a plug for flat-cut, poly tarp sails....

  • 02 Jul 2013 06:27
    Reply # 1331251 on 1327685
    Congratulations, Neil,

    You've applied a good aesthetic eye, and much common sense to your project. I've admired Sea Elf all along, and now she's every bit Good Enough.

    Cheers,
    Kurt
  • 27 Jun 2013 19:51
    Reply # 1328585 on 1327685
    Deleted user
    Everybody, thanks for the nice comments.... and yes, there were lot's of folks wondering and asking when I was putting it all together at the slip last year.
  • 27 Jun 2013 17:26
    Reply # 1328501 on 1327685
    Deleted user
    Congrats Neil, Sea Elf looks beautiful.

    Tens of thousands of fishing vessels in nearby Indonesia use poly tarp sails. The chap who took us for a sail on Bali says he replaces it annually and his "sailmaker" charges $35 for a set. They sail them almost everyday.
    Last modified: 27 Jun 2013 17:27 | Deleted user
  • 27 Jun 2013 06:26
    Reply # 1328099 on 1327685
    She looks great Neil and yes, I'd also like to see her closer up but what the (that hot place), it's great to have a photo, any photo. However as others have said, once you start sailing everyone wants to take photos. Not to mention everybody wanting to talk about your boat and rig on the dock.
  • 27 Jun 2013 00:40
    Reply # 1327862 on 1327685
    The main thing is being happy with the sails you've got.  Some people like to alter and fiddle, some people like to bend on the sails and say 'that's good enough.'  And of course, there's no reason why you shouldn't put camber in your poly tarp sails, if you want to!

    Am I correct in thinking that some of the slightly less inexpensive poly tarps are quite well UV stabilised these days?

    Anyway, Sea Elf looks grand and as I'm sure the Flutterbys will agree - you'll soon find plenty of people taking photos of you!
  • 26 Jun 2013 23:57
    Reply # 1327826 on 1327685
    Looks good Neil.  I look forward to seeing some more detailed photos when possible. The wonderful thing about junk rig is that, even though cambered sails may perform better in light winds, the rig is inherently both low stress and low tech and happily tolerates cheaper, simpler solutions.  I am reading and writing a profile on Donald Ridler and Erik the Red at the moment for the JRA Hall of Fame, and marvelling at his cheap cotton 'bedsheet' sails that took him across the Atlantic.  Your polytarp sails are high-tech by comparison!  Also, when they do tear or break down in the sun you can replace them very quickly and cheaply!  It is a different approach to the more sophisticated cambered sail camp but equally valid.
  • 26 Jun 2013 21:19
    Message # 1327685
    Deleted user
    I finally got to see what Sea Elf looks like sailing as a junk.  I am getting lots of compliments on how well she looks and sails.  The poly-tarp sails are working great.  Those who don't know the material would not have quessed.   I don't know if cambered sails would be better....but I do know my flat-cut sails work great!  I'm happy.  (I've posted a photo in the photo gallery.... wished the person taking it was closer and using a real camera and not a tablet,  but I'm still happy I have a picture of her!!)
       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

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