Sailmaking

[Mark Major]

I have been given 55 feet of 55" wide light nylon fabric, and have sewing skills enough to entertain the notion of making a sail. I studied my 110% Genoa and drew up a plan for a 150%, or could make dual jibs perhaps. A spinnaker seems a bit too involved a shape to attempt, but I don't know...Just something to toss up there on really light days to see how it flies. I single hand so it has to be manageable. Thanks for any ideas.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Nylon......Maybe you could do a cruising spinnaker.

 

[Bad Obsession]

You can get patterns from sailrite for the spinnaker probably.

 

[jackhartjr]

I would read up on the subject..and make sure you use the right thread with a zig-zag stitch!
Jack

 

[Terry411]

You could make a drifter/reacher,sailrite has a book The Jibsail Manual.The more you head downwind it's less about sailshape more cloth weight/size.I think it would be great to try, you have the expensive part sewing machine and cloth.You will need a clean area the size of sail to loft it.Please post thoughts/pic's if you go ahead and do it.

 

[tommays]

I have done it on a J24 spinaker useing nothing but the classs rules for size and its kind of a BIG project.

We allready had a triple stich zig-sag machine but had to buy V-46 thread and a whole LOT of seam stick tape (your really need the right thread with UV protection)

One of the big issues is doing the corner gromets as the easy to set brass ones will not cut on a sail that size ,i got lucky and had a friendly sailmaker press in the 3 corners

I would say with out a at least buying a pattern it would be a PITA and it took the wife who is great at sewing and myself all winter

These days i go to the sailmaker

 

[sailingdog]

A light nylon fabric is really only good for a drifter or asymmetric spinnaker of some sort. It probably isn't heavy enough for a regular jib.

 

[oldsalt]

Possible solution ????

I have a friend with a spinnaker and thought I might try making one. I have an O'Day 23 and his spinnaker seems a little big for my boat. I took measurements from his sail and planned to drop the lowest panels to reduce the size. His sail has a seam down the middle and panels down each side. Material needs to be 1 1/2 oz. If you want a diagram of my measurements etc. and I will send it to you.
I am out of town for several more days but will send it next weekend if you want it.
e-mail to dhesme@comcast.net

 

[catsailor]

Nylon would only be for a chute, and there is not enough for that...

I have been given 55 feet of 55" wide light nylon fabric, and have sewing skills enough to entertain the notion of making a sail. I studied my 110% Genoa and drew up a plan for a 150%, or could make dual jibs perhaps. A spinnaker seems a bit too involved a shape to attempt, but I don't know...Just something to toss up there on really light days to see how it flies. I single hand so it has to be manageable. Thanks for any ideas.

after broad seaming, cutting, and hemming. Why not a nice sun-shade? A VERY worthwhile project for the summer heat. An awning that covers the cockpit and cabin, keeping everything cooler. Typically, they go over the boom, attach to shrouds and backstays as convenient, and to the mast. The back corners of mine are anchored to oars placed in fishing pole holders.

Then, get a kit from Sailrite; they do well. See the attached photo for a project of mine The chute). The boat is for sale too, a real speedster.

 

[Ron20324]

If you have a roller jib, you could make a tube/sock to hoist overtop of the roll to offer some additional weather protection.

 

[Bad Obsession]

You could also make a riding sail to stabilize your boat at anchor. They looked to be pretty easy to make. There is a video on sailrite.com

 

[RichH]

What 'kind' of nylon is this? Is it dimensionally stable under distributive loading, such as being stretched in 3 directions as when used as a sail?

Important questions to consider .... as if you cant answer/define then you may waste a lot of time with an dimensionally unstable material that will when made into a 'sail' become grossly distorted. Take the nylon and pull/test it along the weft and warp and then diagonally ... does it retain its shape or does the fibers slip and yield a deformed fabric after stressing it?

Nylon is typically a bad fabric to use in sunlight due to its propensity to easily degrade in UV. Sailcloth nylons (rip-stop, etc.) are are usually modified to take a good amount of UV exposure; plain-vanilla nylon will fall apart quickly after moderate UV exposure.

 

[Bad Obsession]

It may make great sailbags, duffle bags, and things like that for storage.

 

[Mark Major]

All very good questions Rich, none of which I can answer conclusively. I can say for sure it is the best kind of fabric, being "free". I've tried some stretching experiments as you've suggested but without doing it scientifically I really can't predict what will happen when assembled. The object of this exercize isn't so much a sail of any expected value, but the experience of making one to better understand sail design, and then use. If it fails it is of no consequence; there are plenty of other suggestions here as to what I can do with the fabric in that event. I think catsailor is right about the amount of material, too. I received one drawing from oldsalt70, and though I haven't done the math yet, estimate I may be short on fabric. All have been very helpful and I appreciate your ideas. Thanks. This should be fun, whatever it turns out to be, and I'll post the results.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I hope that you still get the material. There are a ton of good uses that you can put it too. Besides, like you pointed out, it is the best kind of material....Free material.