sail modifications

[Ann and Neville Clement]

Axel asked me about the modification we made to our sails on our Tiki 46. They worked so well, perhaps others might be interested. We had been unhappy with the sails for a long time because when the sail got wet and the wind got up, sometimes it was difficult to get them down again - like getting off a wet tee shirt. It worried us. Then the zipper broke which holds the wrap around sail pocket in place around the mast. That made the sail totally useless!

We found a friend in David Baxter of Baxter Sailmakers, Ltd www.baxtersailmakers.com and he was willing to cut off the entire sail pocket of our foresail and install grommets along the leading edge. We used rope to lace the sail to the mast and used the method in the John Leather book about gaff rig. This now works perfectly and makes raising and lowering the sail much easier. I can do it myself and my strength is not much.

Another modification that works increasingly well is the stack pack a friend made for us which is laced onto our boom (yet another modification!) As Neville continues to modify this stack pack, it is easier and easier to use and the sail simply drops down into it and is safe there until we reach harbor, anchor, and he can then close it using sail ties. Simple and safe and inexpensive, it is made of sunbrella in the shape of a tapered trough, two extended plastic water pipes along the top edges, and some ropes to lace it to the boom and attach it to the lazy jacks strung from the topping lift. We are still working on it but may have some patterns eventually. We are about 90% satisfied already.

As we get older and older, these modifications become more and more important to keep ahead of the old age weakness and lower energy budget. So far, so good!

Ann and Nev new email address: [e-mail]

[Axel]

Thank you for the reply. I'll look at the Leather book to see how it all works. Might be hard to get a sailmaker to do this but I'll look into it.

Axel

[Ann and Neville Clement]

Hi Mike,
We will be seeing our sailmaker, David Baxter, when we head south starting in two weeks. David's sail loft is located in Willoughby near Norfolk, Virginia and we have many friends there mostly based at Rebel Marine in Willoughby Bay and involved with the Schooner Race. David has a high reputation as a sail maker in the area having learned from his father and grand father so he is comfortable with modern race boat sailmaking and also traditional sailmaking. Gaff rig sails on schooners get pretty darn traditional, after all.
When we first had David work on Peace's sails, it was to recut a foremain with a busted wingsail zipper and lots of other problems including considerable difficulty raising and lowering the sail which was made by Jeckells back in Britain. He noted considerable and serious chafe including large holes in the sail pocket so we agreed to have him simply cut away the pocket and provide grommits so we could lace on the remnants to see if it worked or maybe use hoops if needed. That worked out very well with the lacings and the resulting sail went up and down easily for the first time. We used John Leather's lace method as seen in his book "the gaft rig". We never thought about hoops after we saw how well laces worked.
A year later, we had him make us a brand new sail and we requested the lace on option. He is a determined individual and he insisted on a "belly" in the sail which may or may not be a good idea for multihulls. I do not know much about it, but the sail he made makes a pretty shape up there and Peace IV seems to go good, so we were satisfied and when funds were available for a main sail to be made, he was given the job and freedom to do it his way with happy results. I believe he has the measurements on file and he can certainly have access to Peace IV any time we are there and you can come down also to see and sail and have a good look around.
The booms we made also as an experiment and after we had the main boom, and it worked well for us, we made the fore boom the same way. Again, you can sure come for a sail and take measurements. It would be a delight to see you again. The booms are hollow,made of mast quality clear and close grained Douglas Fir, and the jaws are U shaped and made of laminated Gaboon ply with no slider. Fiberglass was applied after shaping and leathers are treated with tallow. Nev made the support the jaws rest on. I forget the proper term for that and NEv is sleeping presently.
The booms were a trial and error experiment, to be honest. We built them and put the grinder to them when they looked too thick... I believe there are a lot of photos on this website from Clifton Thompson, and others. I don't believe there are any drawings of them but will come back to you soon if Nev has anything. I know they are hollow and have some solid areas for strength where reefing blocks are fitted, where the jaws are connected, and at the aft end also.
Again, it is time for you to come for a sail, Mike. Piero misses you, so does Clifton, and especially us. Bring your lady and let's make it a good time. There is an airport in Norfolk and we can borrow the truck and meet your plane. Go see David Baxter, make drawings of the boom, drink rum...
I should say that Jacques loves his sails made to plan with no boom and a luff pocket on his Tiki 38. So we are not all the same.
Love, Ann and Nev

[John& Kat Wilkie]

Hi Ann & Nev, I totally agree with your logic. I am thinking of installing an Alado furling system behind the mast on our Pahi 42 for this very reason. To make mainsail furling/unfurling simple & easy. And it can be done without leaving the cockpit. No loose sail, no tying up, no lacing, infinite choice of sail area, and most importantly in my book, the ability to instantly shorten sail in a big wind gust. I have read much about the loss of efficiency in this arrangement, but my low speed aerodynamics theory shows the "slot effect" between the mast & the sail is actually beneficial aerodynamically. And we don't intend to go anywhere in a hurry!!!
I would be interested in other opinions on this.
Cheers,
John & Kat

[Galway Bay]

I found your post as part of the search function on this site. Wingsail discussion is back again !

It was your comment -" but my low speed aerodynamics theory shows the "slot effect" between the mast & the sail is actually beneficial aerodynamically"- that I found very interesting.

I have never met this theory - but it is in fact what the Galway Hookers [gaff rig ] do. The main is laced closer to the mast for normal use to depower it and farther back to power it up for racing.

Seems perhaps the best is no gap as in a wing or close fitting track or next is a large gap? With the smaller gap being the worst of both worlds ?

I have no theoretical basis whatever for this in fact it has always puzzled me. But it seems to be true.

[Rusty Gesner]

Couldn't you get the best of both worlds with both

1. synthetic lacing for ease of raising and lowering, combined with

2. woven Teflon fabric for the luff pocket for the wingsail aerodynamic effect.

I did a search recently an found a mill that makes what appeared to be suitable weight and strength woven Teflon fabrics

 - Rusty