New Mainsail with slack above boom

[Johnd]

Just bought a nice new main. Installed it today and noticed the sail had a bit of slack along/above the boom. Is this normal or not?

Thanks

John d

[CruiseAlong]

Slack along the boom sail foot.....no

Make sure the leech line is loose to begin with so the leech of the sail is not shorten when putting on the sail.

If the distance between the clew out haul block to the tack pin is less than the length of the foot of the sail, the fabricated sail foot dimension is incorrect. The edge of the sail should be straight before you run out of adjustment space with the out haul block.

Dana

[Johnd]

Thanks Dana. The slack is actually not in the length of the foot, but an extra small belly right above the boom. I did notice a slight arc in the main, peaking in the middle of the main's foot. Not sure why.

Wish I could post pic.

John d

[Jim Walsh]

Have you asked your sailmaker to come out and explain what's going on with his handiwork?

[David van den Burgh]

Just curious, what happens when you haul in on the outhaul? Does it flatten the bottom of the sail, effectively removing the extra material?

[Ben Thomas]

Is your main sail attached along the foot to the boom? or Loose fitted?
Sometimes sailmakers will put in some slack if sail is attached all along the boom. A foot shelf.
This is an extra flap that provides a bit more area when you slack the outhaul on a run.
B

[Johnd]

Ben you nailed it. Just TT the sail maker, and repeated what you said. Thanks to all!