To trim or not to trim.....

[Pauly]

that be the question.
The situation is this. I have just bought a new mainsail for my boat. It is for a Kestrel, but I'm guessing it's for a Mk1 as the foot is about a metre longer than on mine.
So the question is, do I have the sail adjusted, which still means I get a hell of a cheap sail, or do I look for a boom to match the new sail, with all the incumbent issues. For instance, the main sheet would attach to the boom 3ft aft of where it attaches to the deck, extra sail area, boom intruding significantly into the cockpit, and I'm sure plenty of other things that you guys can think of.

Opinions and advice gratefully accepted.

 

[MoodySabre]

The question I would ask is whether your boat has the correct boom in the first place. If so then is the mast taller to compensate for a shorter boom than the Mk1. Have you checked the luff length?

Getting the right sail on the right rig would be best. I know nothing about Kestrels so if this is small budget sailing then perhaps a compromise will suffice.

 

[Pauly]

I think the boom is correct, the tail end sits directly above the point where the main sheet attaches to the deck, if that is an indicator. The original sail, which is pretty knackered, is very high aspect ratio, fits the original boom and has a 7' foot. The luffs are the same within 6". Small budget sailing it definitely is.

 

[Thistle]

that be the question.
The situation is this. I have just bought a new mainsail for my boat. It is for a Kestrel, but I'm guessing it's for a Mk1 as the foot is about a metre longer than on mine.
So the question is, do I have the sail adjusted, which still means I get a hell of a cheap sail, or do I look for a boom to match the new sail, with all the incumbent issues. For instance, the main sheet would attach to the boom 3ft aft of where it attaches to the deck, extra sail area, boom intruding significantly into the cockpit, and I'm sure plenty of other things that you guys can think of.

Opinions and advice gratefully accepted.

Answers at http://www.kestrel.org.uk/technical/

 

[Pauly]

Ah haaaa, sorry Thistle. I should have been more specific. It's a Kestrel 22. Originally clinker built with a lifting keel, later on GRP with either fin or bilge keel. I have GRP bilge variant. As below

 

[William_H]

Size of mainsail is a veriable question. Do you want better light wind performance? The compromise is that the boat will be overpowered sooner when the wind comes up requiring reefing. Secondly is the longer boom going to be a head hazard. Blood on the decks is not pretty.
I would think that if you really are on a budjet them it is a question of whether you can find a replacement at a good price compred to cost of sail recut.
I got for a similar sized boat a section of broken carbon fibre mast froma dinghy. it is about 8ft long. (my21fter has a fractional rig with big mainsail) This CF boom is about half the weight of the old ali boom which really matters in an unexpected gybe and especially if it going to hit your head. I made a point of not having steel fittings on the boom itself where it can hit your head.
OP seems to be concerned if he replaces the boom with the sheeting point. Now there is no reason to attach the sheets at the end of the boom. They can be attached well in from the end. Assuming you don't haveround the boom roller reefing. The result is need for more main sheet tension. If the mainsail is loose footed then you can use what I use a piece of webbing sewn into a loop around the boom with a ring or similar at the attachment of the tackle. Sheeting on the boom should be above the attachment at deck level.
So Op needs to decide. I perhaps would go for cutting down the sail if he is happy with the boom. I might advocate DIY sail cut but the fabric of many layers will be hard to sew on a domestic machine and the clew corner may need many new layers of cloth to spread the corner load. Of course you will need a big eyelet to take the loads.
So it may be best to give it to a sail maker. good luck olewill

 

[Pauly]

Thanks for the detailed reply Will. The sail is coming directly from a sail maker. In all likelihood I will stick with my original boom for all the reasons you and I have pointed out, and get the sail altered by the supplier. Thanks to all for the input.