loose foot or not?

[britinusa]

We had a loft rep come to the boat today to measure up for new sails for Eximius.

He said that most sailors are moving towards Loose footed sails.

Then when he saw the reef blocks on the stbd side of the boom, he suggested that we should go with the bolt rope in boom sail.

Then I mentioned that we wanted the zipup type sail cover and he moved back to the idea of loose footed sail.

Loose or bolt in the boom?

Paul

[KWKloeber]

We had a loft rep come to the boat today to measure up for new sails for Eximius.

He said that most sailors are moving towards Loose footed sails.

Then when he saw the reef blocks on the stbd side of the boom, he suggested that we should go with the bolt rope in boom sail.

Then I mentioned that we wanted the zipup type sail cover and he moved back to the idea of loose footed sail.

Loose or bolt in the boom?

Paul

LOOSE!  The reef system is irrelevant - wonder if he actually knows his stuff?
Do you have the slugged in-boom slugged outhaul?  Suggest looking at a track on the boom/block system.

kk

[Stu Jackson]

How is your outhaul workin' these days?

[Noah]

Ken- It seems by the all caps "LOOSE" that you have a strong opinion on the subject. Curious: what are the advantages of a loose-footed main over traditional/factory set-up on the C34?

[KWKloeber]

Ken- It seems by the all caps "LOOSE" that you have a strong opinion on the subject. Curious: what are the advantages of a loose-footed main over traditional/factory set-up on the C34?

Not as strong an opinion as for electrical and cooling pump issues. 

Better sail shape at the foot. 
There's more adjustability with proper control lines sewn into the sail to adjust the "shelf".


kk

[Gary Brockman]

Ken is absolutely right, a loose footed main gives you better sail shape and is easier to adjust the shape of the sail.

[britinusa]

Ken is absolutely right, a loose footed main gives you better sail shape and is easier to adjust the shape of the sail.

That's the kind of response I was looking for: Advantages
Any 'Cons' ?

Not sure if the reefing blocks are original, but there are a two matching pairs of blocks & tracks on the stbd side of the aft end of the boom. The current sail might be original! It has the Catalina badge (California) by the tack as well as the Catalina 34 Logo & Numbers on the sail. The edge of the leech is splitting open and is clearly stretched, other than a few holes that have bandaids over them the sail is in remarkable shape for 27 years old. It has 2 large metal cringles in the leach for reefing and a third smaller cringle higher up, that has reef ties locked in for a 3rd reef.

The company made a mistake in the quote, it was doubled, I pointed that out and the rep confirmed the mistake, but as they had not quoted for the new mainsail cover, it has to be redone entirely. I'll be calling them today to get the bottom line.

Paul

[KWKloeber]

Jon,

I've experienced no negatives.

Make sure they install dog bones in the luff cringles.   If they ask "what's that" find a different loft!  LOL.

kk

[britinusa]

Are you referring to 'Jack Lines' attached to the lower sail slugs that allows the cringle to be lower than the top of the mast gate Screw.

Never heard them to referred to as Dog Bones.

Seemingly unusual descriptive names never fails to cause a smile on my face 

Recently on the local news, the reporter repeatedly referred to the high tide (Spring Tide) as 'King Tides' which I had never heard of before, the Irony is that the term appears to be common in the USA but I'm guessing it's used because the tide is 'above the rest'. However for the USA to use such an Imperial title over the more natural Springs and Neaps 


Our existing main does not have 'Dog Bones' or 'Jack Lines' on the lower sail slugs. Our previous boat, Catalina 250, did!

Another pointer to the sails possibly being original (1987)

Paul

[KWKloeber]

Hmmmmm

I thought I had covered that in a prev post.  Maybe it was on the 30 forum.

Google mainsail dog bone and see what images pop up.  A ss ring on either side with webbing in between, thru the cringle.  Makes it a lot easier to hook a reef hook or downhaul or Cunningham.

If not I'll find my pics tonite.

[britinusa]

Here's CD's mainsail jack line.

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/feature/34/mainsail-jack-line.cfm

Paul

[KWKloeber]

Jon,

http://mrbarth.com/webimages/cars-stacked.jpg

http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/attachment.php?attachmentid=925&stc=1&d=1132338297

http://img.trailersailor.com/158/2014/140547088848.jpg

KK

[Ted Pounds]

Here's another alternative for dealing with slugs below the reef point:  http://www.mastgates.com/   They also help when covering the sail.  I put one of the fixed (with screws) mastgates on my Gloucester 19 and really like it.   

[britinusa]

Decision made.

We ordered the new sails, including a loose footed main. Being made at a local loft 'Super sail Makers' of Fort Lauderdale. We visited their loft yesterday, they will make them in house, so local employees.

They should be ready in early / mid December.

If anyone here has a loose footed main, do you use the standard (original) outhaul on the main?

Paul

[Jim Hardesty]

Paul,
I have in-mast furling so my main is loose footed.  So don't know how your standard outhaul will work.  My observation is that sailors that have switched use the outhaul more often trimming the main.  Now may be a good time to get the outhaul working well and possibly lead the adjustment to the cockpit.
Jim