zipper luff????

[JSmith]

Found one at the bottom of a sail bag on Muskrat- what is it for?All I can think of is a preventer for a spinnaker from wrapping around the fore stay but that doesn't look right.

[Oscar]

I'd like to buy a vowel...... A what? Zipper luff? Got a picture?

[Hirilondë]

I have seen zippers used on the foot of a main to flatten the sail, works kind of like a flattening reef, but I never heard of the zipper luff either.

[JSmith]

I googled it and it looks like you either hoist it up the forestay with a headsail some how in ii or around it. I'll try for a picture soon.

[Tim]

Is it one of those covers that you have to hoist over a rolled headsail for UV protection (when the sail itself doesn't have a built-in sun shield?

Typically that would be some sort of cylindrical canvas thing, probably 8-12" in diameter (even if it's flat now) with a zipper on one side that you zip as the thing is hoisted to the hounds, enclosing the rolled sail within.

[JSmith]

The "tube" that it makes when zipped is only about 3-4" in diammeter and coming off this are a series of cloth straps which join at a grommet which has a line like a sheet attached.
When spread out these make the shape of a headsail- I know, I know I'll try a photo!
It does say it is patented..........

[Figment]

I had some jibs on my beach cats with zippered luffs. The jib halyard runs back down the forestay inside the zipper and gets secured to a jamb cleat secured near the tack of the sail, then the excess halyard length is detached (sister clips) and left on the beach. Quite clever and handy, actually.

But this thing you describe... sounds like a strange device for determining sheet lead locations. Or for determining jib design to respond to a fixed lead location.

[Oscar]

It sounds like it could be a straight jacket.......

[JSmith]

Here it is

[Oscar]

Never seen anything like it in 40+ years....... The red and green would suggest something port and starboard. Hard to tell from the picture, is it symmetrical or more shaped like a head sail?

[Hirilondë]

Ok, I see the picture, but I still don't understand what it is supposed to do.

[Oscar]

Wait a minute.......is it a drogue/sea anchor of sorts? I have downloaded the picture, put it on my web-site and will ask on another salty forum. (Can't link through to pictures uploaded to this site...)

[Oscar]

Folks are asking for detail pics of the three corners....

[JSmith]

ok- tHE RED END IS WHAT i WOULD CALL THE HEAD, GREEN IS THE TACK ( THERE IS A 6' PENNANT SPLICED IN AS A TIE DOWN) AND MY SON IS HOLDING WHAT i'D CALL THE CLUE. aT THE VERY LEAST I SEE A LOT OF NICE SAIL STOPS IN THE FUTURE!

[Oscar]

Someone commented that it has the shape of a windsurfer sail......Does it look like there ever was stitching on the straps, as in plastic panels?

[JSmith]

tHERE'S A NICE BIG GROMMET SEWED IN AT THE CLUE- AND NO SIGN OF ANY PLASTIC BETWEEN STRAPS- i THINK IT'S A CAST NET FOR BLACK FLIES.

[Hirilondë]

I think someone has a stuck caps lock button.

[Tim]

I think its most useful purpose is going to be holding down one of the shelves in your basement.

[Oscar]

HAH!

From the other forum: (Latts and atts)

Looks like an old IOR spinnaker net, to prevent wraps.

After some Googling......

http://www.spinnakershop.com/Spinnaker%20Net.htm




There's your answer.

[Figment]

Well, we mustn't let the foredeck crew become bored.

oy.

[Oscar]

Well, we mustn't let the foredeck crew become bored.

Well, as a side benefit I think this device would keep them from getting over bored....

(Sorry.....that was bad...)

[LazyGuy]

That is cool and while it may minimize spinnaker wraps, there is no such thing as wrap prevention. It would simply make wraps much less frequent but much more interesting.

[Hirilondë]

Hmmm, I don't think I will buy one any time soon.