"Marc" wrote in message
news
| The "Hot knife" method was suggested by a sail maker "Mack Sails" as
| a way of installing their Mack Pack sail cover on a bolt roped main,
| with no adverse effect on the sail. In point of fact, all the boats
| I've owned or sailed on have had slug footed mains, so passing the
| reef ties was never an issue.
There ya go... but you don't find slug footed sails all that often on boats
under 35 feet.
| I spoke to the sail maker who made my sails (Jasper and Bailey). He is
| not convinced that loose footed or fixed makes any difference on a
| CRUISING main. This weekend, I'm going to remove the attached foot
| of my main and fly it loose. if it works out, I'm just going to cut
| the slugs off et voila, a loose footed main.
I'd be interested to hear your verdict. I'm not certain why your sailmaker
claims it wouldn't make a difference. I have my outhaul and two lines
[#2] run back to the cockpit. I find I adjust the outhaul quite a bit
when sailing since I've been flying free footed. I really like it much
better... except when it comes to the drop and flake. Even with lazy jacks I
find I get some spill off the boom. I was seriously considering a Stak
Pak....
CM