Hello,
On a new 4cam sail, there is diffuclty on the bottom cam to rotate. I am using the matching 100% carbon mast and follow the sail setups. I have used the sail only twice, and now i push with my foot the bottom cam to rotate and then the rest 3 follow.
Any advice of how to smoothen it? Is this an indication of need forspacer or maybe more downhaul/outhaul?
If there is a spacer in the bottom cam you could try removing it or using a smaller spacer
That'ts the weird thing, i don't have any spacers on the bottom cam or on any of the other cams. Everything is as i took it out of the bag and made sure before rigging it not to be any spacers on
An over tight tack strap can have that effect as well, try loosening it.
How does the sail set without the bottom cam? If it works OK like that, it may be the least hassle option.
I say that because alot of my sails don't have a cam on the bottom batten
Thank you for all the tips. I will try without the tack strap or with a looser bottom batten. I might have too much tension on the botom batten where the cam is.
How "new" is the sail? My experience is that new-new sails don't like to rotate. Luckily, the solution to this problem is a pleasant one: more sailing!
What sail and what mast? Sometimes the Aaahh that sail needs this or that Makes it easier for the gurus rather than generalising. . What did the selling shop say when you asked them. And we all like pictures to see new kit. Lol.
A bit more information would useful, but as a general guide the top cam has the least amount of pressure and cam pressure gradually increases as they go lower.
top two cams should be able the move easily if you push on them, the third cam should move slightly with a bit more hand pressure. And the bottom two cams shouldn't move when hand pressure is applied.
Some will disagree, but batten tension doesn't really effect cam pressure, it's there to add tension to the sail surface, not pressure on the cams, cam spacers add pressure.
you may have rig and re-rig the sail trying out different cam spacers to see what works best. I usually add a big spacers to 2#cam and a small spacer to 3#cam. 1#cam (bottom cam) and 4#cam and 5#cam I use no spacers. I apply plenty of tack-strap pressure to lock 3#cam in and add lower profile.
to test rotation, turn the sail (with the boom attached) with the draft facing upwards, get a mate to stand on the tip of the mast, then you push the other downwards. If cam tensions are correct, they will rotate.
Some times I have to file 5#cam and 4#cam to get it to twist off nicely.
I hope you get it sorted out.
^^^^
Ive also had to surgically reduce cam to mast pressure to get cams to work on brand new mast matched sails.
I agree batten tension doesn't do much at all. And if it does a tiny weeny bit , you end up with a wrinkly sail.
You have to reduce the batten pocket end to cam pressure , not batten in pocket pressure .
I just noticed a typo error in my comments. ." I apply plenty of tack-strap pressure to lock 1#cam (not 3#cam) in and add lower profile".
sorry for the mix up, I must have had to much meths on my cornflakes this morning!!
Increased downhaul "can" help in some situations as it punches out the mast a bit further. Easily worth a try.
Thank you all for the tips and suggestions. The sail is a KArace 8.7 2017 I got online from stock trimming it with a KA 490 mast of 2015 100%. I use to rig the mast on a 2014 koncept.
Indeed the batten tension does little to none, the lenght where the cam insert get attached hasn't changed, thus the pressure pretty much remains the same. As far as spacers I checked all campers and there are no spacers at all.
My suspicion is the 34 cm extension I am using might doesn't let the mast bend enough at the bottom. The recommended setup is at 508 luff, so I am setting at 18cm the extension, the rest of the tube is reaching the height of the cam which might be the problem. I am looking to use a 28 extention might has a difference. Any thoughts on that?
