"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message

If I desired to pull my outhaul all the way out so the sail is flat then
why would I bother having a shelf foot. The shape of the main is
optimal with the shelf in place.

I thought the idea was to use the outhaul to flatten the main in heavy wind;
and let it out for more belly in light wind.

That may be a racing mentality but for cruisers, one reefs in heavy wind.

CN


"Wally" wrote in message . ..
"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message

If I desired to pull my outhaul all the way out so the sail is flat then
why would I bother having a shelf foot. The shape of the main is
optimal with the shelf in place.

I thought the idea was to use the outhaul to flatten the main in heavy wind;
and let it out for more belly in light wind.

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message

That may be a racing mentality but for cruisers, one reefs in heavy wind.

So, short of reefing, you're saying that there's only one required sail
shape for everythng up to, say, 20 knots, regardles of point of sailing? And
that the outhaul is redundant insofar as it offers adjustment of the sail's
belly?

Wally,

Neal may not move the outhaul because he doesn't want add any stress to
that Clew corner and the skimpy stitching. I can see his point but I
don't think it will help in the long run.

Ole Thom


http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomsHomePage

Maybe he's worried his galvanized pipe boom will bend , back to
straight.

Scotty

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

Neal may not move the outhaul because he doesn't want add any stress
to
that Clew corner and the skimpy stitching. I can see his point but I
don't think it will help in the long run.

Ole Thom


http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomsHomePage