sailmaking

lester
thanks for the help and the information. i was trying to get the draft at 40%. and was trying to learn broadseaming. so i guess i did get something right. this thread is a real good idea as to why I am sailing. AND why we should all be doing this. I asked for help and got it. and everybody has learn something. ME big time. I have made my first set of sails. and they work. well atleast the boat moves forward.
people give this a shot. the hard part is just laying the luff down. you can use sailcut to get a pattern down. and get the material. doublesided tape works so far. and no sewing. hey if i can do this. anybody can.
thanks again lester. I am not sure what all that data meens. but i will sure find out now. You are going to make me learn science agian (uggg) lol
cougar:magnify:

I think I finally understand how to use Claudio’s tool:

  1. Put a layer of double-faced adhesive tape (min. 6mm width) on the flexible aluminum bar as a tack strip, extending past the width of the panels to be joined by ~ 2cm on each end (Fig 2).

  2. Remove the backing layer from the tack strip (Fig 3).

  3. Insert the wedges (can be any material) of the proper thickness (see the graph) on both ends of the aluminum bar, and clamp the ends (Fig 4). The deepest part of the draft on the sail should be located at the center of the bar (Fig 4).

  4. Place the first panel on the adhesive tack strip (Fig 4). Make a good bond of the panel to the tape by rubbing the back of the panel.

  5. Remove the wedges. You will now see the the panel has a warp to it.

  6. Make sure the flexible bar is now straight with clamps or rubber bands on the ends.

  7. Put a second layer of tape (this tape makes the joint) on the first panel directly over the tack strip (Fig 5). Remove the backing paper from this tape.

  8. Position the second panel over the first and the joint tape, completely overlapping the adhesive tape. (Fig 6). Press or rub the joint to fix the panels together.

  9. Remove the joined panels from the tool by lifting the ends of the tacking strip that are extending fron the sides of the panels (Fig 7).

  10. Finally, remove the tacking strip ( from step 1) from the outside of the first panel by scraping with a fingernail or rubbing (Fig 8).

I can’t really visualize how the panel looks when you remove the wedges, and I can only think that you will get one or more undesireable wrinkles. I will have to assume that the tack strip keeps the panel smooth enough somehow to lay the second panel on to attach that. When finally joined, the panels should create a smooth airfoil shape.

I will have to build the tool myself & try it. I’ll get some photos if you wish.

thx
Go Audi!

Thats how i did it, works great, as a ad campaign goes “Just Do It”. it works. My first set, Best set I have ever produced, not perfect but much better than I expected. Complete IOM A rig in an evening including making the jig, next day came 2nd in my club regatta. I used laminating film from a roll as it was all I had, as soon as I can get mylar or drafting film I’m going full bore on all rigs for my IOM and Footy.
Regards
Nick

All OK except point 3)
There is an error :
once you have inserted the wedges, the Ends shall not be clamped yet.
First you fix the panel , then you remove the wedges and only after that you shall use/insert the clamps and not before .
Claudio

A quick question on IOM sail measurment, although my IOM isnt class legal in some respects, i try to do everything I make for it legal. Im making the no. 3 rig for it , the rules state for the mainsail leech length of 910 -920 but the measurement bands are 880, does the sail have to be within the bands, It doesn’t make sense to me, in fact I just reveiwed the rules and all the sails are longer than the bands. What have I missed.
Regards
Nick

Hi Nick

That’s the leech. Its the luff that must fit within the bands… (grin).

Do I feel like an idiot or what, but Im sure I read luff was the aft part of a sail, dont trust the internet, thanks Lester.
Regards
Nick

this has been a good thread.
now has anybody done anything? i know i have enjoyed seeing MY BOAT. work out there. if somebody asked me before. whos boat. i said my boat but carr sails.
right now cutlass has a new set of sails made by cougar. the boat is slower:p
but i am learning. kite is fast with my first set . now i am going to be building more:zbeer:. and i will soon find the secret. and post more
so did anybody build them?
cougar

The small images below show my (recently sold) Victoria with sails I made using the Claudio Gadget and the method I describe in an earlier post in this thread.

The jib is new, and the 5th sail I have made using this method (probably the best to date). The mainsail is one I made about August last year and which continues to perform well - the boat is as competitive in boat speed as any in our club and wins its fair share of races.

I am at the point now where I can produce sails which actually match what I intended. In other words I can translate a design into a sail, so have crossed the steepest part of the learning curve with regard to use of the gadget and building the sails. From here on it, it will be down to sail design skills - and I make no claims in that regard.

Now that I’m happy with the sails on the Victoria, I’ll be trying the same method for some IOM sails.

Bottom line - give it a go. Expect to have a few failures along the way - but you’ll soon be turning out competitive sails.

Does anyone know where the build instructions for the sail making tool went?

Thanks,

ME EC-12 1969

I dont think there are any exact instructions for building it, but if you look through the thread(page 33 has good pictures and instructions on use ) you will find it spread out.
Page 9, a little ways down, has the link to the original Italian site, but you have to use Bablefish translater.

Doesn’t this thread tell you everything you need to know?

Holy Cow!!! What a great thread. My thanks to everyone for providing me with a very enjoyable, entertaining & educational 1/2 day of reading. I recently came across a new premium spinnaker cloth called AIRX 700N. It’s a 1.1 oz. ripstop made by Contender. Small quantities are available from Sailrite.com in the U.S.A. It’s 60 inches wide and sells for $15.95 USD per linear yard. It’s not exactly cheap, but it is real nice fabric. Sailrite also sells 3M Super Seamstick basting tape & C3 Spinnaker tape. Thanks again to everyone, especially Claudio & his nifty little broadseaming jig. Kudos to all!!!

A quick look didn’t find anything, so will post but keep on searching …

Is this fabric a nylon - or polyester? Interested in the super light stuff for some light air needs.

Please post if you know.

The AIRX 700N fabric is listed under <sailcloth> <Ripstop spinnaker sailcloth> at the sailrite website. It’s a nylon cloth that has less stretch than typical nylon ripstop spinnaker cloth. Sailrite specifically recommends it for model boat sails.

OK - thanks. I did see where it also comes in much lighter weights. Will have to compare to some ORCON scrim based film that I have.

The other ripstop fabrics offered are Nylite (60, 90 & 150) which would have more stretch than the AIRX. Although since you’re talking light air & the wee loads of a model boat, fabric stretch is probably a non-issue.

AIRX is a Bainbridge cloth that you can find here.
http://www.sailcloth.com/
click on sailcloth.com then on AIRX

It has been used on the Americas Cup yachts for a few years now.
It comes in various weights.

Shame on me!!! AIRX is indeed a Bainbridge product, Nylite is the Contender offering. I feel worse than Hitler!! I would smack myself in the head with a hunk of lumber as penance but I don’t think the sound would carry all the way to New Zealand (or maybe it would resonate quite well due to my head being mainly empty). Thanks Ian for keeping me straight.

Please do not inflict any damage on your self on my behalf.
Mate, if that is all that you get wrong then you are way ahead of me.

I acquired some AIRX 700 in black and some 600 in the most wonderful dayglow pink today from my friend Brett Linton of “Linton Sails” here in Wellington.
I shall use this cloth to make some panelled sails for my Micro Magic.

Here is a photo of a storm rig I made recently.