DIY Sailmaking! (under $100). Sailing Yes Let's! 12 

thanks! yes I've heard about tyvek too. I recall you can tape, and the tape is strong enough that it doesn't need sewing! On my monohull one time I was sailing around NZ's North Island, and 3 days into what became a 10 day trip I ripped a long hole into my working jib. I repaired it using heavy duty tarp. I put a layer each side but probably didn't really need that. It made it the whole way and then back around the other side too.

@@dominictarrsailing Yes, thats correct. When we made the sails we used white duct tape. And we reinforced the clew with it as well. I really like how you used the webbing straps sewn in though. We didn't have access to a sewing machine at the time. If we had. I would have taped each fold and then taped the outside, opposite side and sewn through it for a more permanent configuration. I'm here to tell you that, the Tyvek sails were extremely strong and durable. And the material was very close to the same feel as a new set of Dacron sails. We actually talked about either spraying them or rolling on some rubberized coating like white elastomeric roof coating for RV's. We wanted to experiment with how long we could make them last. A new set if I remember right was about $900.00 for that boat, my friend said. So he had a target of one third the cost. Our plan was to first lay out the tyvek and cut it then use and adhesion promoter then coat the material with the elastomeric compound snd let it bake in the sun. Of course all of this was to be done after we had created the shape and taped it all. The Tyvek came in a roll 4' wide by I think 250'long, so we had a lot to play with. The mast of that boat was 19'3" I remember. I think the boat was an O'Day 17. Back then my favorite boat was a Flying Scott 19'er. But seriously if we had taped and sewn them, I have no doubt that we could have created several sets and used them for years. My buddy wasn't really much of a sailor, he was a powerboat guy who through some horse trading, ended up with this little sailboat. So he kind of lost interest in the whole experiment rather quickly, but I being a sailor saw it as a huge success. There was another elderly lady at our sailing club who created her own sailing Canoe using one sheet of Tyvek and a bunch of scrap pieces of aluminum and bits of used hardware from our clubs maintenance room. She made a loose footed Gaf rig. I helped her make the mast step and bond it to the bottom of the FG canoe, much like Roger Barnes little camper cruiser boat here on YT. Have you seen his channel? I've often wondered about making two smaller crab claws for boats like yours. I just love the looks of them on the Wharram's, especially the Pahi. Damn, I miss having a sailboat. I've got to get to building soon.

​@@kaisailor1 haha yes I've been day dreaming about a crabclaw and I like the idea of a schooner or ketch rig. I have a theory that the pahi is inspired by hokelu'a. (given that it looks very similar, even down to the colour scheme on the plans, and came out just a few years after!) prehaps like this marshallese influenced A frame configuration ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gKDtgADVjFc.html (which is described in detail in this master's thesis! onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=90959240214B34E8!10930&authkey=!AJUhC8nay76xoMk )

I think it would be a faster overall to experiment with the crabclaw rig on a smaller boat first. like an old beach cat or tiki 21 or something like that

@@dominictarrsailing Oh no,I agree with you. Your boat is a bit big to be "experimenting" with complete sail rigs. Maybe during an off season, after your finished sailing for a little while. But damn, some crab claws would look really cool on your boat as you were zipping around the islands.

I have a windvane system in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DVCACnrmFVw.html unfortunately trim tabs not really simple on the pahi rudder design

definitely!

thanks! yeah if you are building from scratch, the rig and sails, if brought new, are really expensive. need a DIY sail rig to keep it affordable.

absolutely! hard to sink a lot of money on expensive fabric when you don't really know what you are doing!

yeah! even if you were changing anchorage every few days it would be a couple of years at least. but of course, it's probably not gonna be out all day even when you are sailing.

hahaha yeah that's a good way to put it!

thanks for watching!

thank you! it's great to hear that! there are more coming!

yeah, although nylon also is less UV resistant than polyester. You can buy ripstop nylon from aliexpress surprisingly cheaply, so I'll see how well this one lasts then maybe that will be next time.

thanks!

The position of the sheet eye on the boat also makes quite a big difference on how this sail performs. Further towards the centre of the boat for pointing, further outwards for reaching and broad

Yes! Actually, the drifter is about the same size as the genoa from my 26 foot mono. I tried it on the pahi but not quite the right shape. Not sure exactly the definition of a code zero, but a genoa is meant to overlap the mast, which the "genoa" drawn on the plans does not. So I consider the drifter as the correct genoa.

@@dominictarrsailing i went with my ‘ drifter’ to the sailmaker for a small repair and he showed his admiration for the smart design 👍👍

@@dominictarrsailing you’re right

A code zero is a flat asymmetric spinnaker. Larger than a genoa. As you build your drifter from a flat piece of sheet, likewise you may be able to cut one like this even bigger. Or two, nearly parallel, as they do on Volvo ocean racing boats. But be carefull, even a Wharram can capsize or break its mast ( beam)

thanks!

oh, good question. couldn't find a shot of the package, but pretty this was "medium" 105 gsm. It's definitely on the light side. I'd use heaver stuff if I wasn't making a specifically light air sail.

Just "heavy duty" polyester, from regular sewing shop. very hard to break with your hands, looks the same as a regular thread, but only 100 yards on a spool. And I get the larger needles that are marked "denim" or "leather".

@@dominictarrsailing Mahalo for the info! I will give it a shot, hope it turns out like yours....

thanks. I think I may be able to get a little more length if tie the tack a little lower, and/or tie the halyard directly on, instead of via shackle. It looks like it's close... could also adjust rigging to rake the mast back a little more. Both of those easier than recutting sail, so will try them first.

Or add a patch n loop above the tack to make a Cunningham down haul.

@@markthomasson5077 good idea! That would be an easy change!

I have them (in storage on the farm) but I never tried them... it was just another job that I skipped before launching. Have heard several stories like yours... The other wharrams have a deep forefoot, which is meant to help with windward ability and tacking. That's why the pahi daggers are so far forward, is because it's ment to replicate that deep forefoot. I might try a more central leeboard one day. If it improves tacking it would be worth it!

@@dominictarrsailing worth speaking to other Pahi sailors. I didn’t see much difference. I weighed up the potential for a marginal advantage that I was unable to detect against the likelihood of unwanted clutter up forward. I sealed the holes top and bottom and never missed them. But like I say, other more experienced folks may give you a different opinion. I traded down to a Tiki 21, sadly that has now been in dry dock for 15 years😢 By the way, I love the poly tarp approach to sail design👍

@@robingraham6820 hmm, I havn't encountered someone who uses them yet!