My "new" old boat, Part One...or is it thirteen?

[Greenheart]

I'll call this my first question, though I think it may be my 3rd in 18hrs. Likely there'll be plenty more...

...and likely they'll be as dizzy as this one: In the pic below, might there be any good reason why the clew (or it may be the tack!) isn't reinforced with an eyelet?

View attachment 30265

I don't mean "because the last owner didn't give a rat's ass", I mean, may there be any good reason why I shouldn't fit one?

 

[saltylegs]

Looks like it has corroded and pulled out

you will need one so you can flatten the foot of the sail

 

[Lakesailor]

Only cost a quid or two to get a sailmaker to pop a new one in . Few more notes if he thinks it needs a patch.
I had 2 batten pockets repaired with luff rope patches, 2 new battens, a couple of holes in the sail repaired and a tack eyelet replaced for £65 on an Osprey sail.

 

[Greenheart]

Only cost a quid or two to get a sailmaker to pop a new one in...

I bought a pack of Holt 12mm dia plastic eyelets, just about £4. One of them should do the trick, and the rest will solve various issues on the boat's cover.

Only problem may be the thickness of the sail, at the clew...I'm not certain I can squeeze the eyelet hard enough to secure it!

 

[Rossynant]

might there be any good reason why the clew (or it may be the tack!) isn't reinforced with an eyelet?

Because this hole was not reinforced at all? Just not a trace of any thread sewn around. Modern state-of- the-art. Might be a reason why eyelet fell out...

 

[jimi]

I'd use something like this

http://marinestore.co.uk/Hipkiss_Eyelet_Kit_PP24.html

 

[Greenheart]

I'm surprised how much work it is, simply to fasten one of these plastic eyelets through several layers of sailcloth. There's a 'ribbed' ring around each half, and when one clicks past the other, they're strongly disinclined to separate...but without a vice, I can't flatten the pair enough. Pliers aren't up to the job...

 

[Iain C]

As a cheap skiff style bodge, just get a couple of bits of ally plate, bolt either side of the clew patch, and drill a hole for a shackle.

But for a sailmaker to do that is literally about 2 whacks with a mallet. If the sail is really chewed up they can always use a bigger punch and eyelet. I wouldn't be faffing around with plastic stuff, it will probably break...

 

[Kelpie]

Is it your main, or your genoa?

 

[Greenheart]

Is it your main, or your genoa?

I'm pretty sure it's the main, but all the sails (two sets) are rolled up in an amorphous white heap like enormous bleached Persian rugs, in the bedroom...SWMBO got sick of the sight of them in the living room.

These plastic eyelets seem extremely robust to me...I just wish the hole they form once the two halves join, was a couple of millimetres deeper, to reach through the very thick cloth at the sail's corner. I expect I'll manage it.

 

[Rossynant]

http://withneedleandpalm.blogspot.com/2010/02/sewing-sail-reef-points.html
Or just glue around the hole with something elastic, sikaflex may do, and put an eyelet in - but preferably those that need to be punched well with a good hammer...

PS plastics also are made with hammer, not by pressing http://www.chaselink.co.uk/Pics/ES326/P0lysnap Eyelets 2.jpg

 

[Kelpie]

If it's your mainsail, from the angle it must be the tack, so I would expect that there is a cunningham a few inches above it. Just treat that as your tack for just now while you get sailing, and worry about it later.

 

[Greenheart]

I would expect that there is a cunningham a few inches above it...

Quite right Rob. I'd wondered about that...the last dinghy I sailed had a much simpler, loose-footed main, so just one eyelet at that end of the boom.

No problem, then! Thanks a lot.