Runner Tails

[Bob Pingel]

OK, everyone get into race boat mode...

I am dealing with a Nelson Marek 36. The boat is frac rig, with runners. The runner tails terminate on the transom, come up to a block on the end of the of the runner, back to the transom and are tensioned with a winch. The current tails are vectran with a stripped cover.

2 questions:

1 - The tails are badly twisted - like a twist per inch or so. Where would this twist come from and how do I prevent it in the new ones? The tails are not coiled, they are stuffed into a mesh bag in the cockpit.

2 - Other than race boat coolness, what benefit is the stripping. I could see that the bare vectran may run through the block a little easier, but that is about it. The weight savings seems neglible, especially on deck.

Thanks,

Bob

[Don Z.]

My memory is a little foggy (coffee hasn't kicked in yet) but is not vectran highly UV sensitive? If it is, than the reason for the stripping would be as UV protection..

OK... check first, then write. From the Doyle Sails UK web site:
Vectran
Vectran is a polyester-based high performance LCP (liquid crystal polymer) produced by Hoechst Celanese.It is naturally gold in color and has a modulus similar to Kevlar 29, but suffers negligible strength loss with flex.This is a benefit in endurance applications and for cruising sails where durability is key. Additional advantages of Vectran fiber include zero creep, high chemical and abrasion resistance and high tensile strength.Although it was initially though that Vectran’s UV resistance was lower than those of the Aramids or of Spectra, it has been shown that, over an extended test period, the UV degradation of Vectran levels off after roughly 400 hours of exposure, while the Aramids and Spectra continue to degrade.To learn more about the latest developments in Vectran sailcloth, refer to A Case for Vectran.And, for technical information about the fiber, click here.

From Neil Pryde Sails web site:
VECTRAN: The latest new high modulus yarn on the scene, Vectran is a polyester based liquid crystal fiber manufactured by Hoechst Celanese. Vectran has a modulus comparable to Kevlar but due to its molecular composition has better flex and abrasion resistance, although its UV properties are worse. Vectran also does not creep. These characteristics make Vectran an interesting candidate as a performance fiber, although it is more expensive than either Kevlar or Spectra.

I have no interest in either loft, nor a bias preferring their sails. They just came up quickly in my google search.

Conclusion: Stripping is for UV protection.

[Jason]

Hey there,

"1 - The tails are badly twisted - like a twist per inch or so. Where would this twist come from and how do I prevent it in the new ones? The tails are not coiled, they are stuffed into a mesh bag in the cockpit."

Are you using self tailing winches to tension these? If you are and don't have a swivel at the very end termination, the wrapping of the tails up the winch drum and through the self tailing mechanism will put twist in them very quickly. You also see this on jib sheets that are tied or spliced on and fed to self-tailers. Try adding a nice big swivel to the end.


"2 - Other than race boat coolness, what benefit is the stripping. I could see that the bare vectran may run through the block a little easier, but that is about it. The weight savings seems neglible, especially on deck."

Since you only need the cover for where it will be on a winch or in a stopper/jammer, you strip everything else so that the effect of the difference in stretch between the vectran and the polyester cover is minimized. After loading and unloading these a few times that polyester can get all streched and mangled, which won't happen as soon with bare vectran. Plus, the heat generated by loading and unloading these can fry a polyester cover in short time. I think Yale used to make a line specifically for runner tails that was vectran covered in a kevlar/poly blend that was specifically for resisting the heat.

You can have your rigger "dip" your exposed vectran in uv protectant every year or so to keep it healthy.