DIY Sail re-cutting?

[lockwood]

I have just taking delivery of my new plastimo roller reefing kit. Before now, I have become an expert at the 'foredeck shuffle', hanking on sails single handed.

I have spoken on the phone to a number of sailmakers about converting my exisitng hanked on genoa to fit the roler reefing kit. It seems that they would simply cut along the luff so that the luff is shortened to fit the new kit.

I have access to an industrial sewing machine, so would it be wise to tackle the task myself. I would be cutting down the luff, removing the hanking clasps and fitting a bolt rope into a sewn in 'pocket'.

Or.... should I save my pennies until I can leave it to the pros.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[steve28]

What i would do is ask the sail makers for the required lenght of bolt rope which they have premade on the tape which you can just sew on, i know this as they had to put a smaller bolt rope on mine after they "forgot" that the plastimo twin groove has a 4-5mm bolt rope and they put a 6mm on.

hope this helps,
i used quay sails, poole


steve

 

[Rowana]

How many hanked on sails do you have?

If it was me, I'd probably take one that wouldn't matter too much if I cocked it up, (No2 or No3 perhaps), and have a go at "cut & shut" myself.

I believe, though I don't know for sure, that you have to cut at an angle such that you are cutting more from the head. This raises the clew so that it goes round the furler easier.


Let's know if you go the DIY route and how you get on.

 

[nordic_ranger]

If you are concerned about the job of puting in a luff rope then why not try replacing your hank on clips with slugs. They can be bought in most Chandleries and are simply whipped on in place hank clipsand side up inside your roller reefing grove

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

If you can obtain pre-sewn lufftape, then it is not a big deal since you have an industrial machine. I used an old Pfaff 739, a plain old zig-zag (not a three-step).
Be sure to use plenty of seam tape (double-sided tape); Staples also help. Make sure that the cut edge goes well inside the folded lufftape. Whatever you do, try not to stretch the sailcloth. It is on the bias and will stretch like chewing gum.
Head and tack were treated to webbing loops instead of cringles. Here you will be going over several thicknesses and I had to turn the machine over by hand in some places.
Regarding the luff-tape, unless you have a proper folder and a single-sided presser foot on your machine, don't try it! Some cheap sails have a polypropylene rope sewn right through to stick it to the cloth. Not the way to go IMO!
My own lufftape was salvaged from an old genoa that someone had discarded but I have since found sources on the internet.
Having said all that - whew! - I believe that the 'new' genoa sets much better than the new one that I bought when I installed the furler: for on thing it is not cross-cut. It is also lighter.
Good Luck! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Joe_Cole]

Steve 28 is correct. I had the same problem with my new sails last year. I couldn't get the sail onto my reefing gear (also Plastimo) and the luff tape had to be changed. It is important that you get the right tape for your gear and I would not recomend sewing cord into a "pocket". Too big and you'll never get the sail on, too small and it will be in danger of pulling out.

Odds are that you'll have to buy it from a sailmaker and, as it's a quick job, it won't cost a lot for him to do it.

 

[graham]

Have you tried "Josh Brown"in Barry? he worked for the sailmaker in Bristol until recently and has set up on his own now.Ill try to get a phone number tommorow.

If you want to DIY it he would probably sell you the premade boltrope in a sleeve which would IMHO be the only way to do it.The slightest bit of wrinkling trying to sew in a loose bolt rope and it would jam in the groove.

 

[lockwood]

Thank you all for the advice.
I think I shall try and get hold of a pre-sewn bolt-rope & sleeve as suggested. I have had various quotes from sailmakers to do the whole job and they average at about £120. This seems reasonable, but the genoa isn't in perfect condition, so my thinking is that I convert this genoa myself (buying in pre sewn bolt-rope) and saving that money for a new genoa next season. I would have thought that I could use the old genoa for one season WITHOUT a UV strip.

Graham - if you could forward the number of Josh Brown it would be appreciated.