Hi all
I need to replace the telltales on my main (currently have none) but have a few questions for the enlightened brainstrust:
1. Is there a brand/type you have used and been happy with?
2. What's the best adhesive to use? (11yr old dacron)
3. Is there specific locations they should be attached?
Appreciate any suggestions.
Gos
Use blue sticky back and some thick real wool for the tuffs. Three tuffs is enough. Place them in the middle of the sail, divide the sail into thirds. Also make some leach tales out of some ripstock nylon. Three are enough and space them out on the top half of the leach.
The leach tale are so you don't over sheet the sail. They should always stream, if they suck behind the leach you have over tension. The wind tuffs in the middle of the sail are only used when reaching and adjusting the amount of twist.
There should be heaps of Youtube videos on the subject.
Yes great topic, good summary by Ramona obviously.
This is a nice introduction to mainsail trim and telltales.
www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/boat-handling-sail/Pages/trimming-the-mainsail.aspx
Other links on that rya site go to genoa/jib trim and telltales but they don't include genoa/jib leech telltales surprisingly - so indicating if the leech is free enough and not too closed hence having the mainsail choking its exhaust. Low ratio fractional rig yachts need to be careful of this - so latest fractional rig yachts have the hounds very high - but older ones have lower hounds as per a % of the mast height, and need to be careful of not choking the slot at the upper regions of the genoa/jib. Leech telltales ate critical to show this.
This link is a good link to genoa/jib telltales as well as the 3 steering trims high, speed made good and low.
www.uksailmakers.com/encyclopedia/53-sailing-to-telltales
Of course North Sails have more on line videos that 100 sticks can be poked at.............
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
Use blue sticky back and some thick real wool for the tuffs. Three tuffs is enough. Place them in the middle of the sail, divide the sail into thirds. Also make some leach tales out of some ripstock nylon. Three are enough and space them out on the top half of the leach.
The leach tale are so you don't over sheet the sail. They should always stream, if they suck behind the leach you have over tension. The wind tuffs in the middle of the sail are only used when reaching and adjusting the amount of twist.
There should be heaps of Youtube videos on the subject.
Like he says!
Wow, you guys are amazing, Thanks for the links and ideas...one question; what are you referring to with "Blue sticky back". Google showed a bunch of adhesive vinyl like book covering..is this what you mean?
No - not book covering............
Ramona is probably referring to this.............cost effective.............
www.whitworths.com.au/psp-duck-tape-blue-50mm-x-5m
But suggest the white variant would look a lot better on your white dacron sails - this is what I use...........
www.whitworths.com.au/psp-duck-tape-white-50mm-x-5m
For telltales in the mid chord of genoa/jib or main just cut a 50mm diameter circle and glue the wool into it before pressing on.
For leech tell tales do the same circle but cut a small slot in the centre for the wool or leech ribbon and fasten the circle 1/2 around each side of the leech, with the telltale streaming aft.............
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
Use blue sticky back and some thick real wool for the tuffs.
What, exactly, is "blue sticky back"?
Plus wool on the shrouds, high enough to not get wet. They're especially useful in very light airs when the anemometer won't spin and the wind indicator won't respond. (That's before you get fed up and start the iron topsail.)
Select to expand quoteandy59 said..
I will make up a couple of dozen up for any one who needs some
That's very nice of you Andy, good on you.
Select to expand quoteAchernar said..Ramona said..
Use blue sticky back and some thick real wool for the tuffs.
What, exactly, is "blue sticky back"?
It's the stuff you repair sails with and make sail numbers out of.
Select to expand quoteGos2017 said..
Hi all
I need to replace the telltales on my main (currently have none) but have a few questions for the enlightened brainstrust:
1. Is there a brand/type you have used and been happy with?
2. What's the best adhesive to use? (11yr old dacron)
3. Is there specific locations they should be attached?
Appreciate any suggestions.
Gos
I use fluffy large diameter acrylic yarn from them,
www.spotlightstores.com/craft-hobbies/yarn-needle-art/yarn/acrylic-yarn/moda-vera-monkey-yarn-100-g/BP80314911
which I stick to the sails with 32mm round cuts of
www.whitworths.com.au/psp-heavy-duty-sail-repair-tape-white-100mm-x-2m
Only reason I make mine 32mm is that this is the largest wad punch I have and didn't want to use scissors.
Also I tie the yarn to side stays as wind indicators and bird scarers.
