Schoonertrash wrote:

Ole Thom has been encouraging me to try the loose foot main arrangement. I
like full (or no) battens and absolutely won't use partial battens.

For some boats, conventional (or partial) battens make sense. One thing that
doesn't make sense is to limit the length of the battens due to some handicap
rule that doesn't apply; or because of style & imitation. Unfortunately this is
the controlling factor in why most production boats are the way they are.



The
other day a full batten AND loose foot boat went by so I talked to them on
the bridge to bridge radio. Owner did a big circle and demonstrated how
easy his sail was to use, with only one person doing the work.

Just the fact that he would do this, seems to me to prove that it really is
pretty darn easy. Did he have a solid vang, too?

... That combined with a double headsail (Solent
Rig) conversion should do just fine.

You mean double headstays?


The new boat came with a steering
wheel conversion. Thought about it for some time . . .I'm converting her
back to a tiller. More responsive, better 'feel', easier to singlehand, and
less parts to go wrong.

Agreed for the most part, you also gain some room under the cockpit sole. But
you lose room in the cockpit itself, and it's more difficult to rig an autopilot
(on the size boat you're talking about, on a smaller lighter boat it'd be
easier).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King