Ensure your mainsail is a perfect fit, with all the hardware you need.
Once you have purchased your new mainsail, it’s crucial that you double check the measurements, and specify all the hardware you’ll need to ensure the sail is a perfect fit and works with your rigging. Please follow each step of our simple process, completing the details below to the best of your ability.
🙋We are happy to help with any missing details via phone or email. Remember, it’s usually best to measure up in the mornings or whenever there is as a little breeze as possible.
Please send photos as .jpg files of each step as per the measurement guide and this mainsail post sale help guide.
1. To purchase your new mainsail online, you must have already used our Boat Finder, entered your rating certificate P & E measurements, or directly entered your boat’s max hoist and max foot measurements. In any case we allow for the stretch and determine the actual design and cut lengths to ensure a perfect fit.These are measurements numbers 1 & 3 on our measurement form. When attaching the tape measure to the halyard shackle for hoisting, please also ensure you tie a light line (6-8mm) to the halyard shackle where you attach the tape measure zero point so you can pull the tape measure back down without it breaking!
2. If you have a dodger or a bimini on your boat or a mainsheet arch where the tack angle will be less than the assumed 90 degrees, please complete measurement 2 on the form.
3A. Please measure from the back of the mast along the boom to the backstay – this allows us to ensure the mainsail leech (roach) will pass through the backstay when tacking with the least interference possible.
3B. Please measure your mast section at the gooseneck (where the boom attaches to the mast). This provides us with scale factor to determine the mast bend images MC & MD – send a photo including a ruler or tape measure against the mast section if you can.
Once we have measurement 3B, we can use that measurement as a scale factor to digitally measure your mast bend in CAD to ensure we get the luff curve 100% accurate. If you have a non-adjustable backstay you only are required to supply one high resolution image; if the backstay is adjustable we need one image with zero backstay and one with max backstay – both in high resolution – see the image below of the resulting measured mast bend.
❓Need help? Click and put your email below and Carl will call you back.
4. Tack set back – as per the image below we require the measurement from the back of the mast (which is zero datum) to the shackle pin on the tack shackle being held at 45 degrees – this allows us to ensure that the slides or bolt rope will be aligned correctly with the tack load. Send a photo including a ruler or tape measure from the aft face of the mast to the shackle pin if you can.
5. Reef Hook Aft – if your reefing system has a reefing hook please measure as per the tack shackle at 45 degrees from the back of the mast – send an image with a ruler if you can
5A. Single Line Reefing – some single line reefing systems limit the height of the reefs with the internal boom purchase system – please measure the reef heights on a windless day from the top of the boom upwards – a metal tape measure works well – to reach the second reef install the first reef and repeat the measurement to the second reef.
5B. Measure from the back of the mast to the reefline exit point on the boom – this allows us to place the reef cringle in the correct fore and aft position – you can also measure your existing mainsail – send photos of both including a ruler or tape measure if you can.
6. Foot Groove Aft – measure from the back of the mast to where the foot groove starts if you require a bolt rope or slides on the foot. We commonly supply all mainsails as loose footed so this measurement is not required if you are purchasing a mainsail with a loose foot.
❓Need help? Click and put your email below and Carl will call you back.
7. Bolt Rope or Slide – Slug measurements
For the attachment of your new mainsail to the mast and/or boom if required we need to know the measurements of your existing bolt rope or slides – slugs.
Please compare – measure your slides and choose from the link below and provide the part # on your measurement form. https://www.sailexchange.com.au/collections/slug-slide-options-new-mainsails
Image below is measuring the mainsail bolt rope diameter with a digital calliper.
Image below is measuring the slide or slug wdth of diameter with a digital calliper.
Link to slides and slugs https://www.sailexchange.com.au/collections/sail-slugs-and-slides
Please do your best to find the correct slide or slug select the item and add it to your cart.
⚠️ If you are not 100% confident you have selected the correct slide or slug we will post you one free of charge to test in your mast track/slot. Please click here and select the item and confirm you want a sample then add it to the cart and checkout
✅ (Please note that all bolt ropes - slides – slugs are included in your mainsail purchase price)
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Batten receptacles – we will assist in selecting batten luff receptacles once we know your mast hardware requirements for interface.
https://www.sailexchange.com.au/collections/batten-receptacles-new-mainsails
9. Battens and batten coils for full length batten transport
Mainsails with leech battens will be shipped with the sail.
For mainsails with full battens that will require freight we use the batten coils you find here.
