Anonymous wrote:

Paul wrote:

Sorry folks, you can make a good looking sail and also one that sets well using "method B" for batten pockets because I have done so many times. Below I post two photos of Fanshi's sail, one of each side. Unfortunately not exactly the same view on both sides but showing enough to make my point.

But Paul, these two photos both show the sail blowing away from the batten! They don't show what happens on the other tack, so I don't think that your point is made.

Further, I contend that the issue here is not whether you, a very skilled, very experienced sailmaker, can use method B to make a good looking sail - you can, clearly. It is whether method B should be used by a first time sailmaker, or whether there is one that will give a better result.

 You are right David and I only realised that after I posted my 5 cents worth. However it has proved nearly impossible to find a photo of Fanshi on the port tack. Eventually I found a photo of Taiko with Fanshi in the background and on the required tack and I clipped Fanshi out. A bit fuzzy but I think you can still see the sail is presentable.

I suspect it would be hard to beat "method B" as an easy method of adding batten pockets. Structurally, it certainly is not ideal but since in this application the seam is not very stressed I do think it is an acceptable compromise.

If you stop the pocket short of the luff and leach as I do and flatten the the seam, you both make the seam stronger and get a more visually satisfying result. The other thing is to keep the seam as narrow as possible while still consistent with adequate strength.  

Paul wrote:

Sorry folks, you can make a good looking sail and also one that sets well using "method B" for batten pockets because I have done so many times. Below I post two photos of Fanshi's sail, one of each side. Unfortunately not exactly the same view on both sides but showing enough to make my point.

But Paul, these two photos both show the sail blowing away from the batten! They don't show what happens on the other tack, so I don't think that your point is made.

Further, I contend that the issue here is not whether you, a very skilled, very experienced sailmaker, can use method B to make a good looking sail - you can, clearly. It is whether method B should be used by a first time sailmaker, or whether there is one that will give a better result.

Sorry folks, you can make a good looking sail and also one that sets well using "method B" for batten pockets because I have done so many times. Below I post two photos of Fanshi's sail, one of each side. Unfortunately not exactly the same view on both sides but showing enough to make my point.

Arne wrote:

David Ty’s Amateur method C may produce a better-looking sail, with the batten pockets sitting more closely to it.

I still recommend Method B...

If I recall correctly, the sail looked quite OK on the starboard tack, where it was blowing away from the batten, and bad to the point of making me wince, when it was blowing towards the batten on port tack. It was this crumpled, creased appearance due to the batten being well away from the sail that caused me to recommend alternatives. Maybe it doesn't happen to any great extent with soft cloth, but it certainly does with more rigid filled and calendered sailcloth. Maybe it doesn't matter for anyone who sets appearance somewhere down towards the bottom end of their list of priorities. 

Anyway, I would just like to make this general point: whenever there are conflicting recommendations, or pros and cons, or trade-offs (or there are new techniques, materials or tools to become familiar with), it always pays to make one or more test pieces, so as to learn, compare and contrast, and finally settle on whatever's going to work best for you. 

David Ty’s Amateur method C may produce a better-looking sail, with the batten pockets sitting more closely to it.

I still recommend Method B, and that for a couple of reasons.

• 1.      Step one in assembling the sail consists of joining the batten panels, using that super-simple panel-joining seam. Very little brain- or clever finger-work is needed.
• 2.      After adding the batten pockets with that batten pocket seam on top of (and thus hiding) the panel-joining seam, these pockets may later be removed and replaced if needed. One only has to rip open the batten pocket seam, leaving the panel-joining seam intact.

Actually, the need for replacing one or more batten pockets appears to be more realistic to me than needing to replace whole panels. One may have chosen too thin battens and needs wider pockets, or the pockets at the mast may have been worn through and need to be replaced. Quite a job, just to remove that sail from the boat, but at least, new pockets can be fitted without the sail falling apart and without needing to pass a big bundle under the sewing machine's arm.

Arne