Yeah what he said_NOT!

Posted By: Ramblin' Rod s/v SeaQuell - Mac 26D - Georgian Bay, ON
Date: 12/29/07 10:32a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: MacGregor 26S Mainsail (Kevin B. - SecretSailor)

Shoulda be'ed Luff bolt rope. While you're at it, do the foot too! You'll prolly find that the luff rope is siezed to the sail material right at that location where it wrinkles worst. (Reef point I bet.) Some people let the bolt rope run free, but I recommend extending it, and reseizing only at the ends (tack and head for luff, tack and clue for foot). This will help prevent further stretching the sail material when loaded by halyard or wind. When we say "Bolt Rope Shrunk" that also includes the unspoken, unthinkable, "Sail Material Stretched", at the same time. (After you unseize the bolt rope, and pull the halyard tight, you'll extend beyond the original luff specs for the sail.) Regardless, wrinkles are slow, draft aft on a baggy sail that can't be pulled out, causes lower pointing angles and excessive healing. Get the wrinkles and belly out and your sail controls will have much greater effect and she'll stand up to 2 or 3 knots more wind before needing to reef. We fixed our bolt rope and used our sails for another 2 years before getting new, and we sail 700 - 1000 miles / year.