Identifying sail material

[Greenheart]

A very helpful contributor here, asked what fabric my sails are made from. The truth is, I don't know. The particular question was "Laminate or dacron?"...

...is there a quick way to determine which my sails are made from? I imagine "laminate" implies a perceptible layering, but I don't know that.

My sails are dense, waxy, heavy fabric, opaque white. Made by Hood, probably decades ago, presumably bespoke for the Osprey dinghy.

Any ideas whether they're laminate or dacron? What's the difference?

 

[TimBennet]

Made by Hood, probably decades ago,

Dacron.

If they are made up simply of lots of bits of woven cloth stitched together with zig zags in a stereotypically 'sail like' way - then Dacron.

If somewhere in the make up you can find a layer of 'plastic' (usually clear but may contain fibres) then that's a laminate, even when it bonded to a scrim layer of Dacron.

But why do we use the American trade name of Dacron. Generically it's polyester and the British (ICI invented it) trade name is Terylene?

 

[Kelpie]

Agreed, based on the pictures you've posted in the past.
Given the age of the sails, Dacron (or whatever you want to call it) is probably a good thing, rather than mylar/laminate.

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks gents, that's a big help. Dacron - or Terylene - it must be.

 

[prv]

But why do we use the American trade name of Dacron. Generically it's polyester and the British (ICI invented it) trade name is Terylene?

Dunno. My old books all say Terylene.

Pete

 

[Woodlouse]

Dacron is easier to spell.

 

[Greenheart]

Yesterday I spotted a budget-pack of sewing needles in Sainsbury's. £1.29 for seven, of all shapes and sizes - one for carpet, two curly ones for upholstery, even one for sacks - ideal for a spell at Parkhurst? And one for sewing sails (it says). I thought it a bargain. I've seen sail-sewing needles in chandleries for 10 times the cost.

Can't say I'm not a little nervous about poking holes in the smooth dacron though, even if it is old and worn.

 

[KellysEye]

Agree with Hood their sails are made of Dacron and it is the highest quality cloth available.

 

[DownWest]

Dacron.

If they are made up simply of lots of bits of woven cloth stitched together with zig zags in a stereotypically 'sail like' way - then Dacron.

If somewhere in the make up you can find a layer of 'plastic' (usually clear but may contain fibres) then that's a laminate, even when it bonded to a scrim layer of Dacron.

But why do we use the American trade name of Dacron. Generically it's polyester and the British (ICI invented it) trade name is Terylene?

Think you will find it was Dupont that invented it, in the US.

Edit; Nope, it was ICI in 1941

 

[Twister_Ken]

If they were old laminate sails, they almost certainly wouldn't be sails any longer. The early laminates had a reputation for biodegradability.

 

[LadyInBed]

Yesterday I spotted a budget-pack of sewing needles in Sainsbury's. £1.29 for seven, of all shapes and sizes . . . I thought it a bargain. I've seen sail-sewing needles in chandleries for 10 times the cost.

Maybe the ones in the chandlers are better steel that doesn't rust?

If you buy the cheap ones, put them (loose, no card) in a sealable plastic bag and then spray the inside with 3in1 oil then put that bag in another sealable plastic bag.

 

[Woodlouse]

Maybe the ones in the chandlers are better steel that doesn't rust?

If only. They are certainly going to be better steel, but they still rust like b*stards.

 

[Greenheart]

If you buy the cheap ones, put them (loose, no card) in a sealable plastic bag and then spray the inside with 3in1 oil then put that bag in another sealable plastic bag.

Sounds like a good idea, although I'll be doing all the sewing in the drawing room at home. I hope rust/humidity isn't endemic there!