Oceanus Sailcloth Question
Timcox
as a traditional work boat and, for the sails, am wondering about specifying
North Sails' Oceanus sailcloth. The North Sails web site shows the lightest
weight Oceanus is 7 oz. The boat will have a main (75^2ft) and a mizzen
(51^2ft), both sprit rigged; the hull loa is 19'3"; lwl 15'9"; beam 5'5".
Having studied Marino's "The Sailmaker's Apprentice," and judging by my
experience around small boats, 7 oz. cloth seems somewhat heavy for those
specs -- or is it, given other factors such as softness/stiffness, stretch,
etc?
Anybody have any experience with Oceanus? Or other similar sailcloths? Or
thoughts on traditional-style sails in general? Thanks!
Tim Cox
Natick, MA
Jonathan Klopman
All oceanus is going to be very heavy compared to a comparable dacron,
especially a good, tight balanced weave like squareweave. The Oceanus
is very "unbalanced" cloth (thickness & rel. stretch between warp &
weft fibers). In short, the shit will stretch something awful unless you
make up for it by added weight. So soft, traditional feel comes at a
price -You don't get somethin' for nuthin'. However, in the small sizes
you're talking about, you shouldn't have to worry. Your concern should
be that your sailmaker is aware of the bias problem, and orients the
panels properly. Unfortuneately, as the stuff has been so expensive in
the past, most sailmakers don't have experience with it. The price has
dropped dramatically, so don't buy it when somebody tells you it's still
$45/yd.
Give Roy Downs a ring (down...@earthlink.net). In general, he doesn't
like the stuff- if only because of the hype, hoopla, and poor
longevity/added expense. You'll find him very experienced and pragmatic.
he also does a significant amount of work for the woodenboat crowd, so
he's not deaf to the aesthetics argument.
JKK
bw...@lehigh.edu
oz would be right unless you sail in particularly heavy air, when you might go
up to as high as 5 oz. The main disadvantage of heavy cloth is that it won't
take proper shape in light air. The extra stiffness is also quite noticable
in small sails.
We would use normal polyester cloth for your sails, selecting a soft finish
for traditional sails. Tanbark and "Egyptian Cotton" colors in polyester can
give the appropriate look to traditional style boats. If you don't have an
appropriate local loft, we would be happy to build the sails for you. Send or
fax the sail plan for a quote.
Brent
Benson Sails
fax 610 282-1833
6558 Blue Church Rd S
Coopersburg, PA 18036
610 282-3611
Pat Ford
Why not real cotton sails?
Michael Colfer
>
> I'm geting started on a sailing dory, Devlin's Sea Swift. I intend to finish it
> as a traditional work boat and, for the sails, am wondering about specifying
> North Sails' Oceanus sailcloth. The North Sails web site shows the lightest
> weight Oceanus is 7 oz. The boat will have a main (75^2ft) and a mizzen
> (51^2ft), both sprit rigged; the hull loa is 19'3"; lwl 15'9"; beam 5'5".
> Having studied Marino's "The Sailmaker's Apprentice," and judging by my
> experience around small boats, 7 oz. cloth seems somewhat heavy for those
> specs -- or is it, given other factors such as softness/stiffness, stretch,
> etc?
>
> Anybody have any experience with Oceanus? Or other similar sailcloths? Or
> thoughts on traditional-style sails in general? Thanks!
>
> Tim Cox
> Natick, MA
The difference in weight between 5oz cloth and 10 oz cloth at 130 sq ft
is insignificant. Don't worry about weight. Holding shape is a
concern. so is the cut on a spritsail. I made one from a cottom
painter's tarp and it won't point up. I thought it was a simple sail so
simple approaches would work. WRONG. Mine won't go to windward and I
know another chap with the same problem. So I'll throw it away and
build another - carefully! I have built a few sails and the others all
worked fine - jibs and gaff mains. I hate to say it but I think I will
build the new spritsl of dacron stuff, even though I do not like the
feel of it, the way it works, or the sound it makes under way.