how to tell if sails are blown out?

[FRRizzo111]

How can I tell if my sails need to be replaced and or are blown out?

[HenkMeuzelaar]

I am sure there are any number of aerodynamic experts that could give you a much more technical answer. However, here are my 2 cents worth of accumulated wisdom:

Just flatten the heck out of your mainsail or jib by maximally tensioning the luff and the foot (with a light breeze blowing across). If your vessel is set up with a backstay adjuster, also optimize mast bend for maximum flattening.

If the resulting "blade shape" does not look like something you could fairly well approximate by simply bending and twisting a thin metal sheet, I would either have the sail recut or replaced.

However, if you are more of a cruiser instead of a racer, don''t worry about any of this until you start burying the rail regularly at less than 50% of maximum hull speed.

Have fun!

Flying Dutchman

[boatbum]

They will be like a fat girls underwear, not able to contain any shape other than round and baggy. No matter what you do with adjustments, you will not get the airfoil flow shape. Mostly noticeable on the main as you sight up the sail. If you are even thinking they''re blown out, they most likely are.

I''m going to get killed for this one! Hey a little humor in the analogies.

[FRRizzo111]

Fat girl''s underwear? huh...I know what you mean all too well.

[duffer1960]

I misread and thought he wrote "fat girls underwater". Same result though ;-)

[Denr]

The "fat girls underwear" comment was completely out of order and over the top, nonetheless thoroughly enjoyed! Thanks for the tip.