Re: Polytarp sailmaking for the Fldg Schnr + rigging question
The Folding Schooner sails look pretty decent for a first try. We owe
a lot of thanks to everyone who has ever posted anything about making
polytarp sails on the web. With four people holding the corners of
the sail, we can make it drape in a very sail-like shape. Whether
that will be possible/easy on the boat remains to be seen, as does
how long they will last and what the eventual failure mode will be.
But main and foresail are no longer the biggest impediments to
getting this boat sailing. We will do the jib this week.
Eventually, I will post the math of the sail designs in Files.
braided rope that involves making a hole through the rope at the
point desired for the eye, passing the free end through the hole, and
then siezing the free end to the standing end. Does anyone know if
this method is in the "Rigger's Apprentice" or have some other
reference for it? Has anyone ever used it?
Thanks,
Peter
a lot of thanks to everyone who has ever posted anything about making
polytarp sails on the web. With four people holding the corners of
the sail, we can make it drape in a very sail-like shape. Whether
that will be possible/easy on the boat remains to be seen, as does
how long they will last and what the eventual failure mode will be.
But main and foresail are no longer the biggest impediments to
getting this boat sailing. We will do the jib this week.
Eventually, I will post the math of the sail designs in Files.
> We had some comic moments trying to explain to the very helpfulThis gentleman referred to a Brian Toss method of making a eye in
>clerk, who gave the impression of being a blue water sailor, what we
>were rigging.
braided rope that involves making a hole through the rope at the
point desired for the eye, passing the free end through the hole, and
then siezing the free end to the standing end. Does anyone know if
this method is in the "Rigger's Apprentice" or have some other
reference for it? Has anyone ever used it?
Thanks,
Peter
Peter Vanderwaart generously came over for a day of sailmaking for the Folding Schooner which now has hulls "North Sea Blue" Peter had designed the sails using the math from Michalak and others. We cut them out of blue polytarp and put double sided outdoor carpet tape and 3/8 poly three twist rope around the edges and folded the edge over on the double sided tape. Peter found some nylon webbing and brought over a sewing
machine today and sewed on webbing reenforcement at the corners and sewed in the bolt rope all around the sails. We had a very frustrating morning with much broken thread and broken needles and crankiness in the sewing machine and numerous calls for 14 yr old eyes to thread the needle. Went out in the afternoon to a sewing shop and explained our problem and were sold heavy duty nylon thread, heavy duty needles and a
different foot for the sewing machine. Also went to West Marine where they were having a 20% off sale on line. We had some comic moments trying to explain to the very helpful clerk, who gave the impression of being a blue water sailor, what we were rigging. Bought most of what is needed to rig the FS and saved about $20 but still bought over a $100 of line, all 1/4 stay set dacron except for 3/8 for the sheets. Went back
to sail making and things went much smoother with no broken needles and no broken thread. I smelled something like burning plastic during the process, actually a kind of coal tar smell, and we theorized that the needle becomes quite hot going through the plastic. All went well and the sails await finishing and grommeting. They look to me like some pretty deluxe poly sails with. as far as I can tell by holding them up, a
very fair draft.
I have been looking at these big plastic grommets that I see some places where the tarps are sold and wonder if any one has experience with these? I am also wondering what experience others have had with the "dumb sheaves" that Bolger specifies in the plans, (faired out holes in the truck of the mast?) I am thinking about perhaps rigging some small blocks in those places, though the height of the mast should probably be
changed and it is too late for that. Still an outside chance the boat may go to Maine at the end of next week.
Leander
machine today and sewed on webbing reenforcement at the corners and sewed in the bolt rope all around the sails. We had a very frustrating morning with much broken thread and broken needles and crankiness in the sewing machine and numerous calls for 14 yr old eyes to thread the needle. Went out in the afternoon to a sewing shop and explained our problem and were sold heavy duty nylon thread, heavy duty needles and a
different foot for the sewing machine. Also went to West Marine where they were having a 20% off sale on line. We had some comic moments trying to explain to the very helpful clerk, who gave the impression of being a blue water sailor, what we were rigging. Bought most of what is needed to rig the FS and saved about $20 but still bought over a $100 of line, all 1/4 stay set dacron except for 3/8 for the sheets. Went back
to sail making and things went much smoother with no broken needles and no broken thread. I smelled something like burning plastic during the process, actually a kind of coal tar smell, and we theorized that the needle becomes quite hot going through the plastic. All went well and the sails await finishing and grommeting. They look to me like some pretty deluxe poly sails with. as far as I can tell by holding them up, a
very fair draft.
I have been looking at these big plastic grommets that I see some places where the tarps are sold and wonder if any one has experience with these? I am also wondering what experience others have had with the "dumb sheaves" that Bolger specifies in the plans, (faired out holes in the truck of the mast?) I am thinking about perhaps rigging some small blocks in those places, though the height of the mast should probably be
changed and it is too late for that. Still an outside chance the boat may go to Maine at the end of next week.
Leander