paxfish 5 Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Guys - Through a friend, I've stumbled into an opportunity to buy a new UK Carbon Load Path Main built for a tri for 1/5 of it's original price. The guy had the sail made four years ago, and it has been sitting ever since. Will a sail like this hold up to being flaked on my boom under a cover for 6 months out of the year? Seems like a heck of a deal at $2000 USD. The Luff is about a meter too long, but the first reef point should tack in just about right. I should be able to cut off the bottom panel and go with it... Your thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bad Kitty 252 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I was waiting for someone with better technical knowledge to chip in but they haven't so here I go! Sounds fine, I'd go for it. Our 3di carbon sail lives flaked on the boom, no dramas. They are tough, so as long as you cover it it should be fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I wasn't sure if your reference to being laid up over winter suggested something a little more about ice, snow, cold temperatures affecting the fibres? If that was the case then for a long layup wouldn't you just leave it loosely flaked below on a forward berth. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Thanks Bad Kitty. Hi Scotti - Yeah - in the winter, I'd roll it up in the cabin. But for 6 to 7 months, during the season, it would spend a lot of time flaked on the boom under a sunbrella cover.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Hoo man - This thing might come to fruition. Closer measurement reveals that I might be able to use it without cutting, just a bit more area down low. Boom is the right length and I could lower my gooseneck. This is a big purchase for us - all comments welcome. The sail was built for a highly modified F31R that blew up and hence the sail was never used after the initial fitting. The sail looks like this: And here is what it looks like overlayed on my sail plan. It would move my CE forward a bit, which would be just fine frankly. I still have significant weather helm when sailing close to the wind. It is located 1200km from me, and the battens make for an expensive freight shipment. Still mulling it over. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MartinRF 53 Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 I think you should try to find out what mast bend and mast characteristics this sail's luff curve is designed for. If it is significantly different from what you can achieve you should factor in a luff curve re-cut. /Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 That's a good question - I will see what I can find out. I know the mast is the one actually shown in the picture above and is all carbon. I just learned that the sail in question was cut too short in the foot by UK, and the customer demanded a new sail. (new one shown in picture above). That is why this "new" one is available. The good thing is that the owner is willing to let me fit the sail on the boat before committing to buy... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 the luff curve looks pretty flat in that pic ? a lower gooseneck is good - most GBE's racing in auckland have a main sail plan very similar to what you show - some with an even lower gooseneck. It'll give you significantly better performance than your existing sail regardless! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 So - to zero in on the boom even more, when I watch a boat like Charleston in the video below, it appears the boat has no outhaul at all. Foot tension is achieved primarily by cranking in the mainsheet because of the angle of the boom going to the crossbeam rather than the mast. Do I have that about right? If so, I LIKE IT! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHsjOFNjPrM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tim C 23 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 The sail looks surprisingly draft forward for a mulithull mainsail. To my eye it looks more like a jib in terms of draft position. But still a good buy at that price. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ed 143 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Watch your mainsheet system. Roachy sails like to have oodles of leach tension to standup the top of the sail properly, which can lead into a spiral of more mainsheet purchase, stronger boom, bigger traveller, stronger back beam to cope with it all. Not saying its a bad thing, just something to be aware of. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tim C 23 Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Plus a head board slug or car that is not going to break or pull out of the sail track, reef points that are seriously strong enough, mainsheet winch that has got enough purchase etc etc... Watch your mainsheet system. Roachy sails like to have oodles of leach tension to standup the top of the sail properly, which can lead into a spiral of more mainsheet purchase, stronger boom, bigger traveller, stronger back beam to cope with it all. Not saying its a bad thing, just something to be aware of. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 I agree, but it turns out he had some high tech tapered carbon battens in at the time. They will be replaced with something more appropriate in an attempt to get that draft back to 40% or so. I'll have to make that judgement when I actually get to haul the sail up the mast. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 I just received a better picture of the sail. It was used for one race, and the owner demanded a new one since the foot was 6 inches out of spec (too short). It is being shipped this week, and I should be able to haul it up the mast soon to get a rough idea on fitment. I know the luff is too long. It is entirely possible the first reef might be just right. Or I might be lowering my gooseneck. We shall see. #24 in the center. It is mounted on a highly modified F31 that was significantly lighter than stock. I think the main hull was bumped out 2 feet as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Someone mentioned headboard - here is what the design looks like: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 Gentlemen - I sincerely appreciate your comments. I've incorporated most of them in my decision making, and your experience has been invaluable out here in multihull hinterland. In between gales this morning, I was able to raise the new (used once) main, and am generally delighted with the fit. The luff is too long. Based on what I am seeing, I think I will lengthen the boom and lower the gooseneck to the main crossbeam, rather than install a new tack and recut the foot. You guys don't seem to have an issue with the reduced visibility or crew movement, so I should not either. This plan has the added benefit of allowing the reef points to line up nicely on the boom. The donor boat also had a lower gooseneck (but also had a bit more rake in the mast.) Your thoughts are solicited. Thanks, Here is a shot with the boom in it's current position:http://i.imgur.com/LVRA8Bm.jpgHere is a shot of the proposed position. This looks promising because the reefs will lay nicely on the boom, I lose some visibility under way, and the boom will have to be lengthened (no big deal.)http://i.imgur.com/I2EWLPp.jpgThat beatiful headboard seems to work nicely with the crane. Perhaps I need a smaller shackle as well.http://i.imgur.com/Ue6U21y.jpg As mounted on the donor boat w/ tapered battens: http://i.imgur.com/YfObeJH.jpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 I have a very low boom on Voom, with damn near zero visibility to leeward. It is scary on startlines, but just requires vigilance the rest of the time. Love reading your updates, so keep posting. Your sprit set up is much tidier than mine, very impressive (except the hook, unsure of that). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paxfish 5 Posted March 7, 2016 Author Share Posted March 7, 2016 Thanks Clipper, you bet. I just did some careful measurements and sent them in to the rating committee. Looks like I'm only about 4 square feet smaller. Aspect ratio is much higher though as you can see in the overlay below. One of my goals was to move my CE forward to better balance the boat. How do I calculate the new location of my CE for the main? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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