Loose Footed Mainsail
Moderator: Jim Walsh
- oldragbaggers
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Nov 28th, '05, 21:01
- Location: 1982 CD-33 "Anteris"
- Contact:
Thanks to all for your feedback
Again, you have all provided many perspectives that we may not have come up with ourselves. (And a couple of smiles to boot!)
There's only one thing I will comment on, and that is the lazy jack thing. We had them on our 28 (previous owner installed) and we hated them. We always thought we would like them, but Lance couldn't hack them off the boat fast enough. (Blog entry "Stuff That Stinks") They do serve you for a brief glimmering moment when the sail comes down. The rest of the time they just aggravated the hell out of us. We're pretty simple people. Been sailing without them for 28 years, happily. Can't imagine that our quality of life will be diminished for not having them now. We had a friend in San Diego who had a line (rope) for every conceivable purpose. His rig and deck reminded us of a spider's web sometimes. Once we arrived at the marina to find him attaching a toilet seat to the front of his Yamaha 25 (I couldn't possibly make this stuff up). We asked him what it was for and he said that he thought that he might be able to use it to make an effective spinnaker chute. (Lord help us.) And, by the way, when we were out sailing together he couldn't catch our Catalina 22, which was rigged with just the basics, on his best day. It seemed that he should have been easily able to overtake us, but I think he was so busy fiddling with all his lines that he forgot to just sail. Anyway, our 28 kinda reminded me of that with all the lines we had everywhere, and I'm not just talking about the lazy jacks. I commented to Lance on the way home with it that I thought maybe a nice toilet seat could be used as an effective spinnaker chute. He hacked the lazy jacks off shortly after that. More of our extra special purpose stuff will disappear over time. When we're done we'll be back to the basics, like God and Carl Alberg intended.
Thanks again to you all. The jury is still out here, but if it were strictly my choice, I think the boat would continue with an attached foot on the main. Can't speak for Lance. Will let you all know what we decide.
Becky
There's only one thing I will comment on, and that is the lazy jack thing. We had them on our 28 (previous owner installed) and we hated them. We always thought we would like them, but Lance couldn't hack them off the boat fast enough. (Blog entry "Stuff That Stinks") They do serve you for a brief glimmering moment when the sail comes down. The rest of the time they just aggravated the hell out of us. We're pretty simple people. Been sailing without them for 28 years, happily. Can't imagine that our quality of life will be diminished for not having them now. We had a friend in San Diego who had a line (rope) for every conceivable purpose. His rig and deck reminded us of a spider's web sometimes. Once we arrived at the marina to find him attaching a toilet seat to the front of his Yamaha 25 (I couldn't possibly make this stuff up). We asked him what it was for and he said that he thought that he might be able to use it to make an effective spinnaker chute. (Lord help us.) And, by the way, when we were out sailing together he couldn't catch our Catalina 22, which was rigged with just the basics, on his best day. It seemed that he should have been easily able to overtake us, but I think he was so busy fiddling with all his lines that he forgot to just sail. Anyway, our 28 kinda reminded me of that with all the lines we had everywhere, and I'm not just talking about the lazy jacks. I commented to Lance on the way home with it that I thought maybe a nice toilet seat could be used as an effective spinnaker chute. He hacked the lazy jacks off shortly after that. More of our extra special purpose stuff will disappear over time. When we're done we'll be back to the basics, like God and Carl Alberg intended.
Thanks again to you all. The jury is still out here, but if it were strictly my choice, I think the boat would continue with an attached foot on the main. Can't speak for Lance. Will let you all know what we decide.
Becky
Last edited by oldragbaggers on May 9th, '08, 07:41, edited 2 times in total.
Lance & Becky Williams
Happily retired and cruising aboard our dreamboat, Anteris
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/anteris/
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Happily retired and cruising aboard our dreamboat, Anteris
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/anteris/
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- Posts: 1483
- Joined: Jul 5th, '05, 11:23
- Location: CD 31 "Loda May"
No hassle
My main is attached to the mast normally with slugs.
It is zero hassle to drop; I find that having full battens adds makes the process easier, because they help keep the sail on the boom. They add some stability to the operation.
And now that we have added lazy jacks, it is very simple. You can wait to put gaskets on til later, Or sometimes not at all.
I think that what is happening with John V is that the way he keeps his prop (locked?/unlocked?) tends to make the boat actually accelerate forward when he drops the sail. Then the gust generated from that blows the sail in his face and causes him to have Luddite moments.
Dean
It is zero hassle to drop; I find that having full battens adds makes the process easier, because they help keep the sail on the boom. They add some stability to the operation.
And now that we have added lazy jacks, it is very simple. You can wait to put gaskets on til later, Or sometimes not at all.
I think that what is happening with John V is that the way he keeps his prop (locked?/unlocked?) tends to make the boat actually accelerate forward when he drops the sail. Then the gust generated from that blows the sail in his face and causes him to have Luddite moments.
Dean
Dean Abramson
Cape Dory 31 "Loda May"
Falmouth, Maine
Cape Dory 31 "Loda May"
Falmouth, Maine
-
- Posts: 1483
- Joined: Jul 5th, '05, 11:23
- Location: CD 31 "Loda May"
Relentless
Sheesh. While I was rebutting Luddites, Becky impugns my lazy jacks!
Man, it's a cold world out there.
But you will see more of it in your allotted time, if you have a loose-footed main.
Dean
Man, it's a cold world out there.
But you will see more of it in your allotted time, if you have a loose-footed main.
Dean
Dean Abramson
Cape Dory 31 "Loda May"
Falmouth, Maine
Cape Dory 31 "Loda May"
Falmouth, Maine
- M. R. Bober
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 08:59
- Location: CARETAKER CD28 Flybridge Trawler
Fancy free?
It had to be said.
Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (where loose feet can be corrected with orthopedic shoes), VA
Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (where loose feet can be corrected with orthopedic shoes), VA
CDSOA Founding Member
-
- Posts: 1483
- Joined: Jul 5th, '05, 11:23
- Location: CD 31 "Loda May"
- oldragbaggers
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Nov 28th, '05, 21:01
- Location: 1982 CD-33 "Anteris"
- Contact:
Dean, the impugning was completely unintentional. Of course every man/woman is entitled to their personal preference. It's just that those of us who do it the right way have a hard time understanding why others choose to do it the other way. ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Lance & Becky Williams
Happily retired and cruising aboard our dreamboat, Anteris
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/anteris/
https://www.facebook.com/oldragbaggers
Happily retired and cruising aboard our dreamboat, Anteris
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/anteris/
https://www.facebook.com/oldragbaggers
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- Posts: 1483
- Joined: Jul 5th, '05, 11:23
- Location: CD 31 "Loda May"
Of course
I totally understand.
It's like the way that we folks who do things efficiently cannot really understand people who do things right. ;-)
Dean
It's like the way that we folks who do things efficiently cannot really understand people who do things right. ;-)
Dean
Dean Abramson
Cape Dory 31 "Loda May"
Falmouth, Maine
Cape Dory 31 "Loda May"
Falmouth, Maine
- oldragbaggers
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Nov 28th, '05, 21:01
- Location: 1982 CD-33 "Anteris"
- Contact:
Touche
Lance & Becky Williams
Happily retired and cruising aboard our dreamboat, Anteris
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/anteris/
https://www.facebook.com/oldragbaggers
Happily retired and cruising aboard our dreamboat, Anteris
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/anteris/
https://www.facebook.com/oldragbaggers
- John Vigor
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Aug 27th, '06, 15:58
- Contact:
Grave character fault
Dear Bob:Bob Emmons wrote:Dear John,
Although I appreciate your comments and expertise on the Loose Footed vs. Attached Mainsail, I am a bit confused on your logic.
Bob Emmons
Don't be confused. Logic is not my strong point. I'm all emotion, man, all feeling, all gut reaction.
I also like to stir things up a bit when I see a debate getting too one-sided and self-congratulatory. It's a character fault, I know, but I can't help it.
It's a sort of underdog syndrome gone wrong, and my shrink has given up trying to sort it out, so I have to live with it. For what it's worth, she says I deserve pity, not condemnation.
If everybody would just listen to me and get their feet attached I'd be a lot happier and easier to live with.
Cheers,
John Vigor
Congrats! Every board needs its very own Devil's Advocate!
n/m...
-michael
Foot loose & Free-wheeling all the way!![Wink ;-)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
-michael
Foot loose & Free-wheeling all the way!
![Wink ;-)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
-michael & Toni CDSOA #789
s/v KAYLA CD28 #318
2012 FLSTC Heritage Classic
Niceville FL
+30° 30' 24.60", -86° 26' 32.10"
"Just because it worked, doesn't mean it works." -me
No shirt + No shorts = No problem!
s/v KAYLA CD28 #318
2012 FLSTC Heritage Classic
Niceville FL
+30° 30' 24.60", -86° 26' 32.10"
"Just because it worked, doesn't mean it works." -me
No shirt + No shorts = No problem!
- Frank Vernet
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Feb 7th, '05, 16:42
- Location: Cape Dory 33 "Sirius" Hull #84 Deale, MD
OK - so can those of us with an attached foot just remove the slugs and go "footloose" or is there something about the design/cut of an attached mainsail that warns against such a step? I am intrigued by this discussion and curious to try something new.
"A sailor's joys are as simple as a child's." - Bernard Moitessier
- Carter Brey
- Posts: 709
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 12:02
- Location: 1982 Sabre 28 Mk II #532 "Delphine"
City Island, New York - Contact:
Fancy free
I'm thinking about removing the slugs from the mast side of my mainsail. Think of the infinite trimming possibilities offered by a combination of halyard-cunningham/uphaul-downhaul with this setup. Just follow the logic: if flattening the sail de-powers it, then making the headboard and foot meet at mid-mast for an airfoil whose cross-section is an expression of division by zero ought to acheive near-infinite velocities. I'm very excited and can't wait to try this.
On a related performance note, I had the yard remove my keel last week and am experimenting with ballast stones.
On a related performance note, I had the yard remove my keel last week and am experimenting with ballast stones.
Re: just remove the slugs and go "footloose"
The reason for this suggestion is along the lines of "Try it before you Buy it". Note Andy's comment about the slug limitation at the outhaul end. The short nylon slugs tend to bind like hell with any side loading.
Jim Davis
S/V Isa Lei
S/V Isa Lei