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Tristan
05-07-2007, 05:05 PM
What weight dacron for a 272 sq. loose footed Bahama type mainsail on a 16 foot Bahama sharpshooter (a mini-sharpshooter, basically a Bahama dinghy with a cuddy). There will be no jib, sail is laced to mast, boat to be used for bay and nearshore sailing, no passage making. I know, canvas sails are probably called for but I've always used dacron and like it's lightness and wear. Can't afford Oceanus cloth. Boat's displacement? I don't know, with ballast, maybe 1,000 to 1,200 lbs. Suggestions for weight of dacron appreciated.
Todd Bradshaw
05-07-2007, 05:31 PM
Something in the 5.5 oz. - 6.5 oz. range would be pretty typical for a sail that size built for daysailing and recreational use.
rbgarr
05-07-2007, 05:59 PM
Do you have pictures/plans of your boat? She sounds interesting!
Tristan
05-07-2007, 06:34 PM
Do you have pictures/plans of your boat? She sounds interesting!

Eventually I'll get some photos on, but for the design see two of Chapelle's books. See the Bahama Sharpshooter on pg. 161 of "American Sailing Craft," and The Bahama dinghy on pg. 227 of "American Small Sailing Craft." Years ago I built the dinghy, best boat I ever owned. For the current boat I took the dinghy lines, gave it a bit more deadrise, stretched her out to 16 feet, and added a decks and a cuddy to make her a small sharpshooter.
Tristan
05-07-2007, 06:35 PM
Something in the 5.5 oz. - 6.5 oz. range would be pretty typical for a sail that size built for daysailing and recreational use.

Thanks Todd, I had thought around 6 oz, but I am pretty uncertain about sail weights.
rbgarr
05-07-2007, 06:52 PM
I've always like those boat designs in the Chapelle books. Lance Lee of the Apprenticeshop had one of the dinghies brought north from Man o' War Cay. It was a wonderful sailer.
Tristan
05-08-2007, 11:56 AM
I've always like those boat designs in the Chapelle books. Lance Lee of the Apprenticeshop had one of the dinghies brought north from Man o' War Cay. It was a wonderful sailer.

In a letter received in 1971, Chapelle told me that the dinghy he illustrated (and I built) has a bit less deadrise than many. She was built to collect conchs, and hence needed to be burdensome. Most Abaco dinghys I've seen have more deadrise. I have always thought about the resemblance of her lines to those of Slocum's "Spray." She sailed like a ship, was very stable. I could stand on her gunwhales (185 lbs then) without tipping her. Could walk forward, tend to a line or such, come back to the tiller, and she'd only be beginning to round up. She carried her way and rarely refused to come about, those few times were when I'd pinched her into a strong wind and seas, and lost way before putting the helm down, my fault. For anyone who wants to sail a ship on a dinghy budget she's a beauty. Google Bahama Dinghy. There used to be a reproduction of an article I wrote about her years ago (still there, google"Dinghy down the keys")