Terylene vs Clipper Canvas

mclark

mclark

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Mar 2006
Messages
95
Location
Ramsey, Isle of Man
www.white-heather-nobby.com
I thought it was time to tap into the combined experience of this forum to help me make a decision on sailcoth for White Heather.

The boat is a heavy old Herring Lugger from 1904. I am hoping to re-rig her shortly by returning her to her standing lug rig.

Her current sails are duradon and they are heavy, baggy and horrible. I understand that Clipper is much better but for performance I imagine they will be far inferior to Terylene.

Does anyone have any direct or indirect experience to share?

Here's hoping

Mike
 
My brother got a complete set of "clipper canvas" sails from fleetwood sailmakers for his prawner "Biddy", you know the boat and know she did very well in the races around. He swears by it and had two new yankees made for Swn y mor, I have a yankee made from it as well, my old one is duradon and I can see no difference in performance. It's lovely stuff to handle as well.
 
Hi Colin - I know Biddys sails - they were fabulous, however when I saw them thay had only had a few outings. The sailmaker says the Clipper is not as stretchy as Duradon. I guess the strectc factor is my biggest concern. White Heather's present Duradon main is a sack and stretches like a [--word removed--] when there is any wind in it. In fairness to it though it has twice been cut down having been originally made for the hooker Ark, then cut down for the nobby Vervine blossom then cut down again for me - not a fair comparison I guess.

Thanks for the advice anyway and do please pass on my thoughts and best wishes to Warren, Jill and Helen..

Regards

Mike
 
Mike, I have already passed on your best, they are returning from US this year, have bought a place in Corfu, we both may well get back with both boats for a season in the Irish sea, for the classic "do's", all the best with the sails.
 
To be fair on Duradon, the new stuff isn't so bad. I had a duradon mainsail made of the old (polypropelene) stuff, and like yours it's an awlful baggy old sack. The current version is made with polyester fibres, and isn't so stretchy. It's also cheaper than Clipper. Clipper is made of polyester too, but is finished differently which makes it far more stable but (when new) it feels a bit "crunchy"- nothing like as bad as terelene though. It does soften with use but it doesn't go anything like as stretchy as duradon. One thing about Clipper is it tends to be a bit uneven in colour so you can end up with a stripey sail (not a problem if you go workboat fashion and dress it after a season); Duradon comes nice and even. I've been making a new mainsail this winter, and can't wait to get it bent on and try it out! Might be able to go to windward somewhat...
 
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