Jib - Advice Sought

[Neil D]

So, I have a brand new Legacy and I am learning how to rig it as quickly and efficiently as I can. I only had it out on the water the 2nd time last Saturday, and, counting the one driveway sail, only rigged it 3 times.

What I can't figure out is how to get proper luff tension on the jib.  Even when I haul the jib halyard as taught as I can so that the head of the jib is as high as I can get it, the luff of the jib is "scalloped".  I use the black lines  to tie the jib to the same hound that the forestay is attached to--on the bowsprit.  But I just can't get it taught enough.  Perhaps my jib was cut too long?  Or, have any of you replaced the black lines with a snap shackle or other modification?

An inquiring mind wants to know.

Thanks!

Neil

[Mike K]

Hmm, sounds like the jib might be too long.

My 2013 jib didn't have a black line on it. The only black line that came with my boat was for the mainsail reefing line or mainsail outhaul.

  With my own rope I tie the jib's tack ring very low, so that it is actually touching the hoop that the forestay is attached to over the anchor roller. Then I have enough room on the halyard to properly tension the jib. Is that where you put your tack ring?

I'm guessing you also verified that the halyard shackle goes almost all the way to the top pulley block?  There's not an excessively long splice section that jams into the block prematurely, is there?

If those 2 items are ok, then maybe the jib length may is incorrect, and a call to Hutchins may be needed. Good luck,
Mike

[carry-on]

If your jib is available, you could measure the luff. Then measure the forestay and compare the dimensions. The luff should be shorter.


I don't know the Legacy, but expect the hound has two connection points. The lower for the stay and the upper for the jib halyard block. Could they be reversed on your boat?
If you attach a tape to the halyard block and hoist to the limit and measure to the point where you attach the tack, you will have the max possible luff dimension. I would think the luff would be several inches shorter to help visibility and allow for sail stretch.

Anyway, if you have these measurements when you call ComPac, they will know if sail is incorrect.

Another thought...is your mast plumb. Could the mast be tilted forward enough to cause the problem?

[Neil D]

Thanks for all responses. The next two things I am going to take a closer look at are

1) remove the black ties and use an aluminum carabiner (much cheaper than sail hardware) to quick-connect the tack of the jib to the bail of the anchor roller instead of tying. I think I can pick up at least an inch of slack that way.

2) It looks like there is too much distance from the shackle on the jib halyard to the head of the jib. I need to take a closer look at the hardware and see if some of the linkage can be minimized.

I don't think the mast rake is off; it was adjusted optimal for me prior to my picking up the boat from the dealer.

Stay tuned...film at eleven