than hinder.

Ive spoken to Lucas sails and they say they can often retrofit a padded luff, but they need to see it.

The boat is out of warranty, and to be fair, the sail shape looks no worse than others, but its certainly not a good shape when reefed

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[Twister_Ken]

No idea whether it's a good tip or not - I await your verdict!

The easy way to manage it would be to trim the lazy sheet lead forward, then tack and furl.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Sensible advice from Ken

Usually the luff has 'bolt rope' missing in the top and bottom sections - a couple of metres or so. Certainly on my set-up (hood seafurl) the halyard has a swivel built in (essential or the halyard would wrap around the foil when furling, and a swivel where the tack attaches). So when you pull in the furling line, the drum rotates the foil, and the foil starts to wrap the sail around itself. But with the head and tack being unattached to the foil, they won't start furling until a twisting moment is passed up and down the luff of the sail sufficient to get those parts of the luff rolling as well. This means that the middle of the luff can have a roll or two in it before the head and tack start rolling. I suspect this is deliberate policy, to help take some of the belly out of the middle of the sail as reefing begins.

Another observation - generally I'm not happy with the set of my rolling genoa, which has seen better days (hence question elsewhere about Jeckells). But a couple of weekends back, I reefed it when there was definitely too much wind, whilst we were hard on the wind. Consequently it was rolled against a lot of sheet tension and wrapped it self more tightly than usual. It actually looked half decent for a change!

 

[Guest]

Re: Sensible advice from Ken

Jeremy

According to the manual the Furlex fitted to your Bavaria has a "Free Turn"
as Ken describes. It states that this is to compensate for the reinforced (and therefore thicker) tack increasing the size of the roll in that area with every revolution.

Are you reefing with the sail partly filled? the Furlex manual suggests going on to a close reach to beam reach so as to get a good tight roll.

If you ask on the BOA site I think that one of the committee had a padded luff retro fitted.

Steve P

 

[JeremyF]

Re: Sensible advice from Ken

THanks Steve,

Im a BOA member, so Ill ask there about retrofits, and will also try out Ken's suggestions this weekend.

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[Guest]

Are you sure its far enough forward ??

Most yachts - new and old do not have enough movement or length to travellers .... bring about the unsatisfactory compromise. So I usually end up with the barber hauler idea on most boats I play with.

Many also furl with slack sheets, because its too hard to 'pull' the furling line ... this can lead to slack furls and loss of shape as the sail furls dependent on its flogging and flapping.

I have 'bit the bullet' furl with a winch on the furling line against 'held' sheets - NOT rock hard tight but enough to hold sail and shape, I heave down on the barber hauler to really pull sheet lead forward .... I mean WAY WAY forward and then ease back watching the sail set. This way I have tamed a 'baggy old sail' that others reckoned I should either recut / sew or replace.

I do not say this gauranteed success and answer to your problem .... but I have yet to see a Bav or any other similar have travellers far enough aft or forward for all sets of sail.

 

[Guest]

Re: Sensible advice from Ken

have a chat with Ian who owns XM and also owns a Bavaria. My neighbour does not seem to have a problem but sail uphaul tension might contribute.

Pete