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Sail luff lengths

Created by mr love mr love  > 9 months ago, 15 Mar 2020
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AUS 808
AUS 808

WA

510 posts

30 Mar 2020 8:09am
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PhilUK said..
Its why Ezzy sails have a tape measure on the tack strap and a gauge on the sail to line up level with the bottom of the mast.


Which is attached by Velcro & can be moved once the correct setting is established ??
AUS4
AUS4

NSW

1291 posts

30 Mar 2020 12:56pm
DUOTONE








LeeD
LeeD

3939 posts

30 Mar 2020 10:05am
Yes, since leech twist sails were sold since 1985, none of YOU have any idea what a sail should look like so you need luff..boom..and mast numbers.
Do you also want downhaul torque numbers?
AUS4
AUS4

NSW

1291 posts

30 Mar 2020 1:11pm
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LeeD said..
Yes, since leech twist sails were sold since 1985, none of YOU have any idea what a sail should look like so you need luff..boom..and mast numbers.
Do you also want downhaul torque numbers?


Are you talking to me clown?
LeeD
LeeD

3939 posts

30 Mar 2020 11:15am
Whoever doesn't know what a sail should look like has no business asking for numbers.
Blind man don't windsurf!
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld

WA

1410 posts

30 Mar 2020 11:40am
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LeeD said..
Whoever doesn't know what a sail should look like has no business asking for numbers.
Blind man don't windsurf!


Jeez, Just a bunch of mates banging on about something that is suppose to be a pleasurable past time.
Angry man never happy!
Madge
Madge

NSW

471 posts

30 Mar 2020 3:15pm
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LeeD said..
Yes, since leech twist sails were sold since 1985, none of YOU have any idea what a sail should look like so you need luff..boom..and mast numbers.
Do you also want downhaul torque numbers?



Sometimes I do agree with you but in this instance you appear to be a complete twit. Most of the time when reading the numbers printed on your sail they are there so you can quickly adjust your boom and mast extension, this make rigging quicker and easier. Usually if you have the same make boom and extension as the sail then its a quick and effortless job.
The numbers are usually put there by the sail making company as that is their suggested setting for medium use of that sail.

Not all sails have little stickers on them so you get the leech right and therefore numbers on the extensions make life easier.

You don't go into a shop and say " yep, like those shoes, don't worry about what size they are I'll make them fit " you buy the size that the foot measurement tells you, you try them on and usually they'll fit.

I might also add that some sails are more adjustable than others, some have a good natural wind range and other need to be adjusted to suit the conditions.

I do look at the leech and luff tension every time I sail and don't rely just on the numbers.
LeeD
LeeD

3939 posts

30 Mar 2020 2:16pm
So you're saying I'm right.
LOOK at the sail shape. That tells all.
sailquik
sailquik

VIC

6166 posts

30 Mar 2020 6:56pm
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LeeD said..
So you're saying I'm right.
LOOK at the sail shape. That tells all.



No he is saying, and I agree, that appear to be a complete TWIT!
mr love
mr love

VIC

2415 posts

30 Mar 2020 7:16pm
The origianl purpose of this post was not a s..t fight but to point out how different the markings on various brands extensions are thus screwing up the recomended prints on sails unless you use the same extention that the brand sells or recommends.

i am not getting into the arguments about how you personally tune to sail however the numbers are really useful to understand before purchase whether the sail will work on your current masts and booms and can certainly be a factor in ones buying descision.
choco
choco

SA

4177 posts

30 Mar 2020 6:59pm
sailquik
sailquik

VIC

6166 posts

2 Apr 2020 1:55pm
Yes! That is exactly what I was pointing out.

EXACTLY!!!
mr love
mr love

VIC

2415 posts

2 Apr 2020 5:45pm
Yes exacly..and to my original point, if you rigged to the Loft to spec on my 3 mast extensions using the printed numbers on them, 1 would rig right, 1 would rig OK and 1 would rig like a pile of s..t.
ka43
ka43

NSW

3097 posts

2 Apr 2020 6:44pm
LeeD, are you really Donald Trump??
Nobodys ego is that big!!!!!
Manuel7
Manuel7

1331 posts

26 Apr 2020 1:44am
The more cues we have to determine correct rigging the better. A couple of things to consider besides extension length variation. Sails dimensions, mast length, mast tip cap, mast tip strap, sail wear, and more can add enough variation to rigging a sail and throw off factory numbers. Not even talking mast compatibility!

So what do we do? Well, a sail bottom range is quite wide so underpowered no biggie, it'll almost work no matter what. Things start to matter when well powered to over powered. Downhaul tension becomes more critical and just 1cm too much can "kill" a sail where its torque is gone and the twitch is out of control.

Personally, once I know a sail (takes a couple of sessions of various wind strenghts), I try to set my extension so max downhaul corresponds to bottoming out sail against extension pulley. Then I wiggle the sail to confirm it flaps in the correct places but mostly use the downhaul distance between sail and pulley.

Outhaul is set so there's enough tension and gives a pretty solid feedback for immediate drive and trim control.

The extra 1cm that kills everything also corresponds to increase downhaul tension. It helps to wet the line for a smoother feel.
forceten
forceten

1312 posts

26 Apr 2020 6:14am
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MikeyS said..
The Ezzy one is correct. Ooops, it isn't in the photo.


I haven't seen a Ezzy extension for a very long time. of course this is one. For the kids sails

www.ezzy.com/accessories/
forceten
forceten

1312 posts

26 Apr 2020 6:21am
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PhilUK said..
Its why Ezzy sails have a tape measure on the tack strap and a gauge on the sail to line up level with the bottom of the mast.


Nice one.
but the real answer to the inconsistency
is
the extension doesn't have a brain , you have to use your own.
this doesn't apply to some here.
BSN101
BSN101

WA

2378 posts

26 Apr 2020 12:50pm
I have some 2020 NP sails and ( NP mast & base) they both set on +20 extension and could even go to +40 to get the looseness that i look for. BUT, when set like that they are very flat so thinking that next time ill go by factory settings and see how they go, if they perform correctly when under load.
forceten
forceten

1312 posts

26 Apr 2020 8:44pm
Select to expand quote
BSN101 said..
I have some 2020 NP sails and ( NP mast & base) they both set on +20 extension and could even go to +40 to get the looseness that i look for. BUT, when set like that they are very flat so thinking that next time ill go by factory settings and see how they go, if they perform correctly when under load.


They set on 20, could go to 40 to get loose, but then they are VERY flat ?
lost me .

since you have all things NP , the factory numbers should be close, like set at those and plus minus 2cm
MikeyS
MikeyS

VIC

1509 posts

27 Apr 2020 11:59am
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forceten said..

MikeyS said..
The Ezzy one is correct. Ooops, it isn't in the photo.



I haven't seen a Ezzy extension for a very long time. of course this is one. For the kids sails

www.ezzy.com/accessories/


Mr Love's point is that different brands of extensions use different "zero" points from which to measure. My point is that, as Bigdaz explains, Ezzy sails have have a system that ends up with the correct downhaul settings irrespective of the extension used. You don't need to use an Ezzy extension for their system to work. I've never used an Ezzy extension. I much prefer it to the VTS on North/Duotone.

I never could quite get the lighting on my North sails as good as in Choco's photo. Maybe it was due to my failing eyesight, impatience, or incompetence. By the way, is that sail downhauled for MAX, or medium, or somewhere in between?
PhilUK
PhilUK

1107 posts

27 Apr 2020 1:43pm
If you look at the Ezzy rigging videos he uses Chinook extensions and booms. I dont think I've ever seen one. I think maybe the Ezzy extension was a jokey type comment to imply it doesnt really matter which brand of extension you use to get the correct downhaul setting.
choco
choco

SA

4177 posts

27 Apr 2020 4:19pm
Maybe the sail makers should just use a Tension Dynamometer scale and how much Kn to apply for downhaul, it would be far more accurate.









Basher
Basher

590 posts

27 Apr 2020 7:16pm
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choco said..
Maybe the sail makers should just use a Tension Dynamometer scale and how much Kn to apply for downhaul, it would be far more accurate.










That idea puts the cart before the horse.
We care about the sail shape, not the actual downhaul tension.
decrepit
decrepit

WA

12802 posts

27 Apr 2020 8:57pm
yes it's not so much sail tension as mast bend, a stiffer mast will need more tension to achieve the same shape.
forceten
forceten

1312 posts

27 Apr 2020 9:58pm
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LeeD said..
So you're saying I'm right.
LOOK at the sail shape. That tells all.


Lee, in a way what he said was you are right the reason the numbers are printed on the sail , are to aid in easier rigging. ( not all are as adapt without the printed word)They give you a starting point. Some of those are more accurate than others, making some hardly useful, to the more experienced sailer like yourself, the guide will be set up for the mast that's preferred, the mast extension may and often does alter the cm, or mm.
Ezzy for one, has taken this even further with marks on the sail bottom, the downhaul to align the bottom of the mast with, settings of min normal max,mdamn good guide if using a Ezzy mast) strings at the end of the sail clew, to alter from life, moderate , and maximum out haul offer guides on flatness,, and of course the folds inward at the top of the sail, Sailworks and Iam certain others have similar , visual clues to rigging, which to a trained professional like your self make it easy peasy.
i use feel to test my outhaul, knowing what I like , and can tell by feel pushing the sail towards the boom, if it's set to my satisfaction, I can feel it, it's
kinda similar to a blind man, feeling boobs, he knows them by feel.
forceten
forceten

1312 posts

27 Apr 2020 10:01pm
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decrepit said..
yes it's not so much sail tension as mast bend, a stiffer mast will need more tension to achieve the same shape.


The shape unfortunate, may only be in a area of the sail. The other area is now effected, maybe , by increased tension to achieve the LOOK, and thus degrade the overall performance.
forceten
forceten

1312 posts

27 Apr 2020 10:11pm
Select to expand quote
MikeyS said..



forceten said..




MikeyS said..
The Ezzy one is correct. Ooops, it isn't in the photo.






I haven't seen a Ezzy extension for a very long time. of course this is one. For the kids sails

www.ezzy.com/accessories/





Mr Love's point is that different brands of extensions use different "zero" points from which to measure. My point is that, as Bigdaz explains, Ezzy sails have have a system that ends up with the correct downhaul settings irrespective of the extension used. You don't need to use an Ezzy extension for their system to work. I've never used an Ezzy extension. I much prefer it to the VTS on North/Duotone.

I never could quite get the lighting on my North sails as good as in Choco's photo. Maybe it was due to my failing eyesight, impatience, or incompetence. By the way, is that sail downhauled for MAX, or medium, or somewhere in between?




The reason no one is using a Ezzy extension, is they don't supply one. On the videos the same reason , they don't sell one.

at some point years past they did, so long ago . They do supply a EXT with the children's rigs, technically it's an Ezzy but not made by them.

Thanks for the explanation, on Ezzy rigging tools, this may help others less informed to understand.
Ir respective of intent , or he said, she said, Ezzy does not supply an extension.
its called facts.
choco
choco

SA

4177 posts

28 Apr 2020 7:24am
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Basher said..

choco said..
Maybe the sail makers should just use a Tension Dynamometer scale and how much Kn to apply for downhaul, it would be far more accurate.










That idea puts the cart before the horse.
We care about the sail shape, not the actual downhaul tension.


Correct but if you know x numbers get the correct sail shape then it's fool proof
Ben1973
Ben1973

1008 posts

28 Apr 2020 7:38am
Select to expand quote
choco said..

Basher said..


choco said..
Maybe the sail makers should just use a Tension Dynamometer scale and how much Kn to apply for downhaul, it would be far more accurate.











That idea puts the cart before the horse.
We care about the sail shape, not the actual downhaul tension.



Correct but if you know x numbers get the correct sail shape then it's fool proof


Not really, so many things affect the effort/force needed to downhaul. Just going from wet kit to dry kit would affect it massively, a few bits of sand in the pulleys, different rope, different pulleys, old or new kit. The list goes on
decrepit
decrepit

WA

12802 posts

28 Apr 2020 9:34am
Select to expand quote
Ben1973 said..
Not really, so many things affect the effort/force needed to downhaul. Just going from wet kit to dry kit would affect it massively, a few bits of sand in the pulleys, different rope, different pulleys, old or new kit. The list goes on


Defo wet and dry, makes a huge difference, plus all those others.
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