Loose Footed Doyle Sail

Trouts Dream · Post by **Trouts Dream** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:47 pm

I was wondering if anyone has tried using the original doyle mainsail as a loosefooted sail versus running the rope bottom through the boom slot.

As I dream of warmer weather I have time to ponder.

Highlander · Post by **Highlander** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 6:50 pm

My

mainsail is loose footed If I owned a 26X/M I would fly it loose footed you get better sail shape & easier outhaul control . My main has three reinforcement patchs on each bottom luff & leech corners. you may have to add them !!!
Check out my post 4 headsails just below this post you can see the patches on the main in the last 2 pic's , if you have them then I can't see why you could not sail it loose footed

Cheers John

bscott · Post by **bscott** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:15 pm

According to Sail Care (loft & repair), the bolt rope needs to be removed, the bottom of the sail re-cut and reinforced and sail slugs installed. You should probably have the draft cut flatter and recondition the sail as well.

Bob

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa · Post by **Dimitri-2000X-Tampa** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 4:21 am

I can understand why you would want the bolt rope removed and the corner reinforcements added, but why would you put slugs on the foot of the sail? Seems like that would defeat the purpose of the loose footed main and just get you back to where it was with the bolt rope riding in the track instead of the slugs. Or are you just talking about adding 2 slugs, one on each corner? If so, I would think you want something stronger since those slugs can break pretty easily.

fsmith · Post by **fsmith** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 8:01 am

My North Sail loose footed main came with 1 sail slug at clew.

Some racers, as I understand (maybe smaller boat) just use a strap that goes around the aft end of the boom.

I have sailed one season with this sail, and I have had no problems. Sail shape is easier with the loose foot.

You might try adding a slug to your sail (or a strap/good sail tie) and try that. That should be very low cost. Then upgrade to your liking.

Try pricing a new sail versus the changes you are contemplating (as well as how old is your sail). This time of year you can usually get a good deal.

Trouts Dream · Post by **Trouts Dream** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 8:57 am

This is a 10 year old main (probably the equivalent of 3-4 seasons on it) so I am looking at the need to replace in the next few seasons anyway.

I am curious how many sail wth loose footed versus the rope bolt?

delevi · Post by **delevi** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:33 am

My Quantum sail is loose-footed. I love it. It has one huge, heavy-duty slug at the clew. Loose footed is the way to go. Can't say much about a conversion, but since the sail will be replaced soon, I don't see much risk in attempting this. I would remove the bolt rope from the foot.

Leon

bscott · Post by **bscott** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:39 am

Check out www.sailcare.com They have a cleaning/restoration proces that is "supposed" to bring the sail back into new condition. They told me the foot of the sail would "probably" need to be recut amd reinforced. The sail slugs are placed at the tack and clew.

Post by **kmclemore** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:50 am

bscott wrote:Check out www.sailcare.com They have a cleaning/restoration proces that is "supposed" to bring the sail back into new ondition...

They're for real - Sailcare does indeed make old sails like new again. I had the original sails for my 1979 Boston Whaler Harppon cleaned and reconditioned there, and they ended up looking and behaving like brand new sails - they even 'snap' when the wind chatches them, just like new. I still use those same sails today and they look absolutly fantastic. Heck, they even restored the 'harpoon' logo on my sail, and it looks exactly like the original. And all this for far, far less $$ than it would have cost to buy new North sails. I highly recommend Sailcare and their LaMauney process to anyone needing to restore old sails.

Here's a pic taken this summer.... and remember, these sails are almost 30 years old....

delevi · Post by **delevi** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:42 pm

Impressive

Post by **kmclemore** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:26 pm

delevi wrote:Impressive

Thanks.. yeah, I really wanted to keep those North sails and I'm very glad that worked out. The picture above, BTW, is in *very* light air, and yet the sails are keeping a nice shape, so it's all the more impressive, IMHO.

Ivan Awfulitch · Post by **Ivan Awfulitch** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:05 pm

bscott wrote:Check out www.sailcare.com They have a cleaning/restoration proces that is "supposed" to bring the sail back into new condition.

I used them with the sails from my 10 year old 1971 Mac 17. The sails were repaired, cleaned, and looked and worked great for about 6 years. If I ever decide to use the boat again I'll send them back for a new resin and I'm sure I can get another 5 years out of them. Excellent company and they deliver what they promise at a very good price.

Captain Kimo · Post by **Captain Kimo** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:05 pm

Got this advise from www.SailRite.com prior to ordering:
_________________
Use an outhaul slug pt# 23315 webbed to the clew ring with #531610 polyester tubular webbing. Use two loops and hand sew together. You shouldn't need to reinforce the clew ring itself.
_________________

Purchased both. Have yet to use the sewed webbing recommended. Used some black webbing hold down straps to test it out. As other have said, you can trim the main using the outhaul line to get nice loose footed shape on the main. Seems to be particular effective in light air as noticed when flying gennaker. It did not seem to blanket the gennaker as in the foot bolt rope in the boom configuration.

Also used a sliding goose neck and raise the boom a good foot with the OME 'J' bolt inserted in the sliding goose neck and hooked to the main's tack. Downhauled the sliding goose neck with a trucker's hitch to the bail at the mast foot. Plan to purchase a small block and tackle in the future.

Plan to permanently install two loops of webbing through the main clew. Still have main's foot bolt rope. Using sail slugs on the main's luff.

Have not tested in strong wind conditions.

R Rae · Post by **R Rae** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:16 pm

Sailed today for the first time with a loose footed main. Winds were light, so my two slugs attached to the clew eye were not put to the test. Lovely to see a very nice sail shape at the bottom, even with the boltrope still intact. I think I'll leave it in place.
Still haven't figured out the best way to make outhaul adustments under changing wind/sailing conditions.

Any suggestions out there.??

delevi · Post by **delevi** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:14 pm

R Rae,

I desigend an 8:1 outhaul led to the cockpit. Works great. My sail is also loose-footed. Basically, your clew ring is 2:1 so you need a 4:1 tackle along the boom. A single block mounted on the other side of your outhaul attachment at the end of the boom. Line running forward along the boom and terminating at a double block. Further forward, mount an eyestrap and a single block in front of it, towards the mast. Line feeds off the eye aft through one of the double blocks, fowrard to the single, back to the second double and up towards the mast. At the mast, mount antother single block. The line will feed through it, then through another block near the mast base, then across to another block mounted either to the stanchion or deck and aft to the cockpit to a rope clutch. A bit of work but well worth it. The single line reefing system follows the same path, so if you go through the trouble, I would recommend doing that as well.

Leon

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Loose Footed Doyle Sail

Loose Footed Doyle Sail

Sail Slug at clew of sail/outhaul

Outhaul Slug for clew on loose footed main