[C320-list] new mainsail and genoa

[resloat]

I have hull 894 with a new UK loose footed main and tape drive Genoa for 
2012 season. I had a Dutchman system installed on the loose footed main 
after checking with Dutchman.  The Dutchman folks told me that their system 
works fine on loose footed mains.  It has 2 monofilaments and tabs and works 
fine.  The tabs slide into the bolt rope slot on the boom.  The main does 
not have full length battens for better sail shape so when you lower the 
main you have to tidy the leach a little, but that is not a problem.  I do a 
lot of solo sailing and am very satisfied with this setup.  I have a large 
outhaul sail slug holding the clew to the boom.  It's a few inches long and 
I believe Teflon coated and 15/32' diameter.  They are available from 
Sailrite.  It's attached to the sail with strong tubular webbing.  A tubular 
webbing strap was considered by the sail maker, but there is a small eye 
fitting on the bottom of my Charleston boom and it didn't look like a nylon 
strap would slide over the eye when adjusting the outhaul.

The Dutchman system was their A system without the block at the top of the 
topping lift and no clam cleat at the boom.  It works better than the OEM 
Dutchman C system that came with the boat 11 years ago.  No slots in the 
main cover are needed.  I just loosen the topping lift a foot or so to get 
the main cover on and then tie a rolling hitch to the topping lift near the 
end of the boom and clip it to the end of the boom to keep both the 
monofilaments and topping lift taught.

I am XO or Waukegan Sail and Power Squadron and last night we had a free 
sail and rig tuning seminar by Chris Nielsen of Nielsen Sail in Racine, WI. 
He said that loose footed is the way to go on the main.  Fifteen years ago 
sail makers were worried about spillage of wind with a loose footed sail 
compared to the traditional one with bolt rope connecting the entire main 
foot to the boom.  He said wind tunnel experiments proved the concern wrong. 
He said you get much better lower sail shape resulting in better 
performance.  My one year of a loose footed sail confirms this.

Bob Sloat
Savannah #894 (2002)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan Goodman" <goodmanalanlee at hotmail.com>
To: <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 8:40 AM
Subject: [C320-list] new mainsail and genoa




I'm getting ready to order my new mainsail and genoa.  Looks like I'll use 
Gary Swensen's Ullman loft in Ventura CA.  Gary used to work in the Catalina 
factory sail loft and has made and since leaving has designed and installed 
other 320 sails so I think (hope) his personal experience will make for a 
better designed sail shape.  Here is my question:  I have a 2 line Dutchman 
and Gary is concerned that if I go with a loose foot main the Dutchman will 
not work nearly as well than if I use a bolt rope foot (because the Dutchman 
'tabs' at the foot of the sail will not be rigidly fixed to the boom. If I 
remember to really tension the outhaul before I drop the sail I may be OK 
per Gary).  Has anyone gone loose foot with the Dutchman and what 
information can you share?  The other loft I am considering (second choice, 
not as impressed) is Mauri in Texas, anyone bought a sail from them ?