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Tyvek and other building wraps for experimental sails

  • 02 Dec 2025 15:57
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    Reply # 13568716 on 13546768
    Anonymous member

    Hi everyone!

    When sewing sails from polytarp (HDPE mat coated with LDPE), I noticed that I can't sew them too fast, otherwise the material sticks to the hot needle. I suspect a similar problem occurs with Tyvek and other tarps. Has anyone had a similar problem and knows how to solve it?

    Thanks in advance - Jan

    Last modified: 02 Dec 2025 16:38 | Anonymous member
  • 25 Nov 2025 14:35
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    Reply # 13566698 on 13546768
    Anonymous member

    polytarp rulezz !

    Last modified: 25 Nov 2025 20:32 | Anonymous member
  • 06 Oct 2025 15:21
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    Reply # 13549423 on 13546768
    Anonymous member

    Thanks, Eric. Let us know when you get back from the bottom of the globe. I have a few more questions, but I don't want to waste your valuable time or mess up Max's thread.

    Last modified: 06 Oct 2025 21:04 | Anonymous member
  • 06 Oct 2025 12:40
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    Reply # 13549379 on 13546768
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Bonsoir

    The glu lasted for a month under rather intensive sailing some 8 hours a day I think.

    At the end the glued parts were quite fit with no tendancy to unglue...

    This glue is an industrial product, so, I suppose that it should last quite a long time.

    3M 927

    I also tried without success other way of gluing as Sicaflex or double side supermarket gluing tape... I'm afraid, I forgot to register these failures. 

    I've used massivelly grommets on Tyvex. It is not that easy because if you hammer it to hard, the grommet will poncture the Tyvex and you will have a hole in the tyvex and a grommet asside. The easy way of doing it is to have a triple seem to support the grommets. You should not use grommets with teeths because they poncture the Tyvex, just use plain cylindrical ones.

    To attache the wishbone battens at the leach i reinforced the area by a patch of tyvex glued around the Leech with 3M 927. 

    Eric
  • 05 Oct 2025 17:32
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    Reply # 13549216 on 13546768
    Anonymous member

    I'm very curious how long time the 3M 927 tape Eric used lasted. If it's truly strong and durable, it could speed up sail construction significantly.

    In my sail, double-sided tape from the supermarket no longer holds at all, but I was still able to use the sail without any problems because, after sewing the darts on the leech and luff,the grommets and string on the fabric folds along the panel were strong enough to hold the panel along the batten despite the darts were unglued along the panel.

    I think Maxime might use grommets to attach the Tyvek sail along the batten, which would make it easier to replace a damaged panel while sailing (see picture)

    Maxime, it would be a good idea to carefully reinforce the darts on the leech and luff of each panel. First of all, they come loose most quickly on the leech, and this certainly doesn't improve performance when sailing upwind ;)


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    Last modified: 06 Oct 2025 12:27 | Anonymous member
  • 04 Oct 2025 23:47
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    Reply # 13549111 on 13546768
    Anonymous member

    If Tyvek roof membrane is what we are talking about – you can buy it by the meter here. (English version available)

    Last modified: 04 Oct 2025 23:49 | Anonymous member
  • 04 Oct 2025 10:10
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    Reply # 13548989 on 13546768
    Anonymous member

    You have to buy a full roll, but not expensive.  Also has other uses.  I put as a liner on bunk cushions to keep the foam dry. 
  • 03 Oct 2025 23:25
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    Reply # 13548906 on 13546768
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Mark wrote Graham, I guess you were using the very soft thin type. Yes, after looking at the video Jab has just posted, I see now that you are correct.

    I could find only one company in New Zealand who would sell Tyvek by the metre and it was very soft and beautifully light. I did not realise the construction cover material (as we see in the video that Jan just posted) was somewhat much stiffer and heavier.
  • 03 Oct 2025 16:05
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    Reply # 13548746 on 13546768
    Anonymous member

    Do you mean this material (fabric?)? Isn't it too noisy (minute 1:37 of the video)? How will the sail behave after a few reefings/drops?

    I'm also planning to sew a new sail (with a larger camber), but I think it'll be ripstop or bluetarp again. I'm interested in a good glue/double-sided tape for these materials. The tape I used to glue the sail (regular double-sided tape from a DIY store) started peeling after a dozen or so uses (I only sail during the day and always carry the sail in my car). This small bluetarp sail (after zigzag stitching at the glue points) lasted two seasons, but I'd like to sew/glue a new one with a larger camber.

    Regards - Jan

    Last modified: 03 Oct 2025 20:57 | Anonymous member
  • 03 Oct 2025 12:25
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    Reply # 13548653 on 13546768
    Anonymous member

    Graham, I guess you were using the very soft thin type.

    The generic product I have used is for roofs, under slates / tiles.  Thicker and stronger as it has to resist wind loads. It is quite stiff and easy to sew.  (I used it to make a sleeping bag cover)