Mainsail and Jib Flutter

[Adventurebound]

I purchased a Spacesailer 18 and both the jib and mainsail flutter agressively at the leech. The mainsail is attached to the boom only at the gooseneck and by a rope at the leach, There is no wire along the leach and the boom only comes up when the sail is hauled up. The lines to the jib are adjustable back and forth. Based on that, are there any adjustments to correct the problem?

[ctl411]

You can try moving the jib fairlead forward this will tension the leach part of the jib. This will help especially if its more the top of the sail luffing. The main, make sure you get the clew rope tight to the boom. If you only have one line to secure it this will also be the outhaul. Maybe try two lines one to hold down to the boom and one to adjust the outhaul. Do you have a vang? If yes tighten that.

[Tar34]

Originally Posted by Adventurebound

I purchased a Spacesailer 18 and both the jib and mainsail flutter agressively at the leech. The mainsail is attached to the boom only at the gooseneck and by a rope at the leach, There is no wire along the leach and the boom only comes up when the sail is hauled up. The lines to the jib are adjustable back and forth. Based on that, are there any adjustments to correct the problem?

Make sure you have battens installed if they are required. Not sure if you have a traveler for the mainsail... Sounds like you may not be trimming aggressively enough...if this is the case.. trim the mainsail aggressively and use the traveler
to ease the amount of heal instead of the mainsheet.. Adding a boom vang might be more efficient in this case as the vang will keep the boom from rising through all angles of trim...

[savoir]

If the sails are old they might need a leech take up. Any sailmaker can do it.

Also check the jib for missing battens. Plenty of small boats have jib battens about 1 foot long.

[Tim R.]

They need to be repaired or replaced. Moving the jib fairlead may stop the flutter but it will likely decrease your performance.

[s/v Jedi]

check if there are any "ropes" that some call "sheets" and try pulling them in; this might reduce flutter

Also, battens like reported help significantly. Put some into the leech pockets. If there are already, check if they ain't broken.

The best advice you'll get here is to find somebody experienced, to take you through every step and procedure on your boat

[ctl411]

May not need repairs, new poster new boat may just not know how to trim. He said aggressively, which leads me to believe bad trim. Or the sail is so bad it's about to blow apart lol.

[Gelfling]

My first boat was an Ensenada 20, from you description it sounds like the rig and sail set up are quite similar. The booms on these boat are really light to make it easier to attach and remove. In addition, the sails are kinda light as well. As already mentioned, aggressive trim always helped, but the only way I could get the flutter to completely stop was when all conditions 'where just right'. And this was more mother natures doing than mine. I was okay with 'flutter' (seen but not heard) BUT with 'flap' (now it can be heard) I needed a plan B. If it really bothers you that much, like also suggested before, buy a new set of sails (heavier) and try that.

[mrohr]

Need leach lines?

[Adventurebound]

Thanks all for info. I forgot all about the battons on the mainsail and those lumps of wood should stabilize the leech flutter there. The lines on the jib can go forward only about 6 more inches. Will go out on tues to check it all out. Another exercise to practice will be heaving to and trying out a self steering wind vane I threw together over the holiday. That might be a thread on it's own.

[caradow]

Why don't you find someone local to help you?
May save a lot of wasted time and injury.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

--- check if there are any "ropes" that some call "sheets" and try pulling them in; this might reduce flutter
---

Roflmao.
Nick, you're bad.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Roflmao.
Nick, you're bad.

Yes, I'm still roflmao myself about it but I guess we're one of the few who can appreciate it, or who recognized it as humor in this thread. Still, it was good advice

[Adventurebound]

Originally Posted by caradow

Why don't you find someone local to help you?
May save a lot of wasted time and injury.

All the local sailers I've met have little technical knowledge and only venture past the river on the calmest of days, if ever. Even in boats approaching 30 foot. The internet gives you a broad range of ideas from experienced people and that is never a waste of time. I've taken up other relatively risky interests and if you approach them logically, then the risk is minimized.