Tan Preservation of a Cotton Sail?

[Roach1948]

Would anybody know what the traditional technique and method of tan preserving a cotton sails? Can it be done to an existing cotton sail?

 

[Peterduck]

The technique is well written up in books on maintaining older boats. The problem now is to find the materials, such as "cutch", although I am reliably informed that the horse-dung is still being manufactured on certain farms and around race-track stables.
Peter.

 

[Billy_Mizzen]

I remember seeing this done at a sea festival some years back, I think it was Bristol! It seemed to involve brushing on a concoction of cow [--word removed--], red ochre and an assortment of secret ingredients... I think the sails being tanned where from a Thames Barge and made of Flax? So treating cotton may differ somewhat!

 

[Roach1948]

Mmmm, would anybody suggest a modern substitute for the smellier ingredients?

 

[1937rogerdon]

Many years ago, I helped the tanning of some sails we used Red Ochre and Linseed Oil. Laid the sails out on the club slipway and brushed it on witha soft yard broom. Great finish on the sails and the tan remained on the concrete for a good year of so.

 

[Peterduck]

I have seen this ingredient used in many old-fashioned 'brews' for one use or another, and always wondered about the actual value of it. I suspect that it little if any value at all. I've seen it recommended as an ingredient in adobe mudbricks, but I note that people who build in this medium now don't include it, and the bricks are no worse off.
Peter.

 

[cliffordpope]

Many years ago I treated a cotton sail with standard canvas proofing/preserving stuff from Millets. It wasn't as smelly as the traditional concoction, but still rubbed off on everything it touched.
Handling the sail always resulted in red hands, needing lots of white spirit to clean off. Next time I'd go for colourless.

 

[Kukri]

Kanvo

 

[petehitch]

Toplicht sell Hydrolin in different colors, which I am going to try on a Duradon sail. I will let you know if it works.
They say it is good for cotton and linen as well.

 

[Seagreen]

"One of the best advantages of Dacron is that sails don't have to be tanned anymore." That's what an old sailmaker told me many years ago. As for modern cotten, I'd try for a modern alternative. Unless you really want to boil cowsh*t with bark chippings and linseed oil, that is...

 

[Roach1948]

[ QUOTE ]
"One of the best advantages of Dacron is that sails don't have to be tanned anymore."

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed. There is only one sail in Roach's wardrobe that is cotton and that is the trysail. As it will has done diddly squat in all its life, and will probably never do anything, I was going to treat it as it will be at the bottom of the sail locker for ever. (I also think it is wise to have non-white storm sails on the occasions I might use it)

 

[TamarMike]

I think the ingredients involved oak bark as well as the less pleasant ones already mentioned. I believe the concoction was really intended for treating nets but once the brew was made the sails were chucked in as well.

 

[Ferretmn17]

A few years ago we tanned our Egyptian cotton main, we brought 5 gallons of tanning liquid from Jimmy Lawrence sail makers in Brightlingsea, cost about £50 if I remember correctly. I do remember it was a messy job to do and get even.