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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
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pleas
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts
Initially Posted - 09/28/2010 :  18:52:14  Show Profile
I have a 1980 catalina 25 with a funky main, by that I mean the aft edge of the sail seems stretched. It is very loose unless I pull down on the boom. I have had the boat for 2 years, and I think the sail is about 15 years old. It seems to be in good to fair condition but I don't understand the looseness in the aft end of the sail. I have only been sailing for about 4 years and I had a 19 Oday for a couple of years before this boat, but that sail was not like this one.
Any advise on this matter is greatly appreciated.
ps this boat is a tall rig, which makes the boom low to begin with. I usually sail with the main partially reefed, but the looseness is always there.
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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts
Response Posted - 09/29/2010 :  06:55:07  Show Profile
Is the "looseness" along the foot of the sail or the leach of the sail? If the sail is 15 years old, there is a good chance that the sail cloth has stretched and the sail will be hard to shape for best performance. If the sail is older (as in original) there is a good chance that it is pretty well "blown out". That doesn't mean that you can't go out and have fun... rather that other C25s with newer sails will point higher and sail faster. Also, the gusts won't heel the boat over as much with newer sails.
If the foot is loose, the clew corner can be pulled toward the aft end of the boom with an adjustment line. When your boat was new, Catalina simply rigged a 1/4" line from the clew cringle to the boom end cap. Many of us have replacee the 1/4" line with an adjustable system. Mine uses a 3/1 pulley system so that I can adjust the foot tension easily anytime.
If the leach seems loose (the leach flaps and vibrates when you're sailing) you might be able to have a sailmaker install a leach line to help control the flapping.
You are correct that the tall rig boom is a foot lower than a standard rig boom. I'm not sure what you mean by partially reefed... but if you are pulling the aft end of the boom up to the reef point with the reefing line, you are probably putting a lot of un-wanted tension on the leach and stretching it out of shape. Plus, the leach reefing line will not effectively pull the sail aft unless the luff reef line has already reefed the front of the sail.
Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts
Response Posted - 09/29/2010 :  07:56:39  Show Profile
A couple more questions... Do you have a topping lift (a line from the mast-head to the boom end to hold up the boom)? Is it slack when the sail is fully hoisted or reefed? (It should be.) Do you have battens in the sail? If not, the "roach" (convex-curved upper part along the leech) will be limp and flutter.
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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts
Response Posted - 09/29/2010 :  09:06:40  Show Profile
My tall rig main sail also has a leech that flutters in the wind a bit. No leech line to tighten it up. Common in older sails.
Edited by - dmpilc on 09/29/2010 09:07:18
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pleas
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts
Response Posted - 09/29/2010 :  18:39:50  Show Profile
The looseness is in the leech, not the foot and I do pull clew corner tight. The topping lift is loose when sail is up. I think I need to replace the sail but will make do for now. First ever race this Saturday, just for fun.
Thanks for all replies
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.