How a genoa sail luff tape can pull out of a furling foil
When there is not enough wind and the boat is sailing downwind, the sail flops around with no steady pressure to keep it set. That flopping motion can work the luff tape loose from the furling foil extrusion, allowing the edge of the sail cloth to pull free. The result is a small but messy tear at the luff that needs to be stitched back together. Lauren Landers Sailing notes that the tear was so small she hoped she could hand-stitch it herself on the foredeck, but it turned out the repair really needed a sewing machine. Without one on board, the practical decision was to leave the sail as-is and have it professionally repaired on the next visit to Tahiti.
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When a sail repair needs a sewing machine, not a needle and thread
Hand-stitching heavy sail cloth and luff tape with a needle and thread is possible for very minor work, but some repairs simply require a sewing machine to hold properly. Lauren Landers Sailing attempted a hand-sew fix at anchor and found t
Sometimes replacing the whole toilet assembly is faster than chasing seal failures
Lauren's aft head had seals replaced a couple of times and still was not working properly. Rather than continuing to chase individual seal failures, she decided to replace the entire assembly. The result: two out of three heads on the boat
Heavy calcium buildup in hoses can defeat even a new toilet pump
On the master head, Lauren replaced the pump assembly but the toilet still was not working correctly. Her suspicion is that the hose itself has too much calcium buildup inside it, meaning the new pump is fighting against a restricted line.