Well here I sit with the boat layed up because of a ripped jib. Wednesday ghosting along in a light breeze I spied a small rip in the jib. Looking further up I was dismayed to see several 24 inch rips. Further inspection showed what I assumed was a sail hem tape was detaching all along the lenght of the leach. This sail is in its 3rd season and is kept covered on the furler when in slip or on trailer. The leach is not taped but folded three thichnesses and then sewed.
I have sailed many years but always learn something. Loft suggested they put in a leach line. Now a leach line is in my memory bank associated with a septic system. I see leach line mentioned in Tripp gals last post. Can anyone enlighten me as to its purpose and use. What can I expecct as reasonable cost of repair?
Sails
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Duane Dunn, Allegro
- Admiral
- Posts: 2459
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:41 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Bellevue, Wa '96 26x, Tohatsu 90 TLDI and Plug In Hybrid Electric drive
- Contact:
The leach line is a light cord, usually about 1/8" that runs in a channel along the trailing edge of the sail. It is fixed to the sail at the top and there is a small jam cleat at the bottom. My genoa has a vee shaped piece of plastic where the leach line exits. This let's you shape the aft edge of the sail. I'm sure the racers do all sorts of things with them, but I just tighten mine enough to stop the fluttering of the aft edge of the sail. Perhaps this fluttering is what let to the breakdown of you sail. It can be pretty destructive.
Sail loft in Alemeda did a fine job repairing my leach. They say problem
was sun related even though sail is covered on roller by sunbrella sleve.
They sewed on a UV tape and a better leach line.
While with out a jib I decided to ad an asymetrical as back up. Sailing
tomorrow forcast lighter wind so will try it out. Can anyone talk me
through the deployment and retreval? Understand it can be done from
the hatch. How about the jib out at the same time 3 sheets to the wind?
was sun related even though sail is covered on roller by sunbrella sleve.
They sewed on a UV tape and a better leach line.
While with out a jib I decided to ad an asymetrical as back up. Sailing
tomorrow forcast lighter wind so will try it out. Can anyone talk me
through the deployment and retreval? Understand it can be done from
the hatch. How about the jib out at the same time 3 sheets to the wind?
Asymetrical Sail
Sailed a local lake the last two days with 10mph winds. Did not try the
new sail first day waiting for a reply on deployment from some of the
experts on the board. No responce so we tryed it out yesterday. Man the
power! We my helmsman and I have never had experence with balloning
sails. Do you fly from in front of furler or back. We had a mess when trying to change sides, wrapped spreaders and stays so something was
wrong. I think it shoud be from in front of furler and let loose to front of furler before tacking. Helm turned like regular tack and expected me to pull thu slot between fuler and mast. Expert comments PLEASE.
new sail first day waiting for a reply on deployment from some of the
experts on the board. No responce so we tryed it out yesterday. Man the
power! We my helmsman and I have never had experence with balloning
sails. Do you fly from in front of furler or back. We had a mess when trying to change sides, wrapped spreaders and stays so something was
wrong. I think it shoud be from in front of furler and let loose to front of furler before tacking. Helm turned like regular tack and expected me to pull thu slot between fuler and mast. Expert comments PLEASE.