Sails - Red - Why??

Lakesailor

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[ QUOTE ]
The red ochre is purely a colouring agent, without which the sails would look a dirty grey colour.

[/ QUOTE ] Perhaps a useful titbit for some modern sailors? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 

fluffc

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[ QUOTE ]
and nowadays you can buy modern sail dressings readymade in large cans.

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Really? it's not particularly easy to get hold of. Had to wait a while for Jimmy Lawrence to get some made, when I last wanted some.

Still trying to track down some white dressing too.
 

Seagreen

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Working boat sails were dressed with this wierd and noxious mixture known as "cutch" which in the west usually involved a mix of oil, red oxide powder and boiled oak bark, for the tannin. Several recipes abound according to local tradition. Try googling for Cutch and see what you get.

Always a nasty substance, never dries but rubs off, has to be repeated regularly. In days of yore when I was a sailmakin', I got one enquiry in 5 years - pointed them towards dark red Dacron - far more sensible all round.

You can also get a fake canvas terylene cloth which looks like canvas and stretches as much too. Duradon name, but all these are self colouring and don't need cutching.
 

PeteCooper

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Years ago my dad ordered his Halcyon 27 with tan sails as they are easier to look at and therefore trim on a sunny day. The current owner has replaced them with tan sails as well.
 

cliffordpope

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I think they look nice and homely and workmanlike on an ex-working boat or something small and unpretentious. My 1880's cutter had what looked like the original sails - at least they were cotton, rotting, and left red stain everywhere. Ideally one needed old overalls and rubber gloves to handle them.
They also look nice I think in combination with white - eg tan for the main and staysail, white for the jib and topsail.
 
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