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New sails
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 1:23 pm
by lustyslogger
The Lusty Slogger is a 1979 AMF Sunbird 16. It has it original sails which are in fairly good shape but somewhat baggy. I am looking for a new set of sails but can't find anyone who would have replacement sails. I tried Bacon but can't get any information from them. I did find a source for AMF Apollo 16 sails. The Apollo seems to be a Sunbird without the cuddy. So, I have two questions
(1). Would the Apollo sails fit on the Sunbird?
(2), Does anyone know of any other source for my sails?
I am looking for both the main and jib if I can find them.
I have a copy of the manual but it doesn't give the dimensions of the sails.
Thanks
Re: New sails
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:36 am
by wdscobie
Contact Harry at Elliott Pattison Sailmakers. If he hasn't made a set before he will have you measure the current rig and sails.
Harry has made me 100s of sails.
www.epsails.com
Re: New sails
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:48 am
by lustyslogger
wdscobie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:36 am
Contact Harry at Elliott Pattison Sailmakers. If he hasn't made a set before he will have you measure the current rig and sails.
Harry has made me 100s of sails.
www.epsails.com
Thanks
Re: New sails
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:46 pm
by Michel
Sometime, a "baggy" sail is only the result of a shrinked boltrope! The same for the footrope!
My mainsail was looking bad but I took care of it by freeing both ropes at the ends near the mast and my mainsail is looking a lot better now!
Before:
DSCN4844 by
Michel Boulet, sur Flickr
After:
DSCN4911 by
Michel Boulet, sur Flickr
The sail is not "new" but the bag is not there anymore!

Re: New sails
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 6:12 pm
by lustyslogger
Michel, I will try this but truthfully, my sails are 43 years old! There are no tears in the sail itself and they are quite stained at this point but I think the bags and sags are a result of age!
Re: New sails
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 5:24 am
by Michel
My sails are from 1975! It worked for me! You will lose nothing by trying!

Re: New sails
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:18 am
by lustyslogger
Michel wrote: ↑Wed Feb 17, 2021 5:24 am
My sails are from 1975! It worked for me! You will lose nothing by trying!
True. I'll give it a shot. That is a lot cheaper than a new set of sails I would suspect!
Re: New sails
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2021 7:34 am
by wdscobie
lustyslogger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:18 am
True. I'll give it a shot. That is a lot cheaper than a new set of sails I would suspect!
Test the sail to see if it is even worth salvaging -
* Drag fingernail across stitching. If the stitching pulls away and/or breaks apart sail is shot.
* Is the sail fabric stiff? If soft, like a bed sheet or tissue paper, with no crinkling sound sail is shot
* Put fabric up to the light. See pinholes? Sail is shot
* Try grabbing sail in two hands and pulling hard. Does the fabric give? Rip? Sail is shot.
Re: New sails
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:10 am
by Michel
I don't think at this as salvaging! I think of this as not trowing away something that "might" be still very good for a cruising usage. It is true that a shrinked bolt rope and foot rope will make a sail appear as shot.
I am sure that many people don't know about that.

Re: New sails
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2021 1:36 pm
by lustyslogger
wdscobie wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 7:34 am
lustyslogger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:18 am
True. I'll give it a shot. That is a lot cheaper than a new set of sails I would suspect!
Test the sail to see if it is even worth salvaging -
* Drag fingernail across stitching. If the stitching pulls away and/or breaks apart sail is shot.
* Is the sail fabric stiff? If soft, like a bed sheet or tissue paper, with no crinkling sound sail is shot
* Put fabric up to the light. See pinholes? Sail is shot
* Try grabbing sail in two hands and pulling hard. Does the fabric give? Rip? Sail is shot.
Other than a lack of stiffness (but not bed sheet soft) none of those issues exist.
Maybe I don't need to change them after all. I am like Marty Lorken and am not interest in outrunning everyone else on the lake. My philosophy is if the boat is moving then I am sailing!