Sonja sails into trouble

[Rich VanValkenburg]

We went out again yesterday, against my better judgement. It was my son's only day off work until next week. Wind was 10-15 with gusts to 20, according to NOAA. I think it wound up a bit higher than that and the main started to self destruct right at the clew. It's a 45 year old main and should know better.

I should have taken a photo to post here, maybe someone has an idea for a fix. Otherwise it's a season-ending injury. And today we had plans for a chase boat to get some real photos.

I guess the moral is, when you think it might be too windy to sail, it probably is.

[Hwyl]

Can you sew webbing into the clew, radiating out like a modern clew. The clew takes the most strain.

Do you have a flattening reef, could you make one (new clew ring about 9" above the old one, to take the "shelf" out).

Don't give up.

[bamamick]

I agree with Gareth that this is an easy fix, at least easy enough to get you through the rest of the season. You can do an overlay for the clew and then just be judicious about when to go out the rest of the year.

Don't give up!

Mickey Lake

[Milo Christensen]

If it wasn't for bad luck, Rich, you wouldn't have any luck at all. Total bummer.

[willmarsh3]

I had a sail rip once when I went out while a small craft advisory was posted. I made a temporary fix with duct tape. Looks ugly but it worked to get home on.

[Ed Harrow]

I've done duct tape, but for Sonja? Perish the thought.

I've known flexible glue to be employed for such a repair, along with a bit of cloth, of course. It was a long time ago, I think my father cut out the split, sort of as one drills a hole in the end of a crack to stop its propagation. I don't recollect if he sewed around the resulting rectangular hole - he then used Pliobond on the patch, and clamped it using wood and clamps. It lasted the rest of our vacation. I'm guessing the patch might have been something like 2x6 inches.

[Michael s/v Sannyasin]

We blew out the main on a schooner this summer. They stitched up about 40 feet of tear with herringbone stitches, then, we used 3M 4200 to stick a patch on one side (I voted for both sides, but was overruled). It held pretty well the rest of the trip.

The clew might be a harder thing to repair.

[Rich VanValkenburg]

We took a lightning hit right outside my window Saturday or I would have been on to post a photo. I think the sound probably would have rivaled Margo's or JohnB's cannons.

This is the main clew. It's a two-part grommet, with the clew sewed to a bronze ring and the outer grommet pressed in place over that one.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n287/falcon5a/nicoles026.jpg

[John B]

A trip to the sailmakers then.;)

[bamamick]

Your local sailmaker will fix that for, I would guess, $50-75? You just cut that grommet out, overlay what you've got there with 6-8" of new cloth in a radial patch on both sides, and put in a new grommet. Won't take long at all.

Don't let that cost you another season on 'Sonja' Rich.

Mickey Lake

[John B]

It would cost about the same here.. maybe nearer the 100, but still, gotta do it, go sailing.

[Dan McCosh]

Doesn't sound all that bad to me. I'd recommend DeClerq (UK???). in Harrison Township. We came across Lake St. Clair Sunday, winds gusting to 30 knots. Interesting sail.

[Dan McCosh]

Declerq is now handling Doyle sails. Anyway, they do most of my work. He does roll up his eyes when we show up with the main, however.

[Concordia...41]

Yeah. That is like so fixable... :)

Seriously, after all you've done and gone through, that is NOTHING!

Your sailmaker should be able to fix that without a problem. If you don't have someone you already use, call the gentleman recommended above, let him know that he stands a real chance of being the latest WBF Hero :D, drop off the sail and go to lunch (or pick it up the next day because there are probably some other areas that could use a professional's touch :eek:).

Then promptly get back out and go sailing and post more photos!!!

- Margo & Sarah :)

[Hwyl]

Add my voice to the chorus. From your intial description I thought it was much worse.

[The Bigfella]

Geez mate - Mum got the sewing machine out when we ripped our spinnaker in half. That's one she would have just darned back into shape!

[Rich VanValkenburg]

15 minutes and $27.50 at Doyle's. It was fun to actually be on a sailmaker's loft. They wanted to see pictures of the boat and 15 minutes turned into an hour visit. It was fun!

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n287/falcon5a/Kodakcam7.jpg

[bamamick]

Excellent! Better than new.

Mickey Lake

[BrianW]

Glad to see it's fixed.

I know nothing about sails, but would have thought the new reinforcing strips would have aligned, front and back, and been sewn together through the sail.

The way the experts did it, there are six 'points of contact' rather than three, so that must be the better way. Like I said, I know nothing of sails. :)

[Concordia...41]

Cha Ching ;) :)

[Hwyl]

Good on you.

[Ed Harrow]

There you go, that weren't nothin'. Now for pictures!