About to sew my first sail - Questions

[SFS]

I finally found a dinghy. Bought a Walker Bay 8 in great shape, with a sail kit, for very little money, that will do while I wait for a Trinka 8. The catch: the sail is in tatters.

I have a capable sewing machine (an old Pfaff), a supply of Tenara thread, and an older sail to use as material. I've never sewed a sail, but if I screw up, nothing is lost, and I want the learning opportunity. Here are my questions:
1) The sail cloth for the new sail is much heavier than the current sail for the dinghy. Does this matter?
2) From this older sail, I also intend to make two anchor sails (riding sails?) for my boat and a friend's. These sails are likely to be smaller than the sail for the dinghy. Would it be smarter to practice sewing on the smaller sails before attempting the larger one?
3) What other tips can you offer me?

 

[Chief RA]

You have it right. Sew the storm sails first then do the bigger one. Heavier fabric is OK as that is what you have and the price is right! Practice on scraps for the brass grommets though as a mistake with one is critical. Have fun, Chief

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

order CD's from SailRite, on sewing sails, and watch them. Would be cheap info at twice the price

 

[jibes138]

A guy sailed the east coast for decades on sails he made from discarded tarps he pulled from dumpsters. So you should be fine. Heavy fabric is not as good in light air, and puts more weight aloft, but unless you are racing who cares? Sewing mistakes are easy to fix. Cutting mistakes are worse. Good luck with the project.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Well since you said "my first" I'm assuming this is not going to be the last. "The Sailmakers Apprentice" Best $25 I ever spent on boat stuff. If you keep this up you might even be admitted into SWEAT (Society of Workers Engaged in Ancient Trades)

 

[dscribner]

Sailrite, Sailrite, Sailrite. That should about do it. You could probably get a kit for $150 or so. Then you'd have a brand new sail, computer designed, pre-cut, number pieces, all the parts and a custom assembly guide. We made the mainsail for our Lancer 25 a couple of years ago. Quite a project, very rewarding.

 

[rgranger]

Sounds like an awesome project. I also have a copy of the sailmaker's apprentice, and another text on Making your own Junk Rig. Both are great reads. I have also made a sail out of poly tarp once, just to see if I could. It actually worked okay. I got the idea and instructions from this website....

http://www.boat-links.com/Tyvek/

The "correct way" to get draft in a sail is to sew several panels together, each with a little curve in the edges, and when done you will have the correct foil shape. But getting each panel correct is a PITA.

A low skill way to get something about 90% as good, is to cut a curve into the luff and foot of the sail, and then when the sail is pulled tight along those two lines, the luff and foot straighten out and the curve gets transferred into the cloth by the stretching of the fabric. That is what I did with my poly tarp sail and it did actually produce a sail that worked. It was a butt ugly sail but I had fun with it. If you want to try it, you need to make the deepest part of the curve about 1/3 of the way up the luff from the tack. The curve should be about 1/4" deep for every foot of luff. Same idea on the foot.

 

[SailormanDan]

for Sailrite, great resources on the website.

If the Tenara and the canvas are different from what you may have sewn before, run some practice stitches on some scrap and adjust the thread tension before you start.
I picked up a WB 8 this spring and am looking for a used sailing rig also. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[rgranger]

g and am looking for a used sailing rig also. Let us know how it turns out.

@SailormanDan

What do you mean by "used sailing rig"? Are you looking for an old sail for cloth? If so, I have one in my shed you can have. It is a blown out sail and I've cut a few squares out of it for patches to another sail. You are not far from me, we could find a way to get it to you.

 

[SailormanDan]

Thanks for the offer, I am looking for the whole set up - mast, boom, rigging/blocks, etc. It's a long term thing for a future trip around the Bay. I actually have my old main that I could re-purpose, I was thinking of posting a want ad on Craigslist, but I'm not in a hurry.

 

[jibes138]

If you have wood working tools you can make a rig for cheap. I made the rig and sail for an 11 foot dinghy I built. It's easy. I used a lugsail design that is a four sided sail.