Tyvek as dinghy sails? And where to get used dacron?

[Bob Aberton]

Just a crazy idea I've been tossing around when I learned that a sheet of dacron large enough for sails for my 12' dinghy would cost me $240...

I know that Tyvek is strong, light, and pretty much windproof...

Also, does anyone know any good places in Rhode Island where I could pick up used sails to cannibalize? I already have an old mainsail (don't know how large, haven't seen it yet) that a relative is going to donate, but I'm afraid there might not be enough material in it and I may need more.

[Keith Wilson]

Well I've never done it myself, but others have and they say it works OK. No good for crossing oceans or racing, of course, and not very elegant looking, but functional. Here are a couple of links:

Making Tyvek Sails (http://www.boat-links.com/Tyvek/)

Sails from white polyethylene tarps (http://hometown.aol.com/polysail/HTML/index.htm)

[Bruce Taylor]

I used polytarp sails on my Piccolo for a couple of years. I upgraded to real sails, recently (beautifully crafted by Todd Bradshaw, in a creamy Egyptian Dacron) but the polytarp sails served me very well. Since they cost me about eighteen dollars, I really can't complain.

I picked up the white polytarp at my local hardware store:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid24/pd6bd6096427df29a7b55e61c5c50d168/fd9865b3.jpg

[ 04-18-2003, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: Bruce Taylor ]

[Ian McColgin]

Tyvek does work and someone (of course) wrote the book on it. Use duct tape to get good seam shape.

I get lots of perfectly good scrap dacron from the dock's dumpster. Hotshots tear a jib and toss it. Plenty of good material can be gotten out and used for oddments.

[bob goeckel]

bob, i am also looking for a used sail for my 12'heidi skiff. you may want to look at the listings at www.boat-links.com (http://www.boat-links.com) the mother of all maritime links. there are used sail links there. if you come across an extra sail about like the shellback size let me know. also check out this site www.sailingtexas.com (http://www.sailingtexas.com) under "sails"

[ 04-18-2003, 11:40 AM: Message edited by: bob goeckel ]

[Johannah]

Folks, I have been seeking adoptors for some sails that came along with a boat we bought this winter but which are way too big for it. We have 2 sets of sails, main and jib, for a marconi rig racing boat in the 19' range but have not been successful in tracking down the design. My original plan was to find a sailing program using whatever the class is and to donate the sails. Plan B is to give them to handy folk who can make use of the material, which is in very good shape. One jib is off to Alaska to be disassembled and recut and a main may be spoken for. If you would like one, send me a note. I would appreciate help with postage but am not interested in selling the sails, just in getting them a new use. All the sails include clear window panels.

[Carlsboats]

I can't believe $240 for enough Dacron to make a sail for a boat that small. Either you are putting on a sail big enough for a Bermuda fitted dinghy, or prices have gone way up since I worked for Du Pont.
Have you talked to sailmakers or canvas supply houses to see what they want for raw material?
For $240 you can probably buy a used sail from somebody like Bacon's in Annapolis, and save yourself grief and time. Or buy a big, used light- weather sail such as a mizzen staysail from a cruising sailboat (something about 2 oz. Dacron) and chop it up.

[Dave Thibodeau]

I've had good sucess purchasing a used dinghy sail from Minneys Yacht Surplus.

www,minneysyachtsurplus.com

They have a wide selection of used sails

Dave Thibodeau

[Rique]

Hi Bob,
I used Tyvec building paper for the sails on my "Melanesia" (pictures in the Melanesia section on www.Wharram.com) (http://www.Wharram.com)) and found them fine, any problems that I have had have had nothing to do with the material. I used exterior grade double tape (used to hold down artificial grass outdoors) and black tape that is used for plastic concrete molds. At about 50 cents NZ it's hard to beat for the price. After two seasons of use, it is showing some wear, and I havn't been easy on it. Next season I might have to spend another $15NZ, and an afternoon to knock up another one!
Rique, NZ


Originally posted by Bob Aberton:
Just a crazy idea I've been tossing around when I learned that a sheet of dacron large enough for sails for my 12' dinghy would cost me $240...

I know that Tyvek is strong, light, and pretty much windproof...

Also, does anyone know any good places in Rhode Island where I could pick up used sails to cannibalize? I already have an old mainsail (don't know how large, haven't seen it yet) that a relative is going to donate, but I'm afraid there might not be enough material in it and I may need more.

[Rique]

Thats 50 cents NZ per sq. meter!

[Frank Wentzel]

Bob

I recently got a new but unfinished main and jib for a 16' sailboat from Bacon & Assoc. I need to install boltropes and put in the headboard, tack & clew. It cost me $105 for both sails. Couldn't buy the sailcloth for that much and 95% of the work is done to boot,

http://www.baconsails.com/

/// Frank ///

[Steve Miller]

Try this site:

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/store/chandlery/fabrics.htm

Depending on size of order $7 or $8 per yard will buy nice new 3.8 oz dacron. Tanbark is $9.50 per yard.