Sailmaking: The Art of Crafting Your Own Dinghy Sail. S3-E20

Ever want to sew your own sail? Escape the ordinary with Boat builder, Bob Emser as he shows how to create your own dinghy sail. Making a spritsail is one of the easiest sail plans for a small boat. The spritsail is a four-sided sail that is supported at its highest points by the mast and a diagonally running spar known as the sprit. Follow along as Bob shows how to design, and sew the sail. In addition he creates the mast and spar for the spritsail plan for the dinghy "Victoria". The small 9' boat will be the tender for its mothership "Arabella" of Steve Denette's popular KZbin channel Acorn to Arabella.
“If you’re going to make it, make it beautiful.”
Bob Emser
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Recommended Playlists
Building Victoria. Arabella's Tender
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#theartofboatbuilding #artofboatbuilding #makeitbeautiful#woodenboatbuilding #buildingasmallboat #buildingasailboat #shipwright #toolbuilding #Haven12 #herreshoff #shipwright

[@francescosirotti8178]

This channel is almost therapeutic... The Bob Ross of boat building.

[@jimaffinito1809]

100%. It lowers my blood pressure

[@Slikx666]

Just not as many happy accidents. 😀👍

[@misinformationwithrandy]

The trees are just happy they're in one of these boats 😂

[@billywhizz6483]

You've done a wonderful job, Bob. Something to be very proud of and good on you for giving your time to create this great little tender for Arabella.

[@lanesteele240]

Bobs headstone when he passes should say. “Here lies a true craftsman and artist”.

[@JimOHalloran]

I just hope whoever gets that job gets the brief to "make it beautiful"!

[@musicbro8225]

It's wonderful to see the whole process, including making the sails. I appreciate the demystification of boat building that Arabella and Victoria, or more correctly; Steve and yourself are providing. Victoria is one beautiful dinghy :)

[@BulletproofPastor]

A sailor’s dog chewed the corner off his sail….. it left him clewless. Another great video. Thanks.

[@cosmicinsane516]

Looking good, Bob. I laughed at 16:58, it was such a great example of how hard it is to film content building stuff.

[@inventiveowl395]

My hands instinctively reached out to catch the camera xdd

[@faithphillips4703]

Loved it! So calming. It reminded me of watching Bob Ross paint. Beautiful boat. I will be binge watching all your videos now!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoy the other videos.

[@davem3789]

The drill sander concept is awesome!

[@Slikx666]

Now im really thinking about making a RC sailboat. If i had the time, tools and the plans I'd make Arabella and Victoria. 🤔

[@Dustmadeout]

Thank you! Finally someone did the whole thing with explanations!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Glad you liked it!

[@keg1dog]

Beautiful work Bob! If I can’t have an Arabella Friday, an Art Of Boat Building Sunday is a worthy substitute! Enjoyed seeing you at the launch and looking forward to seeing Victoria II at the boat show.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@drop_dtuned6167]

Throughout your build series of Victoria and Skylark, there were preparations episode for later tasks. The bronze casting kept me in anticipation and so did the sail making. This episode was checking all the boxes for me. Well done!

[@tomtruesdale6901]

What a wonderful job you are doing on that boat and thank you for the sail making class.

[@kathywrightjohnson6804]

Gosh Bob, is there anything you CANT do? I bet you even made beautiful kids! I am so impressed at how very skilled you are. I love that there isnt much you pass off to others to do on your boats. That is what a fine education will do for a person. Never stop learning.

[@fredbelack5545]

He makes everything but the water-still editing that episode!

[@JimOHalloran]

Congratulations on Victoria's Honourable Mention at the Wooden Boat show Bob! She's a beautiful boat!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thank you.

[@chris9012]

Just last week I made some small storage bags for my camping gear with my cheap, small and underpowered sewing machine. I must admit, I didn't make it beautyfull. That machine of yours sure seems like a joy to work with. I saw the video of you and Steve rowing Victoria. Can't wait to see her under sail!

[@billlippincott3937]

I had the privilege of spending the weekend with Bob at the Mystic Wooden Boat Show. I can tell you his creation of Victoria and the sail are spectacular in person.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks Bill, it was great meeting you and hanging out with you.

[@michaelkelley6158]

Thank you again for a wonderful video. I really enjoy your explanations and your craftsmanship. @20:01 I was glad to see I was not the only one who gets the cable stuck on something when trying to do woodworking. It put a fun smile on my face. Thanks for including that. Also, even though the boat is launched, thank you for continuing these videos into August. Have a great 4th of July.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

You are very welcome

[@PaulJohnson-lm3if]

Great to see progress on little Victoria. I also love the wooden floor in the guest house were you are assembling the sail.

[@brendonnz1964]

Hello Bob, good to see that you have the Customary battle wounds on your hands whilst doing your projects.

[@fonhollohan2908]

Well done Bob, You've done a great Job on this Tender,, you really have.

[@latesailor1350]

Great video!!!

[@chrisleggatt3240]

I've been looking forward to this!

[@tmossberg]

Another outstanding video, Bob I’m not a boat builder. I am a woodworker, and I enjoy how you get into the thought processes in the detail of your project. Looking forward to your next video

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thank you very much!

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

If your a woodworker you can be a boatbuilder. Build a boat!

[@tmossberg]

@@krockpotbroccoli65 yes, I guess I’ve been thinking about building a strip built, snipe sailboat I would definitely need to get a set of plans though Not quite smart enough to come up with all of the geometry

[@BillChild2njoy]

Really love you all... all 4 of you and feel blessed to be able to follow you day..week...month and several uears now i believe. You aleays have fun placrs to climb or eat even staying in the same local. Im excoted for your spteading canvas soon to other places of note. Loved you honest and individual appraisals of your floating homes ups and downs he he.. Your baby seems so well ajusted to the sailing life and a big part of that is because of how dedicated and caring you both are as parents under circumstances that few others might understand.. Bon Voyages to come for all !!!😊

[@rickestabrook4987]

What a treat, Bob. Never expected to see you making the sail. Beautiful work. I would have liked to see how the mainsheet is attached. Thanks

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

In upcoming video I will show how the sail is attached to the mast.

[@matthewmoore6223]

I wonder love to see a larger boat build by Bob.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Next boat will definitely be bigger than the tender. Two boats are in contention, around 20 foot in length. Too old and not enough time to build a Arabella size boat. I have too many small boats to complete on my list!!

[@robertgroves6186]

So much talent in so many trades. An inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

[@kimber1958]

Great job, Bob

[@charlesmoore456]

Whatever Steve is paying you to build that boat...it's not enough!!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks. I wasn’t paid. It was my contribution to the project.

[@rexmyers991]

You are truly a great craftsman and, a pleasure to watch.

[@cadalot58]

Do your talents never end Bob? Now a sailmaker as well as a shipwright, I'm so looking forward to finding out how you get on creating the oars especially as you have never done this before. I have to say missing the A2A Video but so happy we have a couple more from you to help us with withdrawal symptoms.

[@CatalinaMcpherson-s6q]

The drill sander concept is awesome!. So much talent in so many trades. An inspiration. Thanks for sharing..

[@MCsCreations]

Amazing work, Bob! The boat looks stunning! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@SailingWithDave]

Incredible video, very well taught and thanks very much for sharing.

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

I thought for a minute that you wouldn't make the sail. I thought he bought that beautiful sewing machine! Then it all came together. Glad you got to use your machine again. It sure looks very nice. And the sail came out perfect. Just as we've all come to expect. I'm envious! Lol, I've no idea how to sail. What a beautiful project this has been. KP I'm quite sure will be more than happy to assist with the rigging. Looking forward to seeing that as well! 💯❤️

[@rossfudd256]

Bob, why no lock stitches at the end of each seam? What I mean by lock stitch is where you backup a quarter inch or so then stitch forward again before you cut off the thread.

[@danielthackeray7798]

Lock stitches are not required where the end of the stitching is going to be overlaid with another piece, such as a hem. Where this overlaying doesn't happen the lock stitch has been done.

[@rossfudd256]

@@danielthackeray7798 Thanks for the explanation.

[@retiredarchitect3462]

Everything came together beautifully! I love the tenor detail at the base of the mast.

[@Riprock296]

Your skills, patience and attention to detail is top notch! Amazing work!

[@mrfish270]

So enjoyable to watch your process, Bob, as you skive into new territory. Calm, purposeful, helpful. Maker. Teacher. Brother.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thank you!

[@davidc6510]

Another beautiful job well done. I enjoyed watching you explain the steps of making the sail and seeing the Sailwrite (sp) sewing machine in action. Looking forward to the oar making video. Thanks for sharing!

[@quarlow1215]

I love to see the process especially the jigs and things you make and use to achieve what seems an impossible task. Then when thats done, the beauty comes through to reveal this wonderful and functional peice of mastery.

[@williamparker8318]

Very Nice! I didn't really start sewing till a couple of year ago (64 now). Being a machinist by trade I've always enjoyed old machines and learning new tricks. Well I've learned a few new things today. Cheers.

[@calebbuswell]

You make your own sails too??? Wow!

[@anthonyrondolino8148]

BRAVO! You made it very beautiful.

[@gordon985]

I put together a kit for my Rebel 16 2 sails total 206.5 sq' was a lot of work. wish I had a neighbor like you.

[@alice215]

I shouldn't be surprised. Of course you'd do this too. Brilliant and attention to details a constant. and btw no one else would I want to be stuck on a desert island with.

[@joecioe8566]

I think you will need a thumb cleat on the mast to hook the snotter to. Great job this has to be the first sail making video that I have seen. You always do such a great job teaching. Thanks Bob.

[@klaasvanmanen8214]

Because of Arabella, I have been following your channel for a while now. I didn't know about your parents though, but I hope they had a nice time in the house you built for them. I'm sorry they passed away but you must have been a wonderful son to them. It just puts another layer to the really practical examples and advises you publish in every video. Bless you.

[@johnlinehan9053]

Great video, looking forward to the oar vid!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Me too!

[@dennisharrington3384]

Sir. Thanks. Ol’ man rant tale: my first and LAST endeavor at sailmaking involved my Sam Rabl “Teal” built from a library book (library? Anybody? Book? Anybody?). I already knew sails had airfoil. Got a tight weave from fabric store (used to not be in Walmart). Bemused MIL did all the sewing. Cut a NACA airfoil shape for the luff, reasoned that when I pulled it straight the shape would transfer to the body of the sail. It did! Did it sail? Let’s just say I’m a confirmed stinkpotter ever since.

[@alanzelanski7288]

My wife and I really enjoyed seeing you and Victoria at Mystic Seaport. You do fantastic work. Very well done.

[@romanmurillo1109]

Thanks indeed Bob for your comprehensive and clear explanations in your canal always enjoyable and entertaining. Particularly I found those sailmaking ones extremelly usefull to follow when I made the new sails to replace the old ones in my vintage massive radicontrolled schooner.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Thank you Bob for both supporting Acorn to Arabella and for the fantastic videos detailing the build of Victoria. Certainly a beautiful build.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MarkDManning]

Great video- thank you.

[@kenthwangdotcom]

Bob, you make every job look so easy . . . thank you, sir!

[@nathanbenton2051]

great stuff. this is so much better than my upcoming, diy polytarp and/or tyvek asym idea for my boat.

[@OwenFromOhio]

Always educational and entertaining!

[@JamesFarrerInTheMountains]

I love your motto, explanations, and willingness to share your experience. Thank you!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

My pleasure!

[@shinnosuke150]

Great video, thanks! Btw, how do you finish each stitch? I see you cut the thread long after the stitch is done but is the thread tied off or...?

[@cruzdelapaz8550]

Buen trabajo 👍

[@citizenone3442]

Great job

[@therexx891]

Great job, great series.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@boomyclothing8789]

Thank you so much for making this video Sir. I really appreciate it. You did an amazing job! I live in Bali, Indonesia and i have a sailing catamaran. And i am thinking of having a sail making business in here because there's only one person does it here. I am doing my research on how to make sails properly. Can you please do a video on what sewing machines that are best for sail making, all the materials and how to measure a boat's sails. Thank you. Good luck and God bless 😊

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

This is the sewing machine I use. How to Setup a Sail Making Sewing Machine, S2-E67 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmTNapp9raqknbM I will be doing a couple of new videos on making the sail ( jib and gaff) for the current boat. So make sure you subscribe and request notifications. Thanks for watching! Bob

[@JakobEngl]

Great video

[@robertbamford8266]

Eager to see how you contour the oar blades.

[@Nomadboatbuilding]

I set up a long table when sewing the set of sails I just finished too. It can get to be quite a handful moving all that cloth through a small machine. I didn’t have the luxury of a big clean space to do mine however. Had to make do with my dirty crowded shop floor. Worked out in the end just the same and the wind blew the dirt right away.

[@georgefrench1907]

Bravo!

[@steveboylan526]

Gotta say I like your watch.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Thanks!

[@benjyth]

If you like that sewing machine flight case / road case, it is Sailrite's Ultrafeed sewing machine industrial carrying case. They sell it separately from their sewing machines for $245, and it looks like it has the standard hole and mounting hinges that pretty much every sewing machine has used for decades. I'd confirm before I get one, but it sure looks bog standard. It has custom foam inserts in the top to cradle their Ultrafeed, but those are easy enough to rip out and replace with ones that match your own machine. Just get some foam from a flight case parts supplier and cut to match.

[@CANTORPASION]

thank You Sr .

[@koningbolo4700]

Lucky you, you get to work with the great K.P. ...

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

You got that right!

[@koningbolo4700]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding (me a bit jealous of you) I hope she recovered well... I wish her all the best with her health and her new channel...

[@michaelalexander4331]

great job!

[@pollelibre2649]

Hello… really enjoy your videos… the slow pace makes it easy to understand what you're doing… I'm interested in your sewing machine. Could you give me the maker name and where it's made or even the web site… thanks…

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

It is a Sailrite. Made in the USA. You can view it at Sailrite.com

[@pollelibre2649]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding thanks for the info Bob…

[@charles.neuman18]

Great episode. Can you talk a bit about the sewing machine? It looks very smooth and sturdy. I have used a cheap machine in the past that would jam up a lot, especially when used on thick material (like sail cloth). Did this one jam up at all, or is it really as reliable as it looks?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Check out an earlier video S2-E67 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmTNapp9raqknbM In this video I show how the sewing machine is set up.

[@jackkorovev5217]

Thank you for this valuable information! I struggle to find that kind of rubber/foam brush for painting or gluing. Can you share the name, if you don't mind? Cheers

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Hi Jack, I've used many brands and most fall apart. The brand I like is Jen. It preform very well. Here is a link: www.amazon.com/Jen-Poly-Foam-Brush-Handle/dp/B00745VZYY/ref=sr_1_7?crid=3ATHL3EXQMIUG&keywords=jen%2Bfoam%2Bbrush&qid=1703783540&sprefix=%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-7&th=1 Thanks for watching! Cheers, Bob

[@doughackett695]

Is there a place I can buy a similar mast support like the one you made and attached ( frame 22:37 on video) Thanks Also I can not hear what you are calling it. Nice video !

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Hi Doug, It is called a mast partner. I don’t know of any source for one like it. Are you located in the continental United States? If so I could print one for you. It would be in PLA plastic which is plenty strong for the task. If you interested email me ( email in the about on my channel) Cheers, Bob

[@doughackett695]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding Amazing that you made one. I made a makeshift sail yesterday to sail downwind just for fun in the 18ft motor boat I built. Instead of a a mast partner I used a pipe strap. It worked great and I cruised along for 5 miles. It will be fun to design and make a real sail for my next trip or make an actual sail boat. I'll stay in touch.

[@rutgerw.]

A joy to watch! You are making it look a lot easier than it probably is. Is it tricky to properly allign the pannels as they are 3D curves or does that sort itself out as you go? Quite brave of you to recut one of the corner patches, wouldn’t the shape be slightly different once the sail takes on its actual shape?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Checking and adjusting the patch is a step described in the Sailrite directions for the sail. Thanks for thinking I was brave. I was just following directions.

[@paulosilva-dm1qb]

Talking about corner..Wasn´t it advisible to reverse the sewing at the corners just for reinforcement?

[@plainnpretty]

Looking good Bob . It’s getting close to being done are you going to work on the ice boat for your next project?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

The ice boat belongs to my friend Steve. He has it ready to go, unfortunately we did not have enough ice last winter. We are hoping to take her out next winter, hoping for ice!!

[@plainnpretty]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding ok thanks

[@jameslarson6555]

I may have missed it but what type of wood were the spars made from?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Spruce

[@aknorth1053]

Quick question, fro. what I could see there wasn't any back sticking to locking the end, how to you secure the threads at the end to prevent unraveling?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

All of the ends get hemmed and stitched which locks them in. I did back stitch on the on the hems and luff support.

[@caleblawman4630]

Would it be beneficial to use a spinnaker sail for a small skiff?

[@renatoboro194]

Good morning. Do you know somewhere where I could download the project to sew a size 5.7 sail in the classic windsurfing style one design windsurfer?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Sailrite will design any sail from a sail plan.

[@barneygoogle4003]

Nice work. Interesting to see how a sail is shaped by sewing panels together. Is that sewing machine designed for heavy materials or is it a general purpose machine? Did you already have it before starting your boat building projects?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

The machine in a heavy duty machine designed for sails. I purchased it for this and future sailmaking.

[@PaulJohnson-lm3if]

Also: am I right that this is the rig used by the children in Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Hi Paul, It is very close. Ransom’s Swallows is a Lugsail. A lugsail, is a fore-and-aft, four-cornered sail that is suspended from a spar, called a yard. When raised, the sail area overlaps the mast. So the main difference is the placement of the spar, at the sail head in a lugsail and diagonal for the spritsail. Cheers, Bob

[@christophergoodwin-qo7tg]

Very informative, thank you, where are you located?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Illinois, USA

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Illinois, USA

[@kathysarmcandy1992]

What material is that? Looks like parchment paper for baking.

[@gerardvila4685]

I was wondering that myself. At first I thought it was just the patterns for the sail, not the sail itself - it doesn't look like canvas at all.

[@willshen6597]

Looks like thin Dacron. Sailcloth is hard like that, especially when new.

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

4oz Dacron

[@kathysarmcandy1992]

@@gerardvila4685 Prob Dacron. A polyester weave. Super light and tough as nails.

[@eudespontesmagalhaesjunior3807]

Did the software that presented the sail measurements use a calculation based on Gaussian curvature?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

I don’t know. That would be a question for Sailrite’s sail designer, Jeff Frank. Easy to find contact information on their website.

[@eudespontesmagalhaesjunior3807]

I'm reading a book about sail physics and I learned that the shape of sails is calculated by Gauss' teachings. Thank you so much.

[@leohorishny9561]

What I find interesting about this sail plan is, in the caption for a spritsail very similar to these dimensions, it’s mentioned that this sail is seen cut with horizontal or vertical panels but that Sailrite says it should be made with vertical panels.🤔 I haven’t seen why one orientation of sail material is better than the other.🤷🏼‍♂️🤔

[@sartorst3376]

Slacker. Considering you made the tools to make the boat why didn't you make the sail cloth 😂 😂😂 Another good one Bob

[@drop_dtuned6167]

I had a hearty chuckle reading your post. It reminded me of a line by Clint Eastwood in Outlaw Jose Wales, “a man’s gots to know his limitations”.

[@veleiroema]

Hello Mr. Bob, I think you have already informed what kind of material is used in the sail, but I did not find this information in other videos, I would be very grateful if you could inform me what kind of material this is, I am building a vleleirinho and, for the opportunity of I'll start sewing the sail, thank you and good winds!

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

4oz Dacron.

[@veleiroema]

@@TheArtofBoatBuilding thank you very much

[@Vendelcrow1948]

On my 7 meter wooden double ender I have two rows of metal rings with a bit of rope on both sides on the main sail. This is of course for to make the sail smaller, if the wind is strong. I noticed that you did not make this, however, it could of course be done later ,if need be.The tender looks very nice, and how many kilos does it weigh?? Regards, Mikke

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

About 35kg without the tiller/rudder.

[@gerardvila4685]

Sorry if this is a stupid ignorant question, but should the design of the sail take the gaff into account? I didn't see the gaff in the simulation of the sail in action, is this deliberate?

[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

This is not a gaff rigged sail. It is a spritsail where there isn’t a gaff boom. In some spritsail rigging there can be a boom. This sail is a loose foot design so not boom. I went with this configuration for easy storage and quick installation.

[@thomasarussellsr]

I know there's no oak in the tender. But there should be an acorn imprint on her sail. Even if her name is Victoria, he could still say I'm taking the Acorn to Arabella. 😊 Then have a Oak tree on the main sail of Arabella with her name proudly displayed under the oak on the mainsail, as well as the tail, since she has no transom.

[@thomasarussellsr]

Please pass this idea along, if you think it's a good one. Thanks Bob.

[@johna1160]

22:40 Ouch!

[@kengoodwin459]

Does renting that house come with free boatbuilding lessons?

[@michaelalexander4331]

The fabric looks more like paper rather than fabric.

[@alice215]

what can't you do?