I'm almost embarrassed to ask this but I need some advice on how to flake a new mainsail properly. Just hoisted my new mainsail for the first time today and its a beauty. But I had difficulty getting it to lie in nice even flakes on the boom. All my previous years of sailing we either took the main off the small boats or on SQN the previous 22 year old main was so soft and blown out that we just rolled it up on the boom, put on some ties and voila...finished. Not so with this new one. I should add that the top two battens are full battens and the bottom two are standard type but extra long. No matter how I tried to pull and tug, all I got was a bunched up sail laying on the boom. Any advice would be welcome and any references with diagrams would sure help. Its a beautiful sail and I don't want to ruin it right off the bat.
Thanks
WarrenKaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY
Setsail728@aol.com
Flaking the mainsail
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Neil Gordon
Re: Flaking the mainsail
Wait 10-15 years and it will roll up just fine.
In the meantime, the new sail is not only stiff, but it's slippery, which makes it hard to impossible to deal with. I had some success starting at the clew, pulling the sail back to take the creases out, slowly working my way up, pulling as I went. When you've worked your way up the boom a couple of feet or so, put a sail tie on and keep working your way up the sail and along the boom, adding sail ties as you go. It's all easier with a helper. The battens should line up with the boom without difficulty, by the way.
The other thing that works for me is hauling in the reefing line, which secures a good percentage of the sail to the boom.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
In the meantime, the new sail is not only stiff, but it's slippery, which makes it hard to impossible to deal with. I had some success starting at the clew, pulling the sail back to take the creases out, slowly working my way up, pulling as I went. When you've worked your way up the boom a couple of feet or so, put a sail tie on and keep working your way up the sail and along the boom, adding sail ties as you go. It's all easier with a helper. The battens should line up with the boom without difficulty, by the way.
The other thing that works for me is hauling in the reefing line, which secures a good percentage of the sail to the boom.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
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yves feder W1UX
Re: Flaking the mainsail
Heck Warren, by summer's end it'll be compressible enough if you get 10 heavy foredeckpersons to bounce up and down on it after you've got it mostly down - !
Oh yes, don't forget the sailcover that fit your old main so very nicely will now be - ahem - a wee bit too small!!!!
Yves
Alphee
CD27 #4 (1877)
saltwater@tinyradio.com
Oh yes, don't forget the sailcover that fit your old main so very nicely will now be - ahem - a wee bit too small!!!!
Yves
Alphee
CD27 #4 (1877)
Neil Gordon wrote: Wait 10-15 years and it will roll up just fine.
In the meantime, the new sail is not only stiff, but it's slippery, which makes it hard to impossible to deal with. I had some success starting at the clew, pulling the sail back to take the creases out, slowly working my way up, pulling as I went. When you've worked your way up the boom a couple of feet or so, put a sail tie on and keep working your way up the sail and along the boom, adding sail ties as you go. It's all easier with a helper. The battens should line up with the boom without difficulty, by the way.
The other thing that works for me is hauling in the reefing line, which secures a good percentage of the sail to the boom.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
saltwater@tinyradio.com
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Warren Kaplan
Re: Flaking the mainsail
Yves,yves feder W1UX wrote: Heck Warren, by summer's end it'll be compressible enough if you get 10 heavy foredeckpersons to bounce up and down on it after you've got it mostly down - !
Oh yes, don't forget the sailcover that fit your old main so very nicely will now be - ahem - a wee bit too small!!!!
Yves
Alphee
CD27 #4 (1877)
The sail cover being a "wee bit small" is the understatement of the year. Trying to get that cover on today was akin to me trying to get into a pair of jeans I wore 20 years ago. I've got to get some "order" into this new mainsail when its lowered onto the boom. I really felt like an idiot this afternoon struggling with it on the boom.
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
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Warren Kaplan
Re: Flaking the mainsail
Neil,Neil Gordon wrote: Wait 10-15 years and it will roll up just fine.
I'm a patient man but I don't believe I'm that patient! I started from the mast end of the sail today. I'll start from the aft end as you and others have suggested next time. Anyway, I feel a little better knowing that a brand new fresh sail has it ups and downs. I may splurge and get a larger boom cover. With this new sail, trying to get the old sail cover on is like trying to get 10 pounds of potatoes into a 5 pound bag.
WQarren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY
Setsail728@aol.com
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Scott MacCready
Re: Flaking the mainsail
Warren,
I also have a mainsail that is new this season. I start at the aft end of the boom and lower the sail just a few feet. I pull the sail toward the end of the boom and secure it with a strap. Then I lower the sail a few more feet and repeat the process adding more straps as I go. It is a chore, especially in the wind, on a rocking boat, but I'm getting better. I have thought about lazy jacks to make it easier. Good luck, Scott
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scottmacc@coastalnet.com
I also have a mainsail that is new this season. I start at the aft end of the boom and lower the sail just a few feet. I pull the sail toward the end of the boom and secure it with a strap. Then I lower the sail a few more feet and repeat the process adding more straps as I go. It is a chore, especially in the wind, on a rocking boat, but I'm getting better. I have thought about lazy jacks to make it easier. Good luck, Scott
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scottmacc@coastalnet.com
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Bob Loewenstein
Re: Flaking the mainsail
I also have a new main. It was modified for a Dutchman flaking system and stored during the winter folded with the correct flakes. I put it on the boat yesterday and checked it out at the marina. It flaked correctly and needed only a little minor assistance from me where the flakes were near the reinforced reef points. I suspect these places will need a while to accept the fold. It helped that the sail has full battens.
Bob
Bob
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Neil Gordon
Re: Flaking the mainsail
>>I start at the aft end of the boom and lower the sail just a few feet. I pull the sail toward the end of the boom and secure it with a strap. Then I lower the sail a few more feet and repeat the process adding more straps as I go.<<
I like to get the main down and secured to the boom asap when I'm coming in. I save the flaking down for when I'm in the slip.
If it's breezy, I drop the main while at the same time hauling in the reefing line. That substantially reduces the sail area I'm left to deal with. From about mid-boom I can gather what's left and two sail ties keep everything in place.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
I like to get the main down and secured to the boom asap when I'm coming in. I save the flaking down for when I'm in the slip.
If it's breezy, I drop the main while at the same time hauling in the reefing line. That substantially reduces the sail area I'm left to deal with. From about mid-boom I can gather what's left and two sail ties keep everything in place.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
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Roger
Re: Flaking the mainsail
Basic choices: a) roll, or b) flake. Each has pros and cons. Each can be done to the boom, or off the boom. Assuming you will keep the sail on the boom (under cover!), then
a) Rolling - Pro: avoids creasing the sail material which extends sail life (shape). Con: you need two people (one at each end) and must remove the luff from the mast track each takedown. The operation is roll the sail (like a cigar) along the luff edge, starting at the head; keep the luff edges aligned and ensure the battens are kept straight (not rolled). I don't think you're likely to do this, so the real option may be...
b) Flaking - Pro: simple, can be done with one or two people. Con: neatness counts -- you want to avoid unecessary creases or folds that wear the sail and limit its usefull life. The flaking operation is common practice, so a few tips I suggest:
1) During drop, be sure the boom is level (topping lift) and outhaul is eased. This avoids stressing the lower part of the main luff near the tack -- could tear out your slugs if not careful.
2) Starting at the aft end, use moderate size bites (about 1/2-1 ft) and flake to each side of the boom while pulling aft to remove any creases along the foot of the sail.
- best results are achieved by removing the luff from the mast track and using a second person at the mast.
- acceptable result may be achieved single handed; if you have slugs in the luff, try matching the bite size to half the distance between slugs so each fold is between the slug.
3) BE SURE your battens lie atop the boom (or at least parallel) and avoid any twist.
4) If you're rushing, things can get messy -- be patient.
Neatness will be rewarded with a shipshape boat and long lasting sail. Fair winds.
Roger
S/V Felicity
Intrepid 9M
Portsmouth, RI
a) Rolling - Pro: avoids creasing the sail material which extends sail life (shape). Con: you need two people (one at each end) and must remove the luff from the mast track each takedown. The operation is roll the sail (like a cigar) along the luff edge, starting at the head; keep the luff edges aligned and ensure the battens are kept straight (not rolled). I don't think you're likely to do this, so the real option may be...
b) Flaking - Pro: simple, can be done with one or two people. Con: neatness counts -- you want to avoid unecessary creases or folds that wear the sail and limit its usefull life. The flaking operation is common practice, so a few tips I suggest:
1) During drop, be sure the boom is level (topping lift) and outhaul is eased. This avoids stressing the lower part of the main luff near the tack -- could tear out your slugs if not careful.
2) Starting at the aft end, use moderate size bites (about 1/2-1 ft) and flake to each side of the boom while pulling aft to remove any creases along the foot of the sail.
- best results are achieved by removing the luff from the mast track and using a second person at the mast.
- acceptable result may be achieved single handed; if you have slugs in the luff, try matching the bite size to half the distance between slugs so each fold is between the slug.
3) BE SURE your battens lie atop the boom (or at least parallel) and avoid any twist.
4) If you're rushing, things can get messy -- be patient.
Neatness will be rewarded with a shipshape boat and long lasting sail. Fair winds.
Roger
S/V Felicity
Intrepid 9M
Portsmouth, RI
Warren Kaplan wrote: I'm almost embarrassed to ask this but I need some advice on how to flake a new mainsail properly. Just hoisted my new mainsail for the first time today and its a beauty. But I had difficulty getting it to lie in nice even flakes on the boom. All my previous years of sailing we either took the main off the small boats or on SQN the previous 22 year old main was so soft and blown out that we just rolled it up on the boom, put on some ties and voila...finished. Not so with this new one. I should add that the top two battens are full battens and the bottom two are standard type but extra long. No matter how I tried to pull and tug, all I got was a bunched up sail laying on the boom. Any advice would be welcome and any references with diagrams would sure help. Its a beautiful sail and I don't want to ruin it right off the bat.
Thanks
WarrenKaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY