Sprit Sail design Q's

Discussion in 'Sailboats' started by minno, Aug 21, 2015.

  1. minno
    Joined: Aug 2014
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    minno Junior Member

    Hi All

    I'm making a little 35 sq ft poly tarp sprit sail, I've read a half dozen tutorials and a few mention that the grommets for lacing the sail to the mast were too far apart or too close together, but none say why or how far apart they should be, any Ideas?

    minno
     
  2. philSweet
    Joined: May 2008
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    Location: Beaufort, SC and H'ville, NC

    philSweet Senior Member

    The spacing is a function of the mast diameter. When you lash the sail on, you don't wind it around the mast in a spiral. You go back and forth so that the sail will raise and lower better. There is an angle to the wrap that works best. The spacing appears to be about 4 mast diameters judging from old photos. I've seen this written down somewhere, but can't remember where.
     
  3. minno
    Joined: Aug 2014
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    minno Junior Member

    Thanks Phil, I'll give that spacing a try and see how it looks, it's on an 8' mast so I had planned to attach the sail permanently at the throat and wrap it around the mast to stow it.

    minno
     
  4. Skyak
    Joined: Jul 2012
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    Skyak Senior Member

    Then you would be far better off sewing a sleeve. Laces just concentrate the load which must then be distributed again. Laces primary function is allowing the sail to be lowered -a sleeve piles up at the mast. No hoist, no reason for laces.
     

  5. minno
    Joined: Aug 2014
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    minno Junior Member

    good point, I didn't have access to a sewing machine for this sail so it's made with carpet tape and the wide Gorilla tape, seems to be working ok although it's much too small, I'll be making a bigger sail soon and Ill see about borrowing a sewing machine.

    minno
     

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