In real life situations where you're not racing or
checking yourself with a stop watch I doubt you
or anybody can tell the difference between the
sail with or without the shelf.

If you don't have a shelf, however, all you have
holding the sail in place is one fitting holding the
clew. Does your fitting slide on a track or slot
in the boom? It seems to me that a sliding slug
attached to the clew cringle with webbing
combined with a bolt rope that also fits into the
slot in the boom with a separate outhaul hardware
is a much safer and stronger set-up overall.

I'm getting close to ordering my new set of sails
from Hong Kong sails. The shipping is steeper
at 140 dollars but with the lower sail prices it
still ends up being cheaper than Sailwharehouse
and the sails have better features. I was sure
to specify a shelf foot with metal slug at clew
attached with webbing and 3/8" bolt rope to
fit slot in boom.

S.Simon


"Thom Stewart" wrote in message ...
Neal,

I've thought of that self but I don't think that is the case.

I really think I like the free footed sail better. You should know me
well enough by now to know that for the cost of installing a shelve if I
thought it was better there would be shelve on that sail.

I don't think it would be better! Neal, I don't think I lose that much
in performance, if any at all. It is a better sail, in my mind, right
now. I'll sail it this way for now. If I find anything as I sail it, I
will add the shelve. I don't think it will happen.

There is also a third option. As I really get to know the sail, I may
add the shelve and if I don't see an improvement I'll take it off. This
is the option that is the one that I'm considering the most right now.