Help w/ new sails please...

[weinie]

Just replaced an older mainsail today on a new to me 1987 catalina 27. Im a relatively new sailor so i could use some opinions.

In the attached pics the halyard is hoisted fully (shackle is at very top of mast) and the outhaul is taught.

It looks like the luff is too long and the foot maybe short too!

Is this salvageable or should it be sent back? It was a "stock" sail and not premeasured or anything like that.

[svsirius]

Yes it needs to go back but first send pics to sailmaker.

[Faster]

The luff does look long if indeed the halyard is fully hoisted (as it appears to be).. The foot looks especially short. Was this a 'stock Cat 27" sail? If so then your rig may have been modified.

Your boom fitting looks relatively high on the mast, so this may be a simple matter of lowering the gooseneck to accommodate the longer luff, but that won't address the foot length of course.. presumably the boom is stock length.

First step is to talk to your sailmaker, as svsirius suggested, with pictures in hand. While the luff length can be easily modified, having such a short footed sail will look odd, obviously cost you some sail area and may well affect the balance/weather helm of the boat.

[L02314564]

The way the shackle goes all the way to the top and the foot coming up short and loose like that reminds me of a sail for Catalina 27 Tall Rig. Maybe that's the problem. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that has happened and yours won't be the last.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by L02314564

The way the shackle goes all the way to the top and the foot coming up short and loose like that reminds me of a sail for Catalina 27 Tall Rig. Maybe that's the problem. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that has happened and yours won't be the last.

That's a great point and probably explains it!

[deniseO30]

best advice I ever had "measure if yourself just to be sure"

[sailor50]

I have to agree that the sail is ill fitting. Perhaps you entered the tall rig dimensions.

Measure twice with a halyard and measuring tape.

Caveat Emptor.

[johnnyandjebus]

It certainly looks too tall. With that said, is your topping left slack? it is hard to tell from the pic's. If it is too tight it can cause the problem you are experiencing.

With that said, take plenty of pic and measurements before contacting eh sailmaker it will make things easier for all involved.


John

[djodenda]

Also explains the short foot.. which is about a foot shorter on a tall rig...

[sailingdog]

Just curious, what did you specifically ask for when you ordered the sail? I think Edward is correct in that they sent you a sail for a tall rig version of your boat, rather than the standard sail.