Sail Delmarva: New Main--Mack Sails

Saturday, April 12, 2014

New Main--Mack Sails

The original sail had slowly turned into a shapeless bag. I priced this one at the Annapolis boat show, and months later, here it is! Certainly, there are some adjustments to be made--batten tension, for certain--but the fit seems good.

I need to fabricate a proper tack strap. The original sail had foot slides, but this one is loose footed. I like it.

Note the jury-rigged boom strap at the clew. I'll have to sew something better... although this worked perfectly.

Draft forward, lots flatter

8.62 oz High Aspect Dacron Mainsail
Five full battens with adjustable battslide fittings
3 reefs
UHMW wear strips
Sail area equal to original design specifications
Standard boom cover

And by way of comparison... Before. We'll be zipping to windward now!

Increased purchase. At about the same time I changed from 2:1 to 3:1 purchase. I changed the single block for a becket block and added a block to the upper becket. Not a big difference, but it allows me to do more adjustment without grinding

No swivels of the tackle with twist and friction will increase.

Why a snap shackle block? I had a spare, no other reason. Notice that I locked the swivel with cable ties.

2 comments:

PhenixAugust 4, 2016 at 8:31 AM
Drew,I think you mentioned that you increased the purchase on the mainsheet to 3-1. I assume that was done by adding a double block to traveler car? Did you change the block on the end of the boom? I'm about to get a new mainsheet and I'd like to change the purchase at the same time. Thanks. Kevin
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Drew FryeAugust 19, 2016 at 12:56 PM
I just replace the becket with a block, and replace the single block with a spare becket block I had (I have accumulated a lot of "might need" stuff). I think I prefer fiddle block systems up to 4:1 purchase--less friction if they twist.

And NO SWIVELS. the tackle will twist and you will gain friction.
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Rigging Modern Anchors

First print edition, 2018, by Seaworthy Press. About 156 pages.

I've been setting and trusting anchors with my life (climbing) and my boat (sailing) for 35 years. I've been testing and documenting anchor testing for 5 years, and I've spent the last two sifting, collating, and analyzing all that I have learned. The result, I believe, is a complete description of what is actually going on below the waves, not just descriptively or as oral history from an old salt, but with numerical back-up everywhere I could provided it. I hope it helps. I know I sleep better. From the back cover of the book:

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2017, Kindle, about 425 pages, $9.99.

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Table of Contents

As much as I love sailing, putting my daughter through college and funding my 401K are more important. Transitioning from professional engineer to writer has transformed my habit of living efficiently into a passion for spreading funds thin. I like to think of it as a challenge for the imagination—it’s more fun that way.

I’ve written over 200 equipment reviews and engineering articles for popular sailing magazines, all based on laboratory and hands-on testing. I’ve spent 30 years learning how to maintain, fix, and upgrade. I've also spent 35 years as a chemical engineer, and my wife thinks I live in my basement shop.

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Sail Delmarva

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

New Main--Mack Sails

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