Got my first cammed sail ( Gaastra GTX 7.5). It was pretty easy to rig for the first couple of months, but now its a real pain in the ass, the cams keep popping off the mast when rigging, even with some outhaul?? I have also noticed it now needs a little extra encouragement to fully rotate sometimes. Does this sound like something has broken.
It seems to look normal, but i didnt look at it before experiencing these difficulties so i have nothing to compare it to
Any suggestions much appreciated
Cheers
Corkers, had a GTX 7.5 for a couple of years...the cams never came off the mast, but that could have something to do with the mast. My KA sail does, but I simply push on the battens and rotate the cams back onto the mast before downhauling. A lot of cammed sails require the cams to be set after the mast is inserted into the luff pocket, it's not a major but there's some technique you need to learn when rigging. There should be some vids on the net.
If the cams need encouragement to rotate, check the rollers, they may have worn a flat-spot, or seixed? otherwise the sail might need more downhaul?!? I'm sure there's someone here with more experience that can sort it out.
Hello, Corkers,
Have assumed the following:
The mast is a Gaastra mast, applicable to the model year of the sail (other masts can be different in diameter, which will affect the cam rotation).
You have checked that the luff measurement is correct after you have successfully rigged the sail (many mast extensions are not measurement-compatible with Gaastra extensions, so 20 cm on a Gaastra extension may not be 20 cm on a non-Gaastra extension).
Here is a link to the Gaastra manual for rigging a GTX (http://www.gaastra.com/images/downloads/2009/manual/setup-hp-cambersail.pdf).
May I also suggest the following:
Feed the mast into the luff sleeve, on top of the cams.
Increase the downhaul tension to 50% (from their 35%) before attaching the boom.
Attach the boom, then outhaul the sail to its MAXIMUM outhaul (you mention some outhaul ...it may not be enough).
Open the cam zippers
Pop the cams on, starting at the top, finishing at the bottom.
Downhaul to specs.
Slowly release outhaul tension, then re-tension to spec.
Close cam zippers.
_________________________________________________________________-
Cams popping off during the rigging process are USUALLY related to too-low downhaul/outhaul tension. You might care to experiment with increased downhaul % if the 50% doesn't work.
Cams not rotating can be caused by a number of things:
Flat spots are possible (as per Sailhack). Inspect the rollers through the zippers and rotate each a full turn to make sure it has not seized.
Incorrect mast diameter (both too large and too small).
Too-low a wind strength to pop the cams around. In this case, it is normal to have to pump the sail vigorously once, to get the cam to rotate (do the cams rotate correctly at upper wind speeds?).
Don't think that a broken batten will cause this problem, but, after rigging, run your finger tips along each batten pocket, feeling for a distinct lump, which indicates a break.
If all else fails, is there someone on your beach who you can ask or alternatively, discuss with your selling shop and maybe rig the sail there?
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the advise Sailhack and windman, sound like im rigging it with the wrong technique, so will try the suggested method. Will check condition of rollers and def give it some more down haul. I am not using a gaastra mast but up until the last few times the sail was rigging and performing very nicely. I did tighten the battens a tiny tiny bit, wouldnt have thought it was enough to hamper cam rotation but who knows??
cheers
