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Oceanus Sailcloth

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  • 01 Nov 2012 21:47
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    Reply # 1120675 on 1111476
    Anonymous member
    Hi, David

    It is good to have our thoughts confirmed. Due to layout and strength considerations, we are using a single mast located on the bridgedeck just forward of the main beam. The mast is already fitted. The area will be 700 square feet, in seven panels and rectangular in shape. More on the sail later. Thanks again for your input.

    Michael
  • 01 Nov 2012 08:15
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    Reply # 1120127 on 1120098
    Anonymous member
    Michael Willett wrote:Hi David, you mentioned Mustang and we've been agonizing over Mustang versus Odyssey for our split junk sail.  Mustang is dearer of course but is coated both sides so there's one less place to make mistakes as I sew - and better use can be made of the cloth as either side can be used.  (I used ripstop nylon on our 23 footer and the sail did suffer from patchiness where the cloth faced the wrong way)   What are your thoughts on Mustang versus Odyssey for the split junk?
    Is this going to be one split junk, or two side by side? Not that it makes any difference; for a forty foot cat, I think that Odyssey is too light, and it has to be Mustang.
  • 01 Nov 2012 05:42
    Quote
    Reply # 1120098 on 1111476
    Anonymous member
    Hi David, you mentioned Mustang and we've been agonizing over Mustang versus Odyssey for our split junk sail.  Mustang is dearer of course but is coated both sides so there's one less place to make mistakes as I sew - and better use can be made of the cloth as either side can be used.  (I used ripstop nylon on our 23 footer and the sail did suffer from patchiness where the cloth faced the wrong way)   What are your thoughts on Mustang versus Odyssey for the split junk?
  • 27 Oct 2012 14:58
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    Reply # 1115303 on 1111476
    Deleted user
    I looked at the weights of Duradon that were provided to the Dory Shop. It came in three weights of which the middle one was about 7 or 8 oz cloth and was used for Martha Seabury. Indeed it seemed lighter than what I'm presently using on Easy Go. I'll be following the Duradon longevity issues and see how it works out. It is not being covered and is left to elements.

    I was speaking with a North Sails Loft in Lunenburg, Canada, this summer and the tanbark in Oceanus was still available at that time. When it comes time to make the next set of sails I'll check and see if it is still available.

    The sloop rigged sailmakers abandoned Oceanus as being too baggy and losing its shape too quickly. I'm looking at the narrow widths more for damage control than creating a sail with camber. I'm sure that the stretch of the sail in wider widths would provide an excellent camber and associated lift. 

    Our Top Gun Pram hood has deteriorated much more rapidly than the previous sunbrella version. This has led me to question the longevity of Top Gun as a sail material.

    Always compromises to me made!
    Last modified: 27 Oct 2012 14:59 | Deleted user
  • 26 Oct 2012 18:36
    Quote
    Reply # 1114707 on 1114444
    Anonymous member
    John Watts wrote:I believe Duradon is only available in heavier weights, not really suitable for our size of boats although we did meet a Tahitiana junk schooner with Duradon sails. They had lasted well but seemed like overkill.

    Oceanus is no longer available in tanbark in 7oz and 9oz, unfortunately. Regarding the colour issue, our square is cream Oceanus and it has stood up remarkably well.

    About narrow panels: Oceanus does stretch on the bias a lot more than conventional filled Dacron (Terylene) sailcloth but I wonder how much of a liability this is in a junk sail, which was why I asked the original question about whether anyone had first hand experience with it.

    I haven't had the chance to work with either Top Gun or Odyssey but I assume that these aren't particularly stable on the bias either. Perhaps a little stretch might actually be a good thing, giving a bit of shape to a flat cut sail. Ideas? Opinions?


    John
    Footprints' original sail was of 16oz Duradon, and it was way over the top, even for a  53 sq m sail. She's much happier now with a sail of 8oz cloth.
    The cloths with less bias stability add in little, if any, 3D shape, but they are much less liable to take a hard diagonal crease across a panel than regular sailcloth. That's an asset, with any type of junk rig sail.
    There was at one time a vogue for acrylic canvas for junk sailmaking ( for its UV resistance, though it chafed readily), and this, too has little bias stability. This was never a problem. (for UV resistance together with chafe resistance, Mustang is now a better choice than acrylic).
  • 26 Oct 2012 13:27
    Quote
    Reply # 1114444 on 1111476
    Anonymous member
    I believe Duradon is only available in heavier weights, not really suitable for our size of boats although we did meet a Tahitiana junk schooner with Duradon sails. They had lasted well but seemed like overkill.

    Oceanus is no longer available in tanbark in 7oz and 9oz, unfortunately. Regarding the colour issue, our square is cream Oceanus and it has stood up remarkably well.

    About narrow panels: Oceanus does stretch on the bias a lot more than conventional filled Dacron (Terylene) sailcloth but I wonder how much of a liability this is in a junk sail, which was why I asked the original question about whether anyone had first hand experience with it.

    I haven't had the chance to work with either Top Gun or Odyssey but I assume that these aren't particularly stable on the bias either. Perhaps a little stretch might actually be a good thing, giving a bit of shape to a flat cut sail. Ideas? Opinions?


    John
  • 26 Oct 2012 08:52
    Quote
    Reply # 1114319 on 1111476
    Anonymous member
    Tsk, tsk, David.  Too tasteful!

    Bob, I've had a bit to do with Duradon.  It's pretty heavy - probably overkill for Easy Go's size of sails, and while quite durable, is not that good in constant exposure to the weather.  I once used it for dinghy fendering, but it was quite rotten in a couple of years. Nice to handle, though.  The gaff-rig fraternity abandoned Duradon in favour of Clipper Canvas to a (wo)man, once they discovered it.
  • 26 Oct 2012 05:46
    Quote
    Reply # 1114223 on 1111476
    Anonymous member
    Annie,
    Haywards Sailcloth is a division of Heathcoat fabrics. What they told me in January was:

    "We intend to drastically reduce the range of fabrics that we offer into the marine market.

    This is due to a slow decline in orders and Heathcoats’ current and strengthening commitments in other areas and markets.

    The products that we intend to stock/keep will be the following:

    M-00169/A01 – (Scoured & Set) the Firex variant will only be made to order the MOQ. being 1000/lm.

    The Clipper Range – however M-24800 will be made to order only, the MOQ. being 2000/lm.

    In all other cases fabrics will be made to order."

    So Clipper should remain available ( there must still be some profit in it), and would be a better choice for cambered panel sails than hard cloth, going by my experience this year. If I hadn't been offered such a good "end of line" deal on the Sunwing UV protected normal hard yacht sailcloth, I'd have had a hard time choosing between Clipper, Oceanus, Odyssey and Mustang, which should all be suitable for either a flat-cut or a cambered panel sail. But what might have decided the matter would have been the possibility of having a rustic red or deep forest green sail.

     
  • 26 Oct 2012 00:42
    Quote
    Reply # 1114077 on 1111476
    Deleted user
    I've seen the sails for Martha Seabury, a new schooner launched in Lunenburg this past summer, were made of Duradon. This material is very similar to Oceanus, which we are also very familiar with. Kathy and I are considering making Easy Go a new set of sails with Oceanus with #7 cloth in tanbark and narrow width. Oceanus is known to stretch out quite a bit so the more seams the better. Smaller panels will also make for smaller repairs when holes and tears appear.

    The Duradon fabric is also exceptionally good and I have seriously considered it as well. The only challenge to getting this fabric is that it needs to be imported to Canada from England and the bureaucratic challenges and associated costs of importing put this option our of our budget. Ollie Campbell, owner of Martha Seabury, had nothing but praise for his sails on the traditional gaff rigged schooner after a return trip from Lunenburg to New York.

    Individuality with sails is to be commended. I think a suit of PURPLE sails would really be nice. Looking forward to seeing them Annie.
  • 25 Oct 2012 22:01
    Quote
    Reply # 1113995 on 1111476
    Anonymous member
    I thought Clipper Canvas was made by Heywoods (sp.?) who have stopped making sail cloth.  So that is good news.  I have had first-hand experience of Clipper Canvas and can strongly recommend it.  It is easy to handle and to sew.  Iron Bark's staysail was made from it and after nearly 10 years was still going strong last time I saw it.  Her topsail was made from a lighter cloth: the tan was in good shape, but the cream seemed to be suffering from UV degradation.  So if I were to buy it, I'd go for tan. 

    However, the nice thing about Odyssey (Mustang and Top Gun) is that it comes in a wide range of colours.  Next sail I make might just be in a tasteful shade of
     Purple!
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