reef points

[adla]

I am getting ready to cut the patches for the reef points and want to run this by some people who might have some advice.

I plan two patches for each reef point on either side of the sail - one a little larger than the other so that the sewing doesn't overlap. I will copy the dimensions for the clew and tack ends that are on the sail for those patches and slip them into the edge seam.

My questions inclinclude clew and tack ends - I have the largest ss grommets that duckworks sells - will this be sufficient for those ends? The tack and clew on my sail have a really big grommet in rubber with reinforcing webbing sewn in. Any thoughts?

a.

[ChrisObee]

The tack and clew grommets should be similar to those at the foot of the sail. At least that's what my Sailmakers apprentice says.

[Kidd]

Also when making the holes for the grommets, sew around the circumference of the holes to reinforce them before setting the grommets.

[adla]

when making the holes for the grommets, sew around the circumference of the holes to reinforce them

a little like a button - I did plan on doing this, I think it is a good idea.

But as far as the grommets at the clew and tack - i haven't been able to find anything that resembles them. To get the the diameter of the current clew and tack i would have to use a brass ring and sew that in. - i have looked high and low for the size and type of grommet used on my sails but have had no success. It is almost a thimble it is so big and thick - and there is a rubber around it...I will take a picture.

thanks for the suggestions so far.

a.

[adla]

here it is - have not been able to find anything that even remotely resembles it

any thoughts

a.

[ChrisObee]

Is this big enough.

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/sailmaking/grommets/index.htm

Internal diameter from 7/16 to 9/16ths

I think that the rubber is just a washer meant to keep the metal of the grommet from cutting the sail cloth.

[adla]

Those are what i bought - 9/16 id

i should probably get smaller ones for the reef points? like 5/16 - any thoughts - sorry to sound so dumb it doesn't come natural...or would it be ok to use the same size grommet all the way across....this should conclude my questions - everything else i have nearly figured out.

a.

[ChrisObee]

I think that the size of the grommet should be determined by the size of the line that will pass through the grommet.

[Charlie Jones]

Adla- those grommets you show are available from SailRite. BUt it takes a special set to install them and those are EXPENSIVE!!. They used to rent those, but quit that last year I think. I"d use spur grommets, sew around the hole first, then set them. The spur grommets also take a specail setter- the regular plain grommet set won't do it- but they are much stronger. That setter isn't nearly as costly as the other one.

I'd use some the same size as the others for the tack and clew, but smaller across the sail for where the nettles tie in. Most times inshore those don't get used anyway- most people just let that part hang unless the sail is going to be reefed for a long time, such as when offshore.

[adla]

thanks for the heads up Charlie - I ordered the tool set and more grommets. I am not going to use a smaller grommet because I can justify one 40$ tool for a 50cent item but not two and the size difference in my opinion is negligible. The people at duckworks are real nice - and FAST.

reef points, a couple of duffle bags, a sail cover -etc....all on the list. I am down to writing my last paper and ready to get sewing.

thanks for the help - i am also having the sailmaker's apprentice sent to the library close to my house....that should help tremendously.

a.

[kydocfrog]

Is this graduation? Inquiring minds....etc. ...

DocA

[adla]

Hey Doc - this is end of the semester. i have summer school and graduate in August! i'm excited...won't walk until december but will get my diploma after everything is verified in Aug! It has been a long haul.

a.

[kydocfrog]

That's good. At least you will be able to sail this summer. After that, well, there goes the carefree life of the scholar...

from Tempus Hoc Letite

(Time for Gladness, from The Goliard Poets, Carmina Burana--Tavern and Open Road, mid-12th century, trans. Whicher, 1949)

...

Come, you scholars, most of all

Who best love a festival.

Pen and ink and copy book,

How funereal they look

Ovid's songs, how dull with age,

Still more any other's page.

Never mind what's not allowed,

Love is youth's temptation,

Here we go, a glorious crowd,

Hell bent for vacation.

Ah, graduation...all gone...all gone...

(From perspective of watching my daughter finish her doctorate in medieval history in Minnesota...)

Cheers! And seriously, congratulations.

DocA.

[adla]

Thanks Doc, but i am turning around and going right back to school hopefully

i don't know about the translation on that latin - (one of the many things that i studied while wasting my time in school) :? tempus hoc letite is different from laetitia :shock: (at least the last bunch of years haven't been a complete waste of money)

Great verse though!

i am hell bent for vacation too but not until AUGUST - that won't keep me off the water but i'm thinking i will have to take my homework with me.

congratulations to your daughter! I am an avid reader (which is why i studied history) so let me know the title of her book when she publishes and i will gladly read it!

a.

[adla]

so i did some practicing today - i cut the triangles out and used a piece of scrap dacron and pretended it was the sail and tested my machine to see if it would sew through 3 layers of cloth. AND - yes it does with ease. I had to rig a special holder for the thread because it comes on a large spool - and is quite heavy but my machine handled it with no problems. It took some expirementing but i have discovered the best method and have a perfect stitch for the job. The problems i had include - needing seamstick tape to keep the patches down - i ended up with a slight pucker on the last side. Also - i decided to invest in the smaller grommets and setting tool as well - This is going to be a big job...i can't even imagine doing it by hand and at the same time - i won't be going near the actual sails until i have successfully sewn 2 or 3 practice reef points perfectly.

I may even have enough dacron to make a lapper type jib when all is said and done. We shall see.

a.

[Guest Oyster]

Quote of the year, or at least gave me a well needed laugh when making reference to your boat!!! How can we say it folks, this one's got it bad!!!

its better than a barbie doll---i hated those...but i love to re-dress my boat regularly and fiddle with the details.

Before we know it, in a blink of an eye, we may see the sails trimmed with lace, too, and doorly's on her cabin tops. :twisted:

[adla]

well..i don't know how they spell doilie or doylie or whatever either....and maybe Morganie would look nice with one on the cabin top.

i've decided if anything were ever the truth it had to be that a wooden boat is never finished.

thaz ok with me. Just wait til i get going on coamings...i have that in my head --- what a project!

a.

[Guest Oyster]

Hum, my original post went poof. :? There are two things that plague me. One came a very long time ago and that is speeling. The next one is boats, and to this day also plague me.

[kydocfrog]

I would expect to see Morgaine flying the Red Dragon long before any bit of lace.

I'm sitting here trying to get back to work, but it's not easy. Master and Commander is on the tube. I find myself distracted.

DocA

[adla]

yes Dr. A - and to be precise it is this dragon that i have in mind!

a hybrid - perhaps not traditional but red none the less!

it is always fun when people know the story -

a.