I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides (slugs)
sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier to
raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

Do you have reef points? It's way easier to reef putting the points
between the bolt rope and boom than around the boom. Same for
furling. The sail stays on top of the boom.

If you don't have reef points, this would be a good time to have them
put in.

If you leech isn't quite right, too tight or too loose, tell the
sailmaker. Adjustments can sometimes be made by making the slides at
the end closer or farther away from the bolt rope.

--

Roger Long



"Don White" wrote in message
...
I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides
(slugs) sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier
to raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

Don White wrote:
I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides (slugs)
sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier to
raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

You only need one slug on the foot, right near the clew... but it has to
be a strong one.

I happen to like loose footed mains and they are a little easier to rig
IMHO. When you put slides on the luff don't forget to put a gate on the
luff slot entry.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Roger Long wrote:
Do you have reef points? It's way easier to reef putting the points
between the bolt rope and boom than around the boom. Same for
furling. The sail stays on top of the boom.

If you don't have reef points, this would be a good time to have them
put in.

If you leech isn't quite right, too tight or too loose, tell the
sailmaker. Adjustments can sometimes be made by making the slides at
the end closer or farther away from the bolt rope.


Yes, I do have one set of reef points.
I haven't used this sail yet. Wonder if I should hold off until I see
how it works...or just get the slides and adjust later if needed?

Put the slides on. They can be adjusted later by using longer or
shorter shackles or seizing. You can even fiddle with them yourself by
using temporary lashings.

--

Roger Long



"Don White" wrote in message
...
Roger Long wrote:
Do you have reef points? It's way easier to reef putting the
points between the bolt rope and boom than around the boom. Same
for furling. The sail stays on top of the boom.

If you don't have reef points, this would be a good time to have
them put in.

If you leech isn't quite right, too tight or too loose, tell the
sailmaker. Adjustments can sometimes be made by making the slides
at the end closer or farther away from the bolt rope.


Yes, I do have one set of reef points.
I haven't used this sail yet. Wonder if I should hold off until I
see how it works...or just get the slides and adjust later if
needed?

Was this originally a loose footed sail? If so, loose foot does have
some advantages. If not, you can't convert it to loose foot because
the sail has to be cut and constructed differently.

--

Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
Was this originally a loose footed sail? If so, loose foot does have
some advantages. If not, you can't convert it to loose foot because
the sail has to be cut and constructed differently.


No...it has the bolt rope on the foot and luff. The foot isn't a big
deal to me at this point...I mainly want to be able to raise and lower
the main from the cockpit.
note: my crew is slightly questionable (wife)

Roger Long wrote:
Put the slides on. They can be adjusted later by using longer or
shorter shackles or seizing. You can even fiddle with them yourself by
using temporary lashings.


Thanks Roger...I'll take my sail over this afternoon.

On Fri, 13 May 2005 00:40:10 GMT, Don White
wrote:

I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides (slugs)
sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier to
raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

I have slugs in my mainsail foot, and I am considering having the next
mainsail (a used composite racing sail I got cheaply and will have cut
down to fit my small IOR-style main dimensions) go in without slugs so
I can use the outhaul a bit more freely G.

I think there are pros and cons very much dependent on style of
sailing and size of boom. I haven't had bad things to say about slugs
on the foot...far from it as it makes for a tidy flake and stowage of
the sail for one...but I think I can get a bit more zip out of a
loose-footed mainsail in my "fast cruising, not racing" game plan.

YMMV,
R.

Don White wrote:

I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides (slugs)
sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier to
raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

We have both a loose footed main and a loose footed staysail, and all
of the sails are handled from the cockpit. Our main came to us that
way as a behind the mast furler. Our staysail was loose footed, and
we kept that aspect when we replaced it with a roller furled sail.

I can handle the staysail, but I have a hard time with the jib and I
can't furl the main by myself.
grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id1.html