On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 23:35:33 -0400, DSK wrote:
wrote:
My old visqueen sails for the MiniCups finally fell apart
After how many hours of use? In what average strength wind?
... so I have
bought some white polytarp material to make new ones. The old
directions said nothing about shaping the sails but the polytarp sail
manual discusses it.
By broadseaming of luff curvature? You might try putting a little shape
in one seam and a few inches of luff curvature... the right curve will
make a noticable difference in how the boat sails.
... However, they also make reference to lateen sails
being self shaping. So, what to do, cut them with a curvature (what I
plan to do) or make straight cuts?
If a lateen rig has any "self-shaping" properties then it would be the
opposite shape of what is desired. The leach tension would tend to bend
the gaff or lateen upper spar so as to pull cloth out of the middle of
the sail... if the sail were cut flat, then this inverted shape would be
horrible. If the sail were cut with the proper shaping for
light/moderate wind (ie with no bend in the gaff) then the
"self-shaping" could become beneficial; ie flattening the sail &
depowering it when that would be desirable.
Next, how much does stitching lengthen the life of the sails?
Not at all, but it could shorten it.
Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:
If you are really interested in extending the life of your sails, why
not try sailcloth?
Oh man, you just don't understand creative thinking & original problem
solving! It is much better to have to make new sails every couple of
months, that way you can recycle the material faster and spend far less
money in the short run, plus spend a lot of time (which of course only
equates to money if you are a capitalist brain-dead bourgeoisie)
communing with the inner spirit of your wind-capturing device...
DSK
OK, I understand. Suggestion withdrawn. :-)
Rodney Myrvaagnes Opionated old geezer
Faith-based economics: It's deja voodoo all over again