What is the BEST Sail Cloth? | Sailing Wisdom

[@AlienX69]

Long live Dacron !! ⛵ Don't forget to give a thumbs up for Herb & Maddie !!

[@blankvirtue]

certantly thumbs up for H & M.

[@AlienX69]

@@blankvirtue THX

[@Tb0n3]

Well, 3 years. Not so long.

[@spider0804]

I know the video was about cloth but maybe a video on having your sails built? Cross cut or tri radial? How many reefs? What material? Fully battoned? Are the battons full length all the way? Extra roach? Cunningham? Cut for performance when partially furled? The list goes on, almost like selecting car options when having a sail made.

[@Seafariireland]

Excellent lesson, thank you! SkipRay, Kerry, Ireland.

[@louisfbrooks]

I have always like the color of Wisdom's sales. Great episode.

[@BigFiveJack]

Great descriptions!

[@stanleybest8833]

Triple stitch and a better description of a Cunningham. Super

[@RiggingDoctor]

👍

[@markmahan6768]

Excellent information, and for me, the timing of this video is perfect as I'm in the market for a new mainsail. Thanks so much!

[@RiggingDoctor]

Oh awesome! Glad we could assist :)

[@juanarevalo1382]

Great video as always. I'd like another about different types of battons sails can have (even be battomles), how it affect performance and pros and cons of each type. Thank you in advance

[@colrodrick8784]

Hi guys YT just sorta delivered your channel to me. I have no idea how it figured out I was looking at sail cloth (which I'm not really atm) but I was watching making a tarp sail for a PDR (don't laugh) and I guess I fell alseep watching it, so perhaps that's plugged into into YT algorithm... Thank you for an informative video. All this I knew (except the laminated stuff, because that sort of came about when I'd left competitive racing over 40 years ago) of course, but you put it together nicely and succinctly.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Glad you somehow found us and glad you liked the video! We have been crossing oceans to new places for a while and are about to rebuild another boat to make it a capable cruiser on a budget. 😉

[@melinda5777]

Very informative! You know I love these types if videos the most. Thank you very much. Looks lime a great sail day it was filmed. Stay Safe!

[@nonyayet1379]

as long as you know that most of the information they share is wrong, in accurate, even dangerously wrong. (not to mention costly)

[@goneswimming5636]

Great video! I just forwarded it to my son. Love from B-more

[@paulpaul9914]

There are hybrid fabrics such as polyester with dynema so the polyester stretch tendancy is significantly reduced.

[@simoneclarke5104]

We always learn so much from you two, thank you🥰

[@RiggingDoctor]

I’m so glad!!

[@jbsanger696]

Great video! Luv the detail!

[@edfrhes]

Thanks. That was helpful information.

[@johnmaliskey7951]

I have camping tents that I coat with Scotch Guard and this gives longer life with abrasion resistance. Two light coats in areas that will chafe may help out. It's worth a try .......... enjoy

[@sweetescapecutter2823]

love the videos look forward to each new one

[@bojangles8837]

Laminate sails have come a long way. North sails 3Di, which are proprietary are not like your traditional laminate sails. They are incredible and the 3Di process have forever changed the way sails are made. These are the same sails used by the Volvo 60's and many are still in use after two laps around the world in the most punishing conditions. The ENDURANCE 780: Ultra PE / Carbon / Aramid. These are; yes very expensive, although the trade off of performance and durability and longevity make them a solid investment. One thing I have come away with over the years, is performance is everything. Of course each boat and crew has limits. I see many cruiser making the tenderfoot mistake of wallowing around slowly under canvased. Finding that sweet spot in performance, sea state and speed are fundamental to safety at sea. Having the capability and speed to skirt around weather rather than being constantly subject to it, is a great advantage. A vessel that can comfortably make speed in a seaway is under rated by many when choosing vessels and sails. Nothing is more exhilarating than putting in a 200nm plus 24 hour run.

[@lexylexylexy1234]

Super helpful info! Thanks!

[@edwardfinn4141]

Thanks for the detailed reply.

[@RiggingDoctor]

👍

[@apom316]

Awesome video, Thanks!

[@daneulekowski929]

Just subbed after your adventure with BOAB.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Welcome!!

[@glennhassig6668]

Great video! Thanks

[@joeltatham5673]

Great info on sails! Thanks

[@NAVIGATOR600]

FLAX SAIL OLD FASHONED BUT WORTH EVERY PENNY !

[@livingsimplytosimplylive6817]

So informative, thank you both.

[@sleepingself]

Flax! Cotton!

[@RiggingDoctor]

Contemporary sails ;)

[@sleepingself]

@@RiggingDoctor Just passing fads! 😏

[@z_actual]

My Pearson 365 ketch has a main and mizzen that came with the boat, theyre over 40 yrs old. I still have the spinnaker too but the sail maker things it will just blow to pieces. Last season before covid I was getting up to 7.5 knots broad reach on this 22,000 lb boat. The mains been retabled but the mizzen is very heavy cloth, I wouldnt consider replacing it because of priorities. Of all things I need is a triradial that has more drive higher, this because a 365's rig is very short but stout at just 46ft above the water. A staysail might be nice too. the entire sail plan is very simple there are no outhangs orangutans or vangs so I might have to add some kit after I fix up the slab reefing system, and it is undeniably safer to lead lines back to the cockpit

[@blankvirtue]

Thanks H & M

[@HankMeyer]

You two ought to do a video about how mail works in the cruising life.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Easy. It’s sent to our parents. Haha!

[@daviddailey4959]

BOAB😀 nice haircuts!

[@RiggingDoctor]

I agree :)

[@redwood1957]

Did you sew your sails or have them made that way? Thank you

[@RiggingDoctor]

We had them made that way. It’s called Tanbark.

[@VIEW-ut3bu]

What were sails made of before infustrialization?

[@RiggingDoctor]

Cotton

[@coenvanwyk1]

Thank you for this. I sail a chinese-style junk rig, and I am looking to replace the sails soon. I do not like the stiff dacron sail material I can get, so I am looking for more canvas-like cloth such as Top Gun or Duradon.

[@rlbnpt2]

Topgun is for marine canvas only. Duradon is very hardy. Only problem is it's hard to find anymore. We use oceanus but it only comes in cream color. If you want tan bark you have to use clipper cloth it comes from england.

[@hrhplease9119]

Hey I’m a new sub from Crofton MD ❣️

[@supremeflagship8965]

Maybe in the future they will be making sails out of graphene or buckypaper. But until then for me dacron is the way to go.

[@slick8086]

Great video!!!! Question: how does dacron fare when the sail shape is sqareish like in a gaff rigged main sail?

[@nonyayet1379]

how did you add up your miles? maybe you could do a video showing those 12,000 miles!!!

[@RiggingDoctor]

Now it’s 17,000nm. The miles are from what our InReach tracker says we have done. Crossing oceans and sailing for 4 years straight really puts the miles on 😉

[@georgebarber1343]

Maybe you could address is issue of weight of cloth(eg 8 oz main vs. 11oz main) or half

[@californiakayaker]

looked like a downwind light air sail but heard a whine from something ? Thought I might have seen the "drifter" or is it "grifter" lol . Do you think the "Pigment" from the darker colors might make the sails last longer ? How about black uv sails ? Do they exist ? With a big pirate head on them ? Definitely going into the rigging section of my sailing technology playlist.

[@trevormarcy734]

Are you using the 4oz tan bark Dacron? Why not a heavier weight, such as an 8oz? Also, did you have cruising reinforcements put into the 4oz (a la moitessier)? Thanks!

[@RiggingDoctor]

I believe it’s 8.8oz cloth. 4oz would be way too thin for ocean cruising.

[@trevormarcy734]

@@RiggingDoctor hey thanks for the reply! In that case, what sail loft did you use/where did you source your fabric? I can’t seem to find it online…

[@mandostudent]

Very informative video well presented! You didn't mention tanbark sails have more protection against UV irradiation which breaks down synthetic fiber such as dacron. Keep up the good work!

[@RiggingDoctor]

I looked into it when I was getting the sails and at that time there was not a definitive answer from the research that had been done at that time. But! In theory, the dark pigment should block the light from penetrating deeper and therefore should protect the rest of the fibers.

[@californiadreamin8423]

@@RiggingDoctor. Hi. I understand Dacron comes in different grades or weights. My interest is for a 14 ft dinghy sail.

[@PyeGuySailing]

What would be your preference, a tri sail or 3rd reef? Having a ketch I'm leaning towards the 3rd reef on my main because my mainsail is pretty small to start with.

[@MichaelWBall-jc4we]

enjoyed your team up with the "BUMMS" you mentioned your rope fenders - did or will you be doing a video on how to make them?

[@RiggingDoctor]

Video to come! We’re just having trouble amassing the huge quantity of rope required to make them

[@MichaelWBall-jc4we]

@@RiggingDoctor can't wait... getting our first boat in the coming weeks, C&C 30.

[@veronicalogotheti5416]

Thank you

[@RiggingDoctor]

You are welcome!

[@markthomasson5077]

Battens also help to maintain sail shape.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Especially if the sail is made out of a different material

[@markthomasson5077]

Those that DIY junk sails favour acrylic (what you make dodgers out of). The full battens take the load. Much better UV

[@RiggingDoctor]

A sail made of sunbrella would last a long time!

[@econopulenceplanet3214]

What do you guys think of hemp cloth for sails?

[@AlienX69]

Good idea, as long as you smoke the material after the sail is worn out, biodegradable ..... 😆🤣😜🤩

[@AlienX69]

Good idea, as long as you smoke the material after the sail is worn out, biodegradable ..... 😆🤣😜🤩

[@RiggingDoctor]

Heh I don’t know that they make those anymore

[@econopulenceplanet3214]

@@AlienX69 Looks like a fun joke but that sentiment; that hemp for fibre resembles anything smokable is hurting this awesome fibre all over the world... it is one of the best natural fibres one can use...

[@econopulenceplanet3214]

@@RiggingDoctor That's the problem... almost nobody even looks at it anymore but hemp-fibre is an awesome natural product... grows in a couple of months, improves soils, doesn't need fertilisers, no insecticides... Would love to see some modern sails made out of them to see how they would perform. And as for biodegradability; yes they would be if it's not dyed or with a natural color, then they could just be made to compost :-)

[@stevethuss2707]

only because of the cooooool haircut by mikey

[@RiggingDoctor]

I’ll be sure to thank them next time I see them 😎

[@treasureisland9630]

I have acquired a used a laminate sail from a Shock 40. Is it worth taking it to a loft to have it cut for my 30ft boat? I'm a cruiser not a racer.

[@RiggingDoctor]

The issue is the fibers are run for the intended size and it is unalterable after that. I had a laminate sail made with two reefs and then wanted to add a 3rd reef: not possible. They might be able to finagle something though if it was cheap enough.

[@driesmartens4285]

What weight do you recomend?

[@RiggingDoctor]

Depends on the size of your boat, but go with the heaviest they recommend for your boat!

[@sailingmoonshadow3169]

Of course the is those new fangled rigid sails that will never lose their shape. The only disadvantage is that they are made from a material mined from the centre of the sun (going by the cost of them!) I don't think your average cruising sailor can go far wrong with Dacron.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Hahahaha!

[@jeffdurden398]

Does having Dacron sails reworked/restiched actually do anything really worth the cost?

[@RiggingDoctor]

Not really. At that point, the labor is only a little less than a new sail

[@paulsj9245]

Interesting information in this video! It leaves the question why your Dacron sails are coloured instead of white? Point to a previous episode if this has been covered. (Confessing that I did not binge watch ALL of your 476 videos)

[@RiggingDoctor]

The color is called Tanbark and the reason is twofold. 1. I like the color 2. They don’t show dirt as much as white sails. All sail makers can make sails in tanbark, but they prefer to work in white because they have that cloth on hand already and won’t need to special order your tanbark cloth (but you might have to say “pretty please” when you ask because they don’t like to do it).

[@paulsj9245]

@@RiggingDoctor Thanks! I like the colour on your yacht because it has a "historic" touch. Was thinking of traditional cloth like cotton...

[@emmengel]

How about using regular canvas

[@RiggingDoctor]

They used that way back in the day but it rots quickly. Dacron is modern day “canvas” because it doesn’t rot as fast.

[@emmengel]

Thank you

[@edwardfinn4141]

I love your technical videos, but I’m not sure triple stitching Helps you keep sail shape, I thought the ssails stretch on their panels short axis, or where the fibres are bent …

[@RiggingDoctor]

Yes, but there is still a lesser force on the long axis. If the panels were cut parallel to the leech, they would tear in no time because the force is too great. This is why they are set perpendicular to the leech, but there still is stretching occurring. Triple stitch just makes the interface between panels larger so that they don’t create as much of a twisting force at the seam which causes the sail to wear and lose shape. On our sails, our light air sails are single stitch and the seam overlap width is about 3/8” while the triple stitch seam overlap is over an inch wide. It just keeps the seam from twisting while under load in high winds. Our light air sails twist at each seam when the wind gets too high for them while our working sails with triple stitch remain flat at the seams in 60+ knot winds.

[@jamescorriveau6121]

No triradial cut?

[@RiggingDoctor]

That would be a video on the topic of sail cuts! I’ll be making that one soon :) Tri radial is more work and therefore cost, but really worth it.

[@markthomasson5077]

Dacron is a trade name for polyester.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Yes sir

[@bryrensexton4618]

👍!!!

[@Hindukushsailing]

👍

[@nojob6061]

Used cotton baby diapers !!! A true golden earing sailors favorite !!! Works best with a Gaffe Rigged sailboat a true power sailor on the lean dog tracks well in choppy water's, 🤣🤣🤣. Not the most comfortable sailing when one reaches the other side of an ocean in such a sailboat he or she should run to the tattoo parlor & get the all famous toughest looking tattoo a heart with the most famous 1 word Mom,🤣🤣🤣. U earned it 🤣🤣🤣

[@lenwhatever4187]

What? No blue tarp sails? Surely the world is at end!

[@keysersmoze]

Maddie, more singing and dancing show tunes please. ;)

[@RiggingDoctor]

Haha I will happily oblige

[@csteingraber]

You left out hybrid and 3Di types. The polyester 3Di is more affordable than Dyneema/kevlar 3Di so it doesnt make sense to just dismiss them as equivalent to laminates. Alternatively a whole sail made as one seemless piece of dyneema and kevlar will likely outlive and outperform old school stretchy dacron and worth the money especially given the longer life. And a one piece seemless polyester/dacron sail saves the weight and weakpoints of seams.

[@RiggingDoctor]

They are an interesting middle ground

[@lynndonharnell422]

What??!! No Egyptian cotton?

[@stevenplancich6449]

Hmm. Will hemp cloth ever make a comeback? 😜

[@z_actual]

stop smokin that stuff son ..

[@RiggingDoctor]

🤣

[@timothyrepp4259]

Hmm,Will thatched roofs and stone tools ever make a comeback?

[@ianallan2337]

A sail year at 45 degrees N is nothing like a sail year at 20 degrees N.

[@liamstone3437]

You have me intrigued - please explain more. Is it the UV or what?

[@ianallan2337]

@@liamstone3437 Lots of things. The sailing season is about half as long at 45 degrees, The sun is much weaker etc etc.

[@DowneastThunderCreations]

What? No canvas? Arrrrgh!😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@ThailandAmazing]

Thanks I’m a little schmarter

[@RiggingDoctor]

🤓

[@janicechilders4885]

My husband and I would really love to personally meet the both of you. We live in West Palm Beach, Florida. We have been following you from the beginning. Maybe we can go out for a bite to eat. Not sure how else to get in touch with y’all? Maybe we could go on Facebook Messenger? Sure would love to hear back from you.

[@RiggingDoctor]

We’re headed there tomorrow! Email [e-mail] or message us on Facebook. Would love to meet for a meal!

[@georgeplett4641]

you forgot for 100s of years boats used canvass for all their sails and they lasted over 20 yrs . why have they stopped use them ?

[@kellendavis8638]

For hundreds of years, labor was cheap and crews were larger.

[@gaiusangeal5270]

She said power and performance in 3 years.. Hhhmm.. And he just said something that last longer.. Stiff and strong for 5 to 7 years..

[@RiggingDoctor]

Laminate sails are perfect from day 1 until they die which is in a few years. Dacron sails are perfect for less than a year but then start to stretch. They will become baggier over the years but won’t die a catastrophic death like laminate sails will.

[@Bubo688]

Wtf I thought it was only you and me Karen & boom ken shows up in the camera. Kick him off the boat

[@RiggingDoctor]

But he’s knowledgeable

[@ollielsc9355]

Dacron sails losing there shape completely after 3 years just isn't true

[@RiggingDoctor]

They are still usable but they are no longer their original shape. Our Dacron staysail is going on 8 years old now and we still use it, but it won’t win any races 😂

[@nonyayet1379]

you might have been best off leaving this video to experts. as usual, pretty much bad information.

[@RiggingDoctor]

Would you like to be more specific?

[@RiggingDoctor]

This information is readily available in books, which I have read, about sails and sail cloths. If this is contrary to your knowledge, I could suggest some books that go much more in depth on the topic.

[@Hindukushsailing]

👍