free foot main
 

The boltrope stretches when the outhaul is heaved tight.
The shelf collapses and folds so it can't be seen.

The boltrope contracts when the outhaul is slacked off.
The shelf expands to fit the shape of the more rounded foot.

The boltrope is made of polyester.

There's a leech line but no foot line.

There's always enough pressure on the outhaul to make
the clam cleat work just fine.


S.Simon - a shelf-footed aficionado




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

You described how you tension the foot of your sail. I asked how you set
the outhaul when you ease it? Do you just depend on the boltrope
tension? What draws the outhaul in and maintains its' position.

Even on my old sail, with the shelf, I had a drawstring on the foot to
control the curve. You've never mentioned what maintains the curve of
the foot you set. Does the bolt rope supply enough tension to keep the
outhaul fast against the cleat? I figured that the bolt rope is looser
after all these years.

Just curious?

OT

free foot main
 

Hey Simple,

I think the free footed main has won the battle with me today,

Took my dog down to the boat to do some work on the vanish. Went down
about 0900 and the wood was still damp from last nights rain.

Rigged a leash to keep dog on the boat and took off single handed to get
some fresh dungeness crabs. Had my limit in about a hour and a half
(Which is pretty good)

The point of this posting was the joy and the ease of working the main
boom from either side with full access to both sides thru the opening
under the foot of the sail. It makes sailing solo for the ole man,
reasonably again

Went out in ghosting conditions, ease the outhaul and took up on the
drawstring from the starboard side of the boom although the cleat for
the outhaul line is on the port side as is the cam cleat for the
drawstring. Worked very comfortable from the Pilothouse Roof.

Wind picked up on the way across the Bay. Rolled the furler to 100% and
flattened the main, Again from the off side of the boom. No problem.

Played around out in the Bay for awhile in about 10 Knts wind working on
my performance curve.

Started in from about 8 miles out with a downwind return to the harbor.
Set the Spinn Pole and made another discovery.

The safety line I installed for balance to the Bow, clips to the Spinn
Ring. When I unclipped it to set the pole, I unclipped it and clipped it
to the middle ring to the Lazy Jacks. A great made to order preventer! I
don't think I'll be using it for that. I have twin cruising vangs which
go back to the cockpit and are controlled at the helm Those are also my
preventers

So far the performance is equal or better than my old sail but not sure
if it is all the sail or the better bottom BUT I'm sold on the sail the
way it is.

Anyway, I hope you are as happy with your new suit of sails as I am

And: I'LL DRINK TO THAT!"

Ole Thom

free foot main
 

What's this about cleating off on one side of the boom or the other?

Have you ever considered if you put the cleat on the bottom of the
boom that it would always be equally accessable. That's where I
put the cleat for my outhaul. There's no need to reach around the shelf on either
tack.

I'm sure the performance gains you see are because of the new
shape and less porous material of your new main and has very
little to do with a shelf or lack thereof. The shelf only works in
light wind conditions anyway where it is expanded and has a
chance to act like an endplate and thus control the vortex better
than a free-footed sail ever can hope to do.

I won't have my new sails for at least two to three weeks but
I'm sure I'll be very happy with them. Even changed the position
of the reef points from my North. North was 3 feet and 6 six
feet from boom. I changed it to 4 feet and 8 feet from the boom.
That way in gales I'll be double reefed and only have 19 feet
of luff which puts the head of the sail closer to where the lower
shrouds attach for better support of the mast. I'll only have to
use my storm trysail for REALLY high winds.

I sent the sailmaker a .tif of the Coronado insignia this morning.

Should get final order confirmation tomorrow.

Enjoy those crabs.

S.Simon - one of two real sailors on this group to have brand
new working sails. The rest of you can continue to
sail with your worn out sails.




"Thom Stewart" wrote in message ...
Hey Simple,

I think the free footed main has won the battle with me today,

Took my dog down to the boat to do some work on the vanish. Went down
about 0900 and the wood was still damp from last nights rain.

Rigged a leash to keep dog on the boat and took off single handed to get
some fresh dungeness crabs. Had my limit in about a hour and a half
(Which is pretty good)

The point of this posting was the joy and the ease of working the main
boom from either side with full access to both sides thru the opening
under the foot of the sail. It makes sailing solo for the ole man,
reasonably again

Went out in ghosting conditions, ease the outhaul and took up on the
drawstring from the starboard side of the boom although the cleat for
the outhaul line is on the port side as is the cam cleat for the
drawstring. Worked very comfortable from the Pilothouse Roof.

Wind picked up on the way across the Bay. Rolled the furler to 100% and
flattened the main, Again from the off side of the boom. No problem.

Played around out in the Bay for awhile in about 10 Knts wind working on
my performance curve.

Started in from about 8 miles out with a downwind return to the harbor.
Set the Spinn Pole and made another discovery.

The safety line I installed for balance to the Bow, clips to the Spinn
Ring. When I unclipped it to set the pole, I unclipped it and clipped it
to the middle ring to the Lazy Jacks. A great made to order preventer! I
don't think I'll be using it for that. I have twin cruising vangs which
go back to the cockpit and are controlled at the helm Those are also my
preventers

So far the performance is equal or better than my old sail but not sure
if it is all the sail or the better bottom BUT I'm sold on the sail the
way it is.

Anyway, I hope you are as happy with your new suit of sails as I am

And: I'LL DRINK TO THAT!"

Ole Thom

free foot main
 

On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 12:03:37 -0400, "Simple Simon"
wrote this crap:

What's this about cleating off on one side of the boom or the other?

Have you ever considered if you put the cleat on the bottom of the
boom that it would always be equally accessable. That's where I
put the cleat for my outhaul. There's no need to reach around the shelf on either
tack.

Mine runs all the way through the boom, then down the mast, under the
deck, and back to the cockpit. That seems like the only sensible way
to do it.




Ave Imperator Bush!
Bush Was Right! Four More Years!

free foot main
 

Hey Neal.

I got so damn tired of the damn lines falling off the cleats when they
were under the boom, on my other boat. It was like a cultivater dragging
across the coach roof on each tack.. I moved them and swore I'd never
mount another cleat under the boom again.

So, on this boat they are mounted each side except for one. MY OUTHAUL
LINE. Do you think I can get that damn thing off. No way. So I have to
tie the extra line in place, while all the rest I can pull a loop thru
an hang the excess on the side of the boom.

free foot main
 

I tried that also Hero,

It made a damn rat's nest out of the cockpit always at the worst time.
With the Pilothouse,I went back to termination at the mast at roof level
( tigh heigth)

I do have to leave the cockpit but I can do it without fouling in loose
lines.

Ole Thom
P/S As old age is creeping up I am considering going back to that
system.