Sail slides instead of luff tape into furler

A luff tape or luff rope supports the sail for it's entire length, drastically reducing the load on the halyard, and the compression load on the furler. Hanks and slides point load it, drastically increasing the loads. Friends have overcome this, to some extent, by putting in grommets and far more slides between the existing ones. Grommet dies are cheap and easy to use.
 
Yes it can work but plenty of hicups you need to make sure you avoid.

A - Use the correct slides- Make sure they are not really small and flimsy otherwise they will snap first go in a blow which is never fun.
B- Check the head and tack offset - Depending on how and what the sail was originally built to then there might be significant cut back at the tack, if there is then there needs to be a lashing around the furler at the tack to pull it forward. If this is missed and all the tack load goes onto the bottom slide and not the tack finishing then you could rip that slide out.
C- Check how the sail furls around the slides, ive seen slides pushed through sails when sailed on partially furled for a prolonged period.
D- When you attach the slides make sure you keep the distance they are set of the sail even, if not you can totally change the shape in the sail.
Finally quadruple up your thread to protect your stitching from chafing through.
 
two or three inch pieces of luff tape of the right section, sealed ends will do the same job, eyes put into the tape or loops sewn on or sewn directly on to the sail will do te same job and are softer on both sailand foil.
 
The problem I see is that hank-on sails like a lot of luff tension, but most furlers do not. In fact, the instructions generally say "slack the luff tension before furling." A tape generally reduces the need for luff tension.

Try it. I would. If it doesn't work, a tape it is!
 
ianat182 said:
I did this job on the previous old genoa I had and it works well provided the slugs are the correct diameter for the furler slot; mine is a Colnbrook Seareef and I used nylon sliders of 5mm and a 'neck' of 2.0mm; these attached through the former piston hank eyelets by waxed, strong whipping twine. Furling was no problem and lowering the sail straightforward. I have a small red storm jib fitted with hanks which I am about to modify in this way,though have never had to use it yet.

ianat182
Click to expand...
Hi. I am currently in Florida planning to sail back to Europe in May. Could you tell me where you bought the 5mm sliders? I am getting the run around from sailmakers here who only want to sell me their services (which I appreciate but can't afford!). Thanks for any help.
Brian
 
Old thread this but----When I looked into doing this I could not find suitable sliders anywhere so I gave up. Still got several sails that would do so I might look into it again.
 
I would not use slides .... was on a boat with slides to furler .... was a right pig to hoist / down the sail ... AND the slides caused wear of the sail being 'lumps'

One sail I had - I inserted plastic Bolt 'rope' into the luff where the sail had its luff tape folded over. That was enough to hold in the furler groove .. and ran smooth.
 
Refueler said:
I would not use slides .... was on a boat with slides to furler .... was a right pig to hoist / down the sail ... AND the slides caused wear of the sail being 'lumps'

One sail I had - I inserted plastic Bolt 'rope' into the luff where the sail had its luff tape folded over. That was enough to hold in the furler groove .. and ran smooth.
Click to expand...
I agree completely. It’s clearly the wrong way to go about it, but if you’re trying to achieve your sailing goals on a very limited budget, maybe you might accept the compromise. My earlier reply was merely to say that 3D printing could be strong enough for such applications, not that I think it’s a good idea.
 
BrKa said:
Hi. I am currently in Florida planning to sail back to Europe in May. Could you tell me where you bought the 5mm sliders? I am getting the run around from sailmakers here who only want to sell me their services (which I appreciate but can't afford!). Thanks for any help.
Brian
Click to expand...

Those Kiwi jobs look ideal but won't standard mainsail slides work?


1741466811952.png

I am just about to do the same thing, as a work around on a failed furler.


.
 
doug748 said:
Those Kiwi jobs look ideal but won't standard mainsail slides work?


View attachment 190541

I am just about to do the same thing, as a work around on a failed furler.


.
Click to expand...
The Kiwi slides have fabric extensions that will fold flat & not dig into the furled sail. The ones you show will stick out & dig into the sail causing the damage some have spoken about earlier.
 
Daydream believer said:
The Kiwi slides have fabric extensions that will fold flat & not dig into the furled sail. The ones you show will stick out & dig into the sail causing the damage some have spoken about earlier.
Click to expand...
And conventional slides may bend the track due to the leverage of the bit of slide sticking out? Could be false economy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top