Change to Loose Footed Main

[Adrian NAMT]

I have changed my boom. The main has a bolt rope and the slot on the new boom is too small for it. My options seem to be go loose footed or to install sliders.
The boat is 37', the boom 16'-6"
Has anyone had a similar problem? What changes might be required for the old main to be used loose footed? How expensive might it be for each alternative/

[StuM]

I'd just use it loose footed as is. No need to change anything.

[JPA Cate]

Sew on a bolt rope that fits? or use it loose-footed. Fwiw, we've had loose footed mains for years.

How do you want it?

Ann

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Adrian NAMT

What changes might be required for the old main to be used loose footed?

Bend on the the old main as loose footed and give it a try.

You might have to recut the foot of your main. A traditional attached main has a foot shelf that is not found on a loose footed main.

[psk125]

Sounds like you need to talk to a sailmaker. You may be able to use the sail as-is, not using the boltrope and "pretending" it is a loose-footed sail, despite the existing boltrope. You may want to find a sailmaker to trim off the boltrope and make it a proper "loose-footed" sail. You may want to buy a new main to go with your new boom. We can't tell you what things cost where you are. (Let alone the exchange rate for Loonies.) Did you think about this before changing your boom?

[Schooner Chandlery]

All good advice above. Redoing the bolt rope would be my tendency. Some spars are not suited to loose footed sails--knowing whether your spar can handle the change in load points would be good. The cut really is different for a loose footed sail--therefore it's either use the proper bolt rope (my vote!), resort to slugs, or recut the sail to do a proper job of it.

Best of luck to you!

[Dennis.G]

My mizzen sail has a bolt rope along foot, but also slugs tied in with webbing which slide into the slot on top of the boom. Would be very easy to add to your sail and simply have to get proper sized slugs for your boom slot.

[Stu Jackson]

Whatever you do, make sure your outhaul is working.

Ours is a bolt rope that fits in the boom, but the outhaul (thanks to Catalina's really poor outhaul design) has been inoperable for the past 17 years (I've had the boat for 18 years!!!).

[wunderluster]

I believe that's call deferred maintenance Stu!

[boatman61]

Go loose footed.. you'll get more effective belly downwind with barely noticeable loss upwind.. one reason I like the Gull Wing Wharram rig which has no boom at all..

[Dave22q]

[QUOTE=jackdale;2074840]Bend on the the old main as loose footed and give it a try.

Sounds like the perfect next step. Sail loose footed and see how you like the results. Why did you replace the boom anyway?

[barnakiel]

In a bolt rope main the clew can be undersized for flying it lose footed. It depends on how the main was built. Also, the shape of the foot may or may not lend itself to flying it lose footed. You must hoist it lose footed and see what things look like.

Options: change the bolt rope, or add sliders. If the clew looks man enough, just fly it lose and see what happens.

b.

[out42]

As most of the comments here: go loose-footed. The outhaul is key, and the lack of moveable outhauls was one reason why loose-footed sails were rare until 15-20 years ago (excluding gaffers, etc). Sail alterations are usually just taking it to a sailmaker who will cut the foot away and tape the edges. Then all you have to do is remember to free it off downwind and tighten upwind! What's not to like? Your sail shape will be better and you will be more aware of it.
I tend to use a dyneema sliding loop to attach the clew to the boom instead of a slug and it makes tensioning very easy. Attaching reefing lines to similar loops also lets the sail choose it best shape when reefing. Slugs tend to add stickiness and complications in my opinion.

Just do it.

[Adrian NAMT]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and info.
I will check out the shape and probably remove the bolt rope. Maybe add a panel if it is needed.
My original boom "disappeared" when the rig was in storage ! How does a 17' boom disappear?

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by out42

As most of the comments here: go loose-footed. The outhaul is key, and the lack of moveable outhauls was one reason why loose-footed sails were rare until 15-20 years ago (excluding gaffers, etc). Sail alterations are usually just taking it to a sailmaker who will cut the foot away and tape the edges. Then all you have to do is remember to free it off downwind and tighten upwind! What's not to like? Your sail shape will be better and you will be more aware of it.
I tend to use a dyneema sliding loop to attach the clew to the boom instead of a slug and it makes tensioning very easy. Attaching reefing lines to similar loops also lets the sail choose it best shape when reefing. Slugs tend to add stickiness and complications in my opinion.

Just do it.

Thanks for pointing that out.

The clew does need to be kept down to the boom, with either a slug or a strap.