Yarn telltales

[Cowpokee]

When I received new sails recently, I noticed the loft had installed yarn telltales. When I have installed telltales previously, I have always used rip stop nylon because I had read somewhere that when the yarn gets wet, it has a tendancy to stick to the sail.
Thinking outside the box, when I got a new saddle for my horse recently, I chose a mohair girth because the fabric doesn't soak up the horses sweat and get crusted with salt.
(Back to sailing) I asked the sail maker about mohair yarn for telltales but he had never heard of it. Granted mohair yarn is more expensive, but you really don't need that much.
Has anyone else ever thought of using mohair yarn for telltales?

 

[Joe]

Never..... if it's a problem... try water repellent clothing spray..

 

[DougM]

Never a problem. All you have to do is limit your sailing to dry mild weather and keep the boat upright. Not much fun, but it keeps the yarn dry...

I have always used yarn and never paid attention to,whether it was synthetic or natural. It all dries eventually. Probably a product called cling free or something like that in an aerosol form would resolve the problem.

I rely more on yarn telltales attached to the shrouds rather than on the sails. I do have nylon "ribbons" attached to the ends of the batten pockets on the main and look at them occasionally to avoid overtensioning the leech.

 

[MitchM]

we love wool yarn tell tales. wool comes from sheep so it's water proof. it dries out after a rain, then flies in a breeze...

PM me , i'll give you a snail mail address, then send me an envelope with a self addressed stamped envelope inside for me to use to send yarn back to you. i will send you some yarn back in your envelope for free. (we have 10 cubic feet of yarn left over from various projects over the years... red, yellow, pink or white shows up best. your choice ????)

 

[cb32863]

100% wool tell tales will not stick. Nylon on the other hand will.....

 

[thinwater]

Wool

 

[Jackdaw]

Yep, its gotta be PURE 100% WOOL. Any acrylic in it and they will stick like crazy when wet.

Some tips.

After, cutting, dab the end with crazy glue to stop unraveling.
Spray the tell tale (NOT the sail) with McLube and let it dry.
Sand the sail with fine sand paper to make it smooth and nothing to catch. 220 on dacron, 360 on laminate
Starboard telltales ALWAYS higher than port.
If they get drenched, go forward and squeegee out the water with your fingers.

If you use nylon strips, cut it with an electric knife and not scissors.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Starboard telltales ALWAYS higher than port.

I'll bite. I can see having one side higher but why always the starboard side? Is that for righties vs lefties? Is it because of the lack of colored (red and green) yarn?
Always open to learning something new

 

[Jackdaw]

I'll bite. I can see having one side higher but why always the starboard side? Is that for righties vs lefties? Is it because of the lack of colored (red and green) yarn?
Always open to learning something new

Due to glare, sunlight, or lack of, you cannot often see the colors, But you can see which one is higher. You need to in order the sail well, and you need to know which one is which if you expect to drive well!

Its kinda a universal standard. Always having that convention makes it easier. There is someone on this board who did not do this, and I can't stand driving his boat! ;^)

 

[Apex]

..saw this too late jackdaw, I already order the telltale window as well. Good to know on the height, I think mine were same height.

 

[cb32863]

Due to glare, sunlight, or lack of, you cannot often see the colors, But you can see which one is higher. You need to in order the sail well, and you need to know which one is which if you expect to drive well!

Its kinda a universal standard. Always having that convention makes it easier. There is someone on this board who did not do this, and I can't stand driving his boat! ;^)

I did too.... The colors are on the wrong side.. You just hate that I don't have a spin...

 

[Jackdaw]

I did too.... The colors are on the wrong side.. You just hate that I don't have a spin...

That FOR SURE! ;^)

Whats the point of going upwind if you can't turn downwind and pop a huge freaking kite?????