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[durhambargeman]

 Hi, Does anyone have any advice to offer regarding suitable material for making sails?. The sails will be for a sailing barge, so I do not know if it will require different type of material; i.e thicker or stronger,than would a yacht?. Any guidance on this subject would be much appreciated.  Thankyou

[Welsh_Druid]

You might find the notes at -      http://sailsetc.com/downloads/Sailmaking_Notes.pdf     - usefull

Don B

[MikeK]

Making sails for the barge you are looking for scale effect, imitating canvas, whereas a yacht will either be ultra lightweight for racing or lighter anyway to look like sail cloth if scale. When I made mine(barge) I tried the recommended draughtsman's linen drawing paper with the starch boiled out but found it very hard to cut accurately. I would imagine that that stuff is hard to get now anyway with the advent of plastic materials. I ended up using some terylene cotton stuff from the dress making dept of Binns, similar to a handkerchief/shirt. Not literally of course  ::) I mean the cloth weight. Of course it will need dyeing and as I made a right pig's ear of that I will leave that to someone else to describe !
Best of luck with the project

MikeK

[MCR]

These sails are made using cotton sheets I think it is called poplin.

[boatmadman]

these were made from dress lining material

[MikeK]

Looks like the schooner has a nice turn of speed Mr Madman 

mikeK

[andywright]

For the type of vessel you are making sails for you need egyptian cotton, available from this gentleman

 http://www.modellingtimbers.co.uk

Do not cut the main where it fits the mast in a straight line but a slight curve, this will give the sail a bit of shape. I make sails for one metres, southwinds, northwinds and all makes of model but do not do anything like you want. I have used draughting film for a gaff cutter I built these with properly shaped seams and it sailed well, though not quite looking the part. But the egyptian cotton is the way to go, about £3.50 per sq metre.

Cut the cloth so the selvedge runs up and down the leach of the sail, this will help to prevent the sail stretching out of shape when powered up., This goes for foresails as well.And you won't have to make a turnover seam here which will spoil the shape and the windflow. All other edges can be sewn over and some bolt rope sewn to the edge to hold shape.

Regards Andy Windpowersails)
 

[boatmadman]

yes it goes well mikek. I have put topsails on since that pic and it looks the business, even though I say so myself

ian

[durhambargeman]

 Hello All, Thanks once again for all the helpful advice that I have received in answer to my query, Thankyou all.Ray