Fitting a Foil

[Cherp]

Hi...I've got an inner forestay which takes hanked sails. I have a suitable sail which slides into a foil. What's involved in fitting a foil to the forestay, rather than hanks to the sail? Appreciate advice.

[daddle]

There is (was?) a plastic foil that snaps over the stay, pretty cool...could be just slipped on and the ends secured with the little feeder/stopper castings...Google?

[s/v Beth]

To be done right the foil has to be removed and hanks placed. Not difficult for a loft. Requires new hardware...

[Cherp]

Thanks Daddle....Newt...the stay does not have a foil. Is it a matter of taking off the stay and putting a foil over it? Or does the foil replace the stay?

[daddle]

Generally, foils go over the stay. They don't carry rigging loads.

[s/v Beth]

Foils generally go with a roller- furler. Why do you want to do that? It will probably take 200 USD to convert the sail, or you can buy a roller furler for 1k.
Your choice.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

To be done right the foil has to be removed and hanks placed. Not difficult for a loft. Requires new hardware...

newt -
I don't get it. The OP says he has a sail that will slide into a foil already. He just wants to know about acquiring and installing a foil, not removing one.

[Sailmonkey]

Your foil sir, Tuff Luff ,I have raced with these things, if they'll stand up to that abuse there should be no problem on a staysail.

[Cherp]

Sailmonkey - I think you're on the mark for what I have in mind. I've used these things on racing boats, but was not sure of how they were installed. If I acquire one of these and a feeder, I can put it on the stay and then just feed my sail into it. Don't really need a furler. Better than hanks on the sail I think.

[daddle]

Foils are good for performance. Better than hanks and fat furler hardware. Without race crew the foils will have two disadvantages to consider. One, on dousing the sale it hepls to have several hands to keep it on deck vs. the hanked sail. Also they are not quite as reliable. As the sail ages it may start to pop out of the foil where again the shorthanded issue can cause problems.

[sigmasailor]

When my Tuff Luff broke I had the choice of replacing it or going for a furling head sail. You will new a new fore stay in both cases since the terminal on the end of the stay is too big to slide any profile over it. I'm talking about 10 years ago and had the choice of spending 2000 guilders for a 'plastic' Tuff Luff or 4000 guilders for an aluminium profile including drum. I was able to use the foresails (without hanks) in the furling system so I opted for the furler; never had any regrets. If you have a hanked foresail you have to add the cost of modifying it to the furler profile.

[s/v Beth]

Mike, I think I misunderstood his question. I better get back to my sail repair project and keep my mouth shut....

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Cherp

Sailmonkey - I think you're on the mark for what I have in mind. I've used these things on racing boats, but was not sure of how they were installed. If I acquire one of these and a feeder, I can put it on the stay and then just feed my sail into it. Don't really need a furler. Better than hanks on the sail I think.

Last time I changed out a damaged one on rod rigging, we pulled the old one off of the rod, then slid the new one on. just over the rod, no new ends, no dropping of the stay, just popped it over.