Sadler Sailmaking

Art
and
Sgience
Sailmaking
SAMUEL B. SADLER
0t:tjeII
Ulttivmitg
pitotg
BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE
SAGE.EJSTDOWMENT FUND
THE GIFT OF
X891
|i,ac>i\ib9v
i\A\4t<îi.ift..
59M
uorary Cornell University
VM532
.512 1906
3 1924 030 902 765

olin
Cornell University Library
The
tine
original of
tiiis
book
is in
Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright
restrictions in
text.
the United States on the use of the
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030902765
THE
AKT AND SCIENCE OF SAILMAKING
THE
AET AND SCIENCE

OF
SAILMAKING
BY
SAMUEL
SECOND
B.
gADLEB
Pbaotical Sailmakbe, Buenham-on-Ceouch

{Late in the employment of Eatsby and Lapthoenb, of Cowes omd Gosport)
EDITION, WITH
AN ADDITIONAL CHAPTER
(apLo'm
LONDON
CKOSBY LOCKWOOD AND SON

7,
STATIONERS' HALL COUBT, LUDGATE HILL

1906
PE E F AC E.
The Author
sails,
of this
work
is
sanguine that
it
will
meet with a favour-
able reception, not only
by the Sailmaker, but also by those who use
as no book has hitherto been published, to his knowledge, which
deals with the subject of Sailmaking in a really scientific manner.
He
art
is
convinced that no manufacture can be successfully carried

fixed principles or
on without
methods
use
to guide the
is
workman.
That
and science are required in Sailmaking

sail,
evident from the fact
that a
after
it
has been in
for a time,
should compare
favourably in every detail with the plan and specification given to the
maker, and have
all
the qualities of a
lifting "
flat
and
it is
lifting
sail.
The
Author uses the word "
advisedly, as
most important
it
and, indeed, essential feature in a fore and
aft sail
that
be a help
in lifting the vessel out of the trough of the sea, and keep her free
and
lively
upon the
surface.
He
does not hesitate to add that, in his

fishing smacks,
belief,
many
vessels,
more
especially
are lost,
and
sails,
numbers
of lives sacrificed annually, in
consequence of baggy
which during a gale hold the wind and press the vessels down, there
being no freedom for the wind's exit out of the after-leech.
If the publication of this treatise
should only be the means of

will
reducing this loss of
life
and property, the Author
consider
it.
himself amply repaid for the time and labour expended upon
He
has given years of careful observation and study to the work of

sailmaking, and has been in the employment of the best sailmakers

PEEPACE.
in
the kingdom
and he
is
thus
enabled,
he believes, to set before
anyone who brings intelligence to his work principles by which can be

produced
flat
and
lifting
sails
of whatever
description,
second to the
productions of no maker in the trade.
He
first
has not forgotten a remark made to him
many
years ago by the
foreman of the most famous yacht sailmaking firm in this country
perhaps in the world

to the effect
trifles."
as to the secret of that firm's success,
which was
that their success was owing to " attention given to apparent

treatise,
This
he believes,
will
be found to practically demon-
strate the truth of that assertion.
The work
are
is
so arranged that the several operations of Sailmaking
treated
consecutively,
with distinctive heads,
under each chapter;

of its
and the Author confidently believes

pages will be as a revelation to many,
a numerous class
that, while a careful perusal

it
will confer a lasting benefit
upon
who have
felt
the want of a
handbook of the kind
in the prosecution of their calling.
BuRNHAM-ON-CROnCH, EsSEX,
Jwne, 1892.
NOTE TO SECOND EDITION.

A NEW
edition being called for, the
Author gladly takes the opportunity

reception accorded
of expressing his grateful thanks

to this work,
for the favourable
and his
satisfaction
that its trustworthiness and accuracy
in detail have been verified in practice.
A
added.
new chapter
(being Chapter XI. of this edition) has
now been
Burnham-on-Crouoh,
Jtme, 1906.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. THU MATEBTALS U8HD AND THEIB RELATION TO SAILS.
Stretching Tendency of Sailcloth
in case of a Slack Selvage
Selecting
Sailcloth
The
Best Sailcloth
Tables
Rope
What
, .
to
do
p^Qj,
of Sailcloth
.
The Best Bolt Rope Its Flexibility Tables
of Bolt
18
CHAPTER
II.
ON THE CENTRE OF EFFORT.

Centre of Effort Treatment of Slack Seams
Importance of Finding Position of Centre of Gravity Drawings
To
.
Find the
,
11
CHAPTER
Vessels to be Measured
III.
ON MEASURING.
when
Afloat
Stand of Masts Spars to be Measured to their full Extent To get Dimensions for Sails Sheets determined when set off upon Paper To
Importance
of knowing exact
get Dimensions for Single Sails
........
CHAPTER
IV.
12
14
ON DRAWING.
Drawings should be Based upon a Square Care to be exercised in Geometrical Drawings of Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Round Foot), Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Laced Foot), Yawl Yacht's MainSquaring Off Sails
sail,
Barge's Sprit Mainsail, Yacht's Stay Foresail, Jib (Ordinary-Cut),
Jib (Diagonal- Cut), Yard Topsail, Jib-Headed Topsail, Barge's Topsail,
Balance
Lug and Lug
Sail
15
20

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V. ON THE NUMBEB OF CLOTHS BHQUIBED.

Calculation showing the
page
Number
of Cloths required for
Head and
.
Foot of Cutter Yacht's Mainsail

gular Sail
To Find Number
Method
of Cloths for a Trian-
Drawing
of Jib showing
of Getting the
same
21
27
CHAPTER VL
ON ALLOWANCE S.
Quotation from Kipping's Treatise on " Sails and Sailmaking"
Allowances for Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Round Foot)
Cutter Yacht's
Mainsail (Laced Foot), Yawl Yacht's Mainsail, Barge's Sprit Mainsail,

Yacht's Stay Foresail, Jib (Ordinary-Cut), Jib (Diagonal-Cut), Yard
Topsail, Jib-Headed Topsail, Barge's Topsail, Balance
Sail
Lug and Lug
28-58
CHAPTER V.IL GALGULATION OF GOBES.

Best
Way
of Calculating Gores
Calculation of
Yard
Gores
for Cutter
Yacht's Mainsail (Round Foot), Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Laced Foot),
Yawl Yacht's Mainsail, Barge's

sail,
Sprit Mainsail, Yacht's
Stay Foresail,
Jib (Ordinary-Cut), Jib (Diagonal-Cut),
Topsail, Jib-Headed Top-
Barge's Topsail, Balance
Lug and Lug
Sail
....
59
78
CHAPTER
Where
to
VIII.
ON GUTTING
Commence
to
OUT.
Cut Out a Mainsail- -Drawing showing a Method of Marking Gores Figures for Cutting Out Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Round Foot), Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Laced Foot), Yawl
Yacht's Mainsail, Barge's Sprit Mainsail, Yacht's Stay Foresail, Jib (Ordinary-Cut), Jib (Diagonal-Cut), Yard Topsail, Jib-Headed Topsail,
Bauge's Topsail, Balance
Lug and Lug
Sail
....
IX.
79
lOO
CHAPTER
Importance of adjusting Rope
ON BOPING.
Rope Roping of Cutter
to Strain Applied Treatment of Yacht's Mainsail (Round Foot), Cutter Yacht's
CONTENTS.
Mainsail (Laced Foot),
ix
Yawl Yacht's
Mainsail, Barge's Sprit Mainsail,
paob
Yacht's Stay Foresail, Jib (Ordinary-Cut), Jib (Diagonal- Cut), Yard Topsail,
Jib-Headed Topsail, Barge's Topsail, Balance Lug and Lug Sail
101
111
CHAPTER X. ON DIAGONAL-GUT SAILS.

Remarks upon Cutter and Yawl or Ketch's Mainsails, Foresail, Jib-Headed and Yard Topsails and Jib Number of Cloths Required Calculation of Gores Cutting Out and Roping of same Allowances
112134
CHAPTEE XI. ON EOBIZONTAL-CUT

Cutters, Mainsail and Foresail
SAILS.
Gores
Allowances
Roping, &c. Remarks thereon
Galoulation
of
Necessary
135
138
CHAPTER XII. CONCLUDING BE MASKS.

Need
Essential
Greasing
of Care in the
Manufacture
of
Sails
Wide SeamS'
Proportion
Good
of
Allowances
Workmanship The
" Science "
and " Art "
of Sailmaking
139-141
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Facing
1.
Jib-Headed Topsail
of Effort
Triangular Sail, showing Method of Finding Centre
10
of Effort
2.
Fore and Aet Mainsail: Showing Method of Finding Centre and Position of Slack Seams
Cutter Yacht's Mainsail
:
10
3.
Giving Length of Gores, &c

:
4.
6.
6. 7.
Cutter Tacht's Mainsail (Laced Foot)
Giving Length of Gores, &c,
Yawl Yacht's
Mainsail:
Giving Length of Gores, &c
Bak&b's Sprit Mainsail: Giving Length of Gores, &c

Yacht's Stay Foresail: Giving Length of Gores, &o.
Jib (Ordinary-Out)
Jib (Diagonal-Cut)
:
:
8. 9.
Giving Length of Foot Gore and Allowances
...
Showing Method of Finding Amount of Last Gore

Giving Leagth of Gores, &c...
:
20
Required, Allowances, &c.

10. 11.
Yacht's Yard Topsail
Yacht's Jib-Headed Topsail
Giving Length of Gores, &o.
12.
13.
Barge's Topsail: Giving Length of Gores, &c.
Balance Lug: Giving Length
of Gores,
&c
14 Lug: Giving Length

15. Jib
of Gores, &c.
(Ordinary-Cut)
Showing Method of Calculating Number of Cloths

...
required for Foot, &c.

16.
)
22
:
Drawings on Half -inch Scale

ance, &c.
Showing Method of Treating Seam Allow80
17.)
18.
19.
Cutter's Mainsail (Diagonal-Out)
Yawl or
Ketch's Mainsail (Diagonal- Cut)

116
Topsail (Diagonal-Cut)
20.
Foresail (Diagonal-Out)
21. Jib- Headed

22.
Yard
Topsail (Diagonal-Cut)
23. Jib (Diagonal-Cut)

24.
Mainsail (Horizontal- Cut) Foresail (Horizontal-Cut)
136
25.
188
THE
AET AND SCIENCE OF SAILMAKING.

CHAPTEB
I.
THE MATERIALS USED AND THEIR RELATION TO
SAILS.
Stbetching Tendency op Sail-cloth Selecting Sail-cloth What to do in case OP A Slack Selvage The Best Sail-cloth Tables op Sail-cloth The Best Bolt Rofe Its Flexibility Tables of Bolt Eope.
As
is
it is
impossible to learn the English language unless the alphabet
first
mastered, so
is
it
necessary to study the manufacture of the
materials to be worked up before one can gain a scientific knowledge of

flat
and
lifting sails.
It is
it
a well-known fact that sail-cloth has threads running across
called the weft,

latter
and others running lengthwise

weft,
called
the
warp,
which
run over and under the

it
and that when
strain is
applied to an angle of the cloth,
will stretch.
The threads
of the canvas
which run directly across upon the

give
out.
is
square line from selvage will
not
The
difficulty
v/hicL
the sailmaker, therefore, has to encounter
to calculate to
what extent
the cloths that are cut on the angle

stretch
(or gores,
as they are called) will
when
affected
by the
force of the wind, etc., for unless a true

sail will
calculation
result.
It is
and allowance be made, an uneven and pressing
important that a sailmaker should be certain as to the

B
mean
; ;
SAILS
width of the canvas, or
it
AND SAILMAKING.
might throw him out in his calculations
also to test the selvages, for should they be uneven, a flat sail will not
he produced.
When
the canvas
is
found to have a slack selvage, the

it is
tight one should be pulled
upon
until
even with the other.
It is
best to put the cloths that have the slackest selvages into the fore part
of a sail, working out to the leech with the even ones.*
fore
and
aft sail, especially
a mainsail, should be
made
so
that all parts bear a proportionate strain, and within the angle of
the throat to clew
the mast and foot
should
and
aft
be a perfect plane
and from the

freedom of
centre of effort towards the after leech there should be

for the wind.
exit
is
A
but
fore
mainsail for a large

produce, so that
it
cutter yacht
shall be both
considered the most
difficult
to
flat
and
lifting
if
the reader carefully studies the

set forth in the following pages,
method
he
of production,
which
will be
will be
enabled to
make
this particular sail with as
much
ease as
any
other.
If
more attention were given

caused in
to the
manufacture of canvas, and
io the displacement
the threads
if
when
in
their
relative
for
position in sail by strains, and
a correct allowance were
made
such displacement, the greater part of the yacht-sailmaking trade of

the world would not be confined to a single firm as
is
now
the case.
The following
sails of the vessels
tables of
numbers
;
of canvas are suitable for the
mentioned
but should linen, cotton or any other
material be used, the sailmaker must exercise his

suitable weight.
own judgment
as to
The manufacture
of these materials is similar to
that of flax canvas, and consequently they have the same stretching
tendency.
(For the allowances needed, see Chapter VI.).
Messrs. T. C.
Hayward and
Co., of
Orewkerne, and 93, Minovies, London, E., manu-
facture the best and most reliable sail-cloth for fore and aft work, as strict attention is paid to the evenness of the cloth, as well as to the material used.
MATERIALS USED AND THEIR RELATION TO
SAILS.
NUMBERS OP CANVAS
suitable for
CUTTER YACHTS,
YAWLS, and SMACKS.

BE&ISTES
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
(3)
For
BOOMSAIL BARGES.
BURTHEN.
TJNNAGE,

Bolt-rope for sails
SAJLS.
should be of the very best

required, but also
manufacture.*
its
Not only
flexibility,
is
the best
make
a knowledge of
which must be considered when taking in the slack canvas.

it
By
practical experience
sails,
is
found necessary, for the proper
roping of
that
one have a knowledge of the relative strains

sails, in
which bear upon various parts of
order to adjust the size of
the rope to the strain to be applied, basing the calculation upon the
greater as well as the less strain affecting a rope at any given point.
Take, for instance, the clew rope of a mainsail

directly nearest to the clew
there
is
more
strain
than above
it
the size, therefore, should
be calculated upon the greater strain.
The
tables
which are here given
(pp. 6 to 8) allow for the stretch-
ing of the ropes that receive direct strain
such
as the
mast and
head ropes of mainsails, stay ropes of
jibs,
foresails,
etc.
at the
rate of the size in circumference per yard of the length.
Clew ropes of
need to be
sails
and head ropes
of sprit barges' mainsails
much
larger, as they
have to stand severe jerks.

found calculations of
In Chapter IX., upon Eoping, will be
various ropes which should be sewn on according to the strain to be

applied, as
it
displaces the threads of the canvas
upon
certain lines,
and causes such parts to

to be
stretch, requiring, accordingly,
an allowance
made.
The rope should be sewn on
slack, to allow for the
giving out of the gores upon certain parts of sails, or vice versa, by
sewing slack cloth in the rope, as the case
may
be.
Such as that made by Messrs. G. Langford and Son, of Portsmouth, or Messrs. H. Bannister and Co., of Cowes, Isle of Wightfirms who have made the manufacture
of bolt-rope a speciality.
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
03
l-H
<
CO
i
iH
9 m
Ph
O
04
o n
03
OQ
SAILS.
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
o <
o
o
CHAPTER
II.
ON THE CENTRE OF EFFORT.

ImPOKTANCE op riNDING POSITION OP CeNTKE OF GkAVITYTO FiND THE ObNTKE OP Eppoht Treatment op Slack Seams Drawin&s.
It
is
very important
effort
that the point or

is
place in a saU where the
whole
of
the wind
supposed to
be
collected
called the centre of effort
should
its
commonly
be determined, for correct allow-
ances cannot be
It is
made
unless
true position is found.

it
only by the wind's motion as

its exit
strikes the centre of a sail,

is
and makes
the water
out of the leech, that a vessel
propelled through
its
when
close hauled.
Wind
that
is
retarded in
it is
course by
force
uneven
sails
hinders the progress of a vessel, as
so
much
misapplied, and has a tendency to press the vessel
down
of
into the
trough of the sea.
The majority
of sailmakers
occasionally entrusted with orders for yachts' sails

this all-important question, but
some whom never

may
are
consider
merely work upon a rule-of-thumb

that they cannot guarantee sails of
to perfection they at times- be
knowledge, the result of which
is
any
size
and shape, however near
made, as almost every sail differs in the angle from that of another,
and consequently there

statement
is
is
a difference in the centre of gravity.
This
made from a knowledge
acquired of the sailmaking world,

of
including the testimonies of
many yachtsmen, some
whom
have
sailed in the fastest racing yachts of the day.
A
fore
practised eye can detect several centres of gravity in

aft sails
many
and
when trimmed
close to the wind.
Some have only
SAILS
one, but
it
AND SAILMAKING.
bulges out, proving that sufficient allowances were not
made
to withstand the force of the
wind
sails
at that point.
Tracings
(Pigs. 1
of
fore
and
aft
are
given
effort
in
this
chapter
of
and
2),
showing in each the centres of
and a method
finding the same.
In the
first
place a geometrical plan of the sail
must be drawn.
and
all
The centre
such triangular
of effort of jibs, foresails, jib-headed topsails,

sails, is
found by striking a
line
from the head

line
(a) to
the centre of foot line
(6),
and marking another

(c)
:
from the clew
[d)
to the centre of stay line
where the
lines
intersect each other,
marked by a
star, is the centre of effort of the sails (see Pig. 1).
To
find the centre of a mainsail, or

is
any similar-shaped
(a to
h)
sail,
diagonal line
triangles
;
drawn from the throat to clew

centre
of each
is
forming two
the
then found in the same way as
already described for triangular
sails.
line should
then be struck
a star
from the two centres, the centre of which line

the centre of effort (see Fig. 2).
shown by
of gravity
is
The
lines that are
drawn from the centre
towards the
head and leech of the sail show the position in which the slack of the
seams requires to be taken
in, to
give a freedom of exit for the
wind
out of the after leech, without affecting those lines that receive direct
strain,
such as the diagonal line from the throat to clew, and the
square line from the tack to leech, within which lines should be a
perfect plane
and
tight as the
head of a drum.
The method given

that followed by
of treating the slack of
seams may
differ
from
many
in the trade,
;
and the propriety of such

it
differ-
ence
may
be questioned
but by practical experience
will be
found
to be true
and
reliable.
Many
way
persons
who
are considered scientific

slack seams.
sailmakers
are a long
out in their treatment of
Prom
effect
the position of the slack shown in Pig. 2, there will be greater
produced
if
a less quantity of slack than
is
usual in the trade
j:b-headed topsail.
(Scale,
in.
per foot.)
TriEingular Sail, showing
method
of finding centre of effort.
Fig.
2.FORE
AND AFT MAINSAIL.
(Scale tV in. per foot.)
Showing method
of finding centre of effort, and giving lines indicating position of slack seams.
ON THE CENTRE OF
te taken
in.
EFFORT.
required depends materially
sail is
What
The
proportion of slack
is
upon the angle

round
foot.
of the sail,
and whether the
laced or has a
calculation for No. 1 mainsail is at the rate of 3 in.

1
ft.
of slack
seam per
of the clew gore.
The gore
is
is
16
ft.
ft.,
and the
amount
of slack taken in
sails
upon the seams
therefore 4
The
which require
to be treated
upon the centre
of effort
are such as need to be hollow to the mast or stay, as the case
may
be.
For instance, such

foresails, topsails,
sails
etc.
as are cut
down from the tack
is
as mainsails,
in consequence of the gores stretching out-
ward towards the
clew.
These
sails also require slack in the
seams.
Such
sails as jibs
and yard
topsails,
where the gore
cut
up from
the tack, need to be
treated differently, as the
gores stretch inward
towards the tack

the reverse
the allowance, therefore, should be dealt with in
way
to
those sails which are cut

8).
down from the
tack.
(See treatment of jib. Fig.
The
position of the
centre of effort of the sails
upon a yacht
is
or other vessel, as to their lifting or pressing tendency,
in the
province of the designer, and has considerably to do with the speed

of the vessel.
Even when
correctly calculated,
effect, their
if
the sails are not

will to
manufactured so as to have a good

great extent be neutralised
designer.
good points
and the
sails will reflect discredit
upon the
12
CHAPTER
"\'essels
III.
ON MEASURING.
then Afloat Importance op knowing exact Stand of Spars to be Measured to their full Extent To get Dimensions POR Sails Sheets determined when set off upon Papee To set Dimento be Measxered
Masts
sions FOB, Single Sails.
When
measuring a vessel
is afloat,
for a suit of sails, it is necessary that it
be
done when she
as the sheer of the vessel can then be got

to the water-line,
aft.
by
measuring from her deck

the bows, amidships, and
It is
which should be taken at
very important that the exact stand of the masts be known,
as a slight difference one

will
way
or the other from the perpendicular
throw the whole
of the sails out of proper angle, unless rightly
treated.
This can be easily ascertained
when a
vessel is afloat
and
in proper trim.
All spars are measured to their full extent, so that a vessel

set off
when
upon paper
is
seen from the water-line to the height of the
topmast, and with extremes of spars and stays.
Having got the sheer
of the vessel measured, the full extent of

it
the masts, and determined the stand of same,
is
necessary to take
the distance of the main, fore, and jib halyard bolts, either from the
masthead or deck.
The housing
of
the topmast
;
should
next be
measured, and the length of the head of same

the
also the distance from
topmast head to sheave
for the
halyards.
Then measure the
ON MEASURING.
distance from out-hauler to the end of
13
boom and from the sheave
to
end of
gafif.
It is
very important
trifling
makers only a
matter
although
deemed by the majority
of sail-
to notice that the length of the bolt

of sail is attached, be
upon
its
gaff, to
which the throat
measured, and
distance from mast
when
gaff is in position.
When
setting a vessel off allowances can be
made
such
as the
distance from gaff to main-halyard bolt and height of the

deck, also position of the sheets of headsails.
boom from
To
get dimensions for the foresail,
measure the length of bow
from the mast to stem, height of the stem from deck, distance of the
stay above the fore-halyard bolt, and what distance, stay
if
any, from the
upon stem
For the
to
where the tack
will be fixed.
jib
measure the length

is
of bowsprit outside stem,
and
width of the bows, which
very necessary in the case of a broad
bowed
vessel.
fine
For the
weather topsail, the length
of
the yard only
is
measured, as the other dimensions
such
set off
as the leech and foot
must be governed by the head
of the mainsail
when
set off.
All sheets are determined
when
upon paper.
When
only
measuring
for
a mainsail, trouble
need not be taken to get the
sheer of the vessel and stand of mast.

sail,
To
find the angle of the
take a diagonal line from the throat to clew
when the boom
is
in position.
For a
foresail, take
;
the length of stay from the bolt in mast
down
to the stem
get leech
from the bolt to deck, and the
foot
from
part,
the mast to stem
measure the distance from the bolt to upper

if
of stay, the difference,
any, from stem where stay
is
fixed to the
point where tack of sail will be fast, and the distance from the deck
to
upper part of stem.
For a
jib,
take the length from jib-halyard bolt to outer part of
14
SAILS
get leech
AND SAILMAKING.
of
bowsprit
from the bolt to top of stem, from the end
bowsprit to stem, and from the stem to mast.
For a
topsail, take the length of
topmast from the sheave hole
to throat of mainsail
when
set,
length of the gaff and yard, and the

gaff.
angle from topmast sheave hole to outer end of
For a
of sprit,
sprit mainsail, take the length of hoist to mast, the length
and distance from mast
to
main
horse.
These dimensions
are sufficient, as the length of the
head and leech are determined
when
set off.
Nothing further need be said as to how to get dimensions, as
most sailmakers are
fully
aware of the method.
Proper allowances
are the most important.
IS
CHAPTEE
IV.
ON DRAWING.
DukWaiGS SHOULD BE BaSED UPON A SQUARE CaKE TO BE EXEBCISED IN SqUAKING Oep Sails Gteometrical Dkawings of Cutteb. Yacht's Mainsail (Rount Foot), Cutter Tacht's Mainsail (Laced Toot), Yawl Yacht's Mainsail,
Barge's Sprit Mainsail, Yacht's Stay Foresail, Jib (Ordinary Cut), Jib (Diagonal Gut), Yaed Topsail, Jib-Headed Topsail, Barge's Topsail, Balance
Lug and Lug
Sail.
In reference to drawing, the author does not profess to deal with the
subject in
tration
any
scientific
manner, but only

form
for the
purpose of
for
illus-
in
giving
the
and measurement, and
correctly
showing the dimensions of the leeches, stays, and

the gores on the head and foot,
etc., of sails.
total
amount of
few geometrical drawings (Figs. 3 to 14) are given, sufficient
to prove the force
and value
of the calculations,
will
showing the principle

apply to such sails,
on which they are founded, and that they

whether large or small, much or
little
gore.
It
is
essential that
a drawing be based upon a square.
For
instance,
when
of
setting off a vessel, a line should be
drawn across in
should be
the position
her water-line, from which her masts
located in desired position,
and
sails set
off
in full
by
direct lines.
The necessary round
of foot should also be shown.

off sails,
Care must be taken in squaring

after leeches to throat
especially
of
from the
and
tack,
which gives the gore
the mainsail.
i6
SAILS
In
Fig.
to
e,
AND SAILMAKING.
Yacht's
3 {Racing
to d,
Cutter
Mainsail),
the
lines
from
to
b, b
c, c
and d
;
to a, indicate the
square of the sail

;
from a to
the peek gore

;
from
b to /, the clew gore

;
from
c to
the mast gore
from d
to /, the angle of foot. of stretch
from / to
g, the line of boom,
and that below, the round

head indicates the amount
from
b
The
line leading
from a to the
line
upon the head, and the
to the foot the
amount
of the stretching of the foot.
The
line leading
from the mast
to leech
is
through the centre
is
squared
from the mast, and consequently
the line of pressure.
In Figs. 4, 5 and
6,
the lines upon these sails are similar to
those already described as regards position and indication.
In Fig.
to 6
7 (Stay Foresail),
is
the line leading from the tack
(c)
upon the leech

is
the square line from the leech.
That from the
tack to clew
tio
the direct line by which the seams should be creased

stretching,
and from
from g
to
for the
and also
for the
round of
foot.
The
from
line
is
the strain of clew, outside of which there should
be no wide seam creased for the foot.

to
The
line
upon the
foot
shows the amount
of round.
Fig. 8. {Ordinary Gut Jib).

c to a, a to d,
The
c,
straight lines extending
from
and from thence
to
give the size of the sail

is
when
fully stretched.
The
The
line
line
across the sail from a to 6
the square
line
from
leech.
from
down
to the foot
(e)
indicates the
amount the
foot will stretch
from that point to tack.
The upper
is
part of the same line shows an addition to the square line, and
carried out beyond straight line of stay for the
line from b to
stretch,
needed
flow.
The
will
f upon the leech gives the amount the upper part

line
and the inner
from ftoe
is
the straight line from the
ON DRA WING.
head to tack when rubbed
spread
is
h.
vj
in.
The amount
of flow required
when
as
much
as the distance from the inner line to the outer,
marked
Fig. 9. {Diagonal Jib).
The
half-circle
shown
at the
sheet is
made
in order that the true position of the last
may
be found.
The
line leading
from the sheet through the centre of the

the position of the last.
half-circle to
the stay
the stay
is
is
The
line a
upon the leech
to
the square line from leech, which
shows the
amount
of gore required.
The
line
from
upon
foot to the stay is the corre-
sponding line to that upon the upper part, and gives the amount of
gore.
The outer
line
line leading
from the sheet towards the tack
is
the
from which the number of cloths needed in the stay of the lower
is derived.
part
This
is
obtained by ascertaining the length of the
square line of the upper part, from a upon the leech to the stay line,
and measuring the corresponding

found shorter than upper
line,
line
upon the lower
part,
and
if
extend to the same length.

if
Then,
as in If
square from that line towards the tack, and

this case, the stay will
the line
is short,
need one cloth
less
than that
of the last.
the lower line
is
longer than the upper one, by squaring from the

it
point of the corresponding length of the upper line
will
determine
whether the tack requires more cloth than at the sheet.
The stay
scribed.
lines are similar to those
on the
jib previously
de-
Fig. 10. {Yard Topsail).
This sail
is
shown as
(6)
set
upon top-
mast.
The Hnes across the
sail
from the sheet

to c
to d upon the
mast and from a upon the leech

from leech.
upon mast are the square lines

(c)
The
line
from the throat
down
to the foot (g) is the
square line of the throat.
The
star indicates the position
of
the
-18
SAILS
effort.
AND SAILMAKING.
through the centre from the head
centre of
(fe)
The
line passing
to the sheet is the square line
from the mast, and therefore the
shortest distance from the centre to
any given point upon the edge of
the
sail.
As
it is
a fixture
it is
The upper
line across the sail is a square line

(/i),
from the leech

the line upon
to meet the point of pressure at the head

irhich the head seams should be
and
is
commenced
from
for the stretching of the
head.
The
line inside the leech

(j to
e).
to j
shows the amount which
the head will stretch
The
line
from d upon the mast to h at
the foot shows the amount of the giving out at foot (& to/).
straight line from the tack to sheet
is
The
the line upon which the wide
seam
should be calculated for the stretching of the foot,

for the
and also
foot.
where the wide seam should be commenced
round of
Fig.
11. {Jib-Headed
Topsail).
The
is
(a)
line
from the leech
(c)
across the sail to the tack (d) is the square line
from the leech, and
the length from that line to the clew
the amount of the foot gore,
and from the same

the mast gore.
line to the
head
shows the amount needed for
The
star indicates the centre of effort,
and the
It is
line
irom mast
to the star is a square line
from the mast.
the
shortest line,
and therefore the
line of pressure.
(b)
The
which the
the
foot,
direct line
from the clew
to
the star
is
the line of
the line on
pressure at the clew.

first
is
The
line
from
b to the
is
tack
for
(d) is
calculation of the seams
made
the giving out of
and
the line from which the seams for the round of foot
should be started.
Pig. 12. {Barge's Topsail).
The
topmast
is
shown
so that the
position of the topsail
may
be seen on the topmast.
Sufficient
has
ON DRAWING.
already been said, in respect to the
lines
19
upon the other
sails,
to
make
the lines on this sail readily understood.
Fig.
13. (Balance
is
Lug
Sail).
The
mast to which the
sail is
attached
given to show the position of the sail thereon.
The
lines
c
across the sail from a upon the leech to b
upon the mast, and from
upon the leech

throat and tack.
to
at the tack, give the square
from the leech to

(g),
The length
from
c to
of the
head gore from a to the peak
and the
foot gore
line
the clew (/), are also given.

(6)
The
gore,
from the throat

is
to the
(d).
foot (c)
shows the mast

starting at j
which
from
to
to
(i)
the tack
The
line
upon the leech

foot
(t
foot
shows the amount of stretch upon the
to
).
The
line
from a upon the leech to h upon the head gives the
amount
of the stretching of the

star
head (A to
effort,
g).
The
The
shows the centre of
and the
line passing
through
from the mast

line
to leech is the line of pressure.
from the sheet leading to the point where the line of

is
pressure crosses the square line
the line of strain from the sheet,
and outside
of
which there should be no wide seam creased.
Fig. 14. (Lug Sail).

this sail
There
is
no
difference in the lines
upon
from those of the lug previously described, with the exception
that the line of pressure is upon the head.
The point marked
o is
the position of the line of strain, and the line from thence to k upon
the leech
is
the line upon which the head seams should
commence
to
widen
for the stretching of the head.

sail
is
The
has a round foot
therefore the direct line from the

first
clew to tack
the line on which the
calculation of the seams is

is
raade for the giving out of the foot,

for the
and
the line which the seams
round of
foot should start
upon.
20
SAILS
The
sail
AND SATLMAKING.
to lace at the foot,
if
may
be
made
desired, in
which
case the stretching tendency would only he 2 in. per foot of the clew
gore, instead of 3 in., as reckoned for this sail.
Fig..
3.CUTTER YACHT'S MAINSAIL.
Giving length off gores, also amount of the stretching of head and foot.
For treatment
of sail, study the
work throughout.
Fig:.
4. CUTTER YACHT'S
(Soale,
MAINSAIL
(laced foot).
-^
in. per foot.)
<?
Giving length of gores, also amount of the stretching of head and
foot.
For treatment
of sail, study the
work throughout.
Tig.
5. YAWL YACHT'S MAINSAIL.

(Scale, y'^ in. per foot.)
Giving length of gores, also amount of the stretching of head and For treatment of sail, study the work throughout.
foot.
xn
.i
xn g
6
r*
Figr.
7.YACHT'S
STAY FORESAIL.
(Scale, J in. per foot.)
03
38 n
Giving length of gores, and showing position of strain at clew. For treatment of sail, study the work throughout.
Yig,
8JIB
(Scale,
(ordinary cut).
fo"*-)
tV - per
allowances necessary for Giving length of foot gore and study the work throughout.
sail.
For treatment,
d2
Figr.
9.JIB (diagonal
(Scale,
cut).
^f
in.
per foot.)
Showing method
of finding the
amount
of last gore required, also
number
of cloths at
stay in relation to last.
Allowances necessary for
sail are also given.
For treatment, study the work throughout.
Figr.
10.YACHT'S
(Scale,
YARD
TOPSAIL.
in. per foot.)
foot.
For treatment
of saU, study the
work throughout.
Fig 11. YACHT'S

(Scale,
JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL.
i
in. per foot.)
Giving length of gores and showing position of strain at clew.
For treatment
of sail, study the
work throughout.
Fig. 12.BARGE'S
(Scale,
TOPSAIL.
in. per foot.
Giving length of gores and showing position of strain at clew.
For treatment
of sail, study the
work throughout.
Fig.
13BALANCE LUG.
amount of the stretching of head and Giving length of gores, also work throughout. For treatment of sail, study the
foot.
Fig. 14.LUG.
(Scale,
in.
per foot.)
câ.
\t ir
<T-^
/
'O^,
cS'.
fi
20 Ft.
d
foot.
For treatment
of sail, study the
work throughout.
21
CHAPTEE
V.
ON THE NUMBER OF CLOTHS REQUIRED.

Oalctjlation showing the
Number of Oloths bequieed roa Head and Foot of CuTTEB Yacht's Mainsail To Find Numbee of Cloths foe a Teiangular Sail Deawing of Jib showing Method op Getting the Same.
An
easy method of calculating the number of cloths required for the

(Figs. 3
cutter yacht's mainsails
and
4), if
made
of 12-in. canvas,
is.
here given.
For the head add together

ft
Length of Square Line

41 5
(a to
(?)
Seams 1 J
in.
wide
...
Seams additional
in. for
Leech Tabling
For the
foot
add
(c
Mast Gore
to
in.
gf)
16 Seams ]J
1
wide
Seam
additional
The above
sail.
is
the only true method of calculation for this kind of

is
If
mast lining
cut with the sail,
it
must be added
to the figures
already given.
Should the
sail
be of 18-in. canvas, the seams should be
1|- in.
wide, as the heavier the canvas used, the wider the seams required.
To
find the
number
h),
of cloths for a triangular sail, square from
leech to tack {a to
as
shown by
foresail (Fig. 7),
which gives 38
ft.
Add
the
number
of
seams and tablings thereto

of
for total length,
and
divide
by whatever width
canvas
is
used.

SAILS
If
AND SAILMAKING.
it
the sheet
is
above the tack, from square line of leech,

jib,
should be treated as shown by drawing of
carrying leech line

to the tack.
down from
line
sheet
c
(&),
and squaring from thence
The
from
io
d indicates the breadth, to which add seams and

of canvas.
tablings,
and divide by the width

calculate
To
the
number
of cloths required for cutter

:
yacht's
mainsails (Figs. 3 and 4) upon 18-in. canvas
For the head add together-
Fig. 15.JIB (ordinary cut).

(Scale,
-j5 in.
per foot.)
Showing metliod
also
of calculating
number
showing amount
of cloths required for the foot, of stay gore necessary.
ON THE NUMBER OF CLOTHS REQUmED.

For the
foot
23
add togetherFeet.
Length of Line i to g 47 Seams IJ inch wide Leech and Mast Tablings 5 Additional Seams
No. of Cloths

24
SAILS
For the
foot
AND SAILMAKING.
add together
6 to
Length of Line
...
14 Seams ]| inch wide
Leech and Mast Tablings

2 Additional Seams

To
(Fig. 9)
25
calculate
the
number
:
of
cloths
required for
diagonal jib
upon
24-in. canvas
Length of Line a to 6 ... 10 Seams f inch wide ... Leech and Stay Tahlings
1 Additional
Seam

26
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
:
Calculated upon 24-in. canvas

Length of Line c to rf 19 Seams 1 inch wide
1 Additional
Seam

To
calculate the
27
number
of
cloths required for lug
(Fig.
14)
upon 12-in. canvas:
For the head add together

Feet.
Length of Line a to 6
...
13
13 Seams f inch wide ... Leech and Mast Tablings

1 Additional
Seam
No. of Cloths
For the
foot
add together...
Length of Line cto d

16 Seams J inch wide

1 Additional
Seam
No. of Cloths
28
CHAPTEE
VI.
ON ALLOWANCES.
Quotation from Kipping's Treatise on " Sails and Sailmaking " Allowances FOR Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Round Foot), Cuiier Yacht's Mainsail (Laced Foot), Yawl Yacht's Mainsail, Barge's Sprit Mainsail, Yacht's Stay Foresail, Jib (Ordinary Cut), Jib (Diagonal Cut), Yard Topsail, JibHeaded Topsail, Barge's Topsail, Balance Lug and Lug Sail.
The allowances necessary

this chapter,
to be
made upon
certain parts of sails in
consequence of the stretching tendency of the
canvas, as given in
can be relied upon, as they have been arrived at by
close observation of the best sails manufactured, after being in use.
Mr. E. Kipping, in his elementary treatise on " Sails and Sail-
making," says
" There cannot be a question but that the sailing
qualities of a vessel materially
depend uponjftai
sails,
and particularly
It
on fore and
aft
sails that will
trim close to the wind.
would be
a waste of words to dwell on the
many
advantages resulting from
vessels having flat sails, the signal victory of the far-famed
American
yacht over the Eoyal Yacht Squadron having for ever settled their
superiority.
Not but that years
before, the advantage that
would be
gained by
flat sails
was known
to nautical
men
but sailmakers were

flat
ignorant of the principles on which sails to stand

structed
;
must be con-
and, even at the present day, several cut their sails to bag
it
in the middle, although
is
known
that
such bagging
gives
the
wind a
less power, especially
when
sailing close-hauled, for the parts
so bagging out, being scarcely struck at all
by the wind, are

sail,
filled
only with eddies from the adjoming parts of the
which eddies have-
ON ALLOWANCES.
no
force at all.
2^
Moreover, the
flat
sail
catches more wind than the

;
concave one, even though the concave one be larger

strikes perpendicularly
for the
wind
upon
all
the parts of the former, but to the latter

is
only a pressure in proportion to the angles of incidence
given."
The same writer goes on

baggy
There
if
to say that
if
it
is
evident that these
sails
could not be produced
proper allowances were made. but
can be no
question as to the truth of this statement,

lines
he had given the
upon which the allowances were needed,

correct
and a principle by which a
calculation could
left
be made, the
majority of sail-makers would not have been

point.
in error
upon the
Science
proves
that
all
strains
is
work upon
direct
lines,
the
nearest or shortest from where strain

as the gores of sails stretch
applied to a fixed point, and
when
pressed by the wind on account of
their position, allowances are necessary.

It
must be understood that the allowances given
in this chapter
sjpeci-
are exactly what are required for the sails and parts of same
fied.
Other allowances
such
as the difference of the tack
away from
the mast, or on account of anything hindering the clews of the sails
going out to the extreme end of the

the sails are set
cringles,
if off.
boom
sail.
should
be
made when
Care must be taken to make allowance for the
they project out
beyond the
In large
sails it is advisable,
when
calculating the cloths, not to

in.
reckon anything for the mast tabling, as 3 or 4

spars
is
short
upon the
not so serious a matter as being 1

Mainsail.
in. too long.
Pig. 3.
The allowance
to be
is
made upon
the head of this sail for the
giving out upon the gaff

gore, less the
at the rate of 2 in. per foot of the
peak
ft.
amount
of slack in seams.
is
The peak gore being 21
the slack to be taken in
ft.,
which subtracted from 21 leaves 17
30
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
This 34
in.
is
therefore the head of
the sail will stretch 34 in.
taken in by the seams upon the head, in addition to the body seam,
from the square
line
of throat to leech
{d to a) less
in.,
which
should be gradually creased in upon the leech tabling down to the

square line upon leech
(a).
The allowance
is
for the giving out
of the
upper part of the leech

in.,
shown upon plan
of sail,
and
is
about 12
which should be
reduced in the calculation of the gores and tablings.
The amount
of stretching of the leech at the clew
may
is
be ascer-
tained from the illustration, and will be found to be about 12 in.
The allowance
for the giving out
upon the boom

and
will
3 in. per
in.,
foot of the clew'gore,
which
is
16
ft.,
stretch
48
of
which
must be taken in by the seams over and above that

seams, starting from the tack
(gr),
the body
and leading across by the square
line (g to h) until the diagonal line [d to /) is reached.
The seams
should then be creased, leading

that no
line.
down
inside of the diagonal line, so
seam
is
over the width of body seam outside of the diagonal
The 48
{g
in.
must be taken
less 3 in.,
in
by the seams upon the
line
from
tack to clew
to/)
which should be rubbed in upon the

(c
leech tabling from square line
to/).
for the
The allowance
to be
made
round of the foot
is
at the
rate of 6 in. per foot of round, from the line of tack to clew {g
to the lower part
of
sail,
to/)
it
which
is
ft.
Qi
to
i),
therefore
in.
is
necessary that the seams be creased upon the foot 36

the seams upon the line g to /.
wider than
The allowance
to the
mast
of the sail for the giving out should

in.
be calculated by reckoning the mast rope to stretch 4
per yard
then calculating the amount of slack cloth taken in and the difference
of what the rope will give out over that of the slack taken in, which
will be the
amount
of the giving out in length of the mast.

is
Supposing there
13 and rd yards of rope
stretching at the
ON ALLOWANCES.
rate of 4 in. per j'ard,
31-
amounting
to
53^ in.the rope should be

in.
sewn on as shown by the following Table, which gives 47

slack cloth
:
oi
Kope.
SAILS
upon the angle
AND SAILMAKING.
any other
part, the
or gore of the canvas than at

is
stretching tendency of -which

It will
3 in. per foot of the clew gore.
he ohserved that the following Table of Seams for Main-
sail (Fig. 3) contains
two calculations
for the foot of the sail, these
being required on account of the round to the same, as the stretch

of the sail along the
It will
boom
is direct
upon the
line of tack.
is
be seen from illustration that the round of foot

is is
gored
both ways, and therefore a double calculation

the clew gore,
viz.,
needed to that of
6
ft.
6 in. per foot of round, which
ALLOWANCE TO MAINSAIL.
(Pig. 3) Calctjlated
upon 18-in. Canvas.
The following Table

the giving out of the
sail
Seams gives the allowances required for upon the head and foot, exclusive of Body
of
Seams.
ON ALLOWANCES.
3i
ALLOWANCE TO MAINSAIL
(Fig. 3)
Calculated upon 12-in. Canvas.

of
sail
The undermentioned Table

quired for the giving out of the
of
Seams
gives the allowances
re-
upon the head and
foot, exclusive
Body Seams.
34
SA/LS
AND SAILMAKING.
Mainsail.
Fig. 4.
This
sail is
the Same in size as the one already described, but,,

sail, it differs
being a lace foot
in
its
construction.
of the
is
The allowance
for the giving out
head
;
is at
the rate of
2 in. per foot of the peak gore, which

slack taken
in
21
ft.
and there being no

the gore
the
seams, the total length

in.,
of
must be
3
calculated, giving
42
which
is
treated in the
same way as No.
mainsail,
and creased upon the seams beyond the body seams,

in.,
except 4
which can be rubbed in upon the leech tabling.

of the stretch
is
The amount
upon the boom

therefore
it
is
2 in. per foot of

out 32 in.
the clew gore, the gore
16
ft.,
will give
The seams must be creased The
this
much
wider than the body seam,
regarding the diagonal line, in the same manner as mainsail No. 3.

foot
must be rubbed
of the
directly straight.
is
The giving out
mast
treated as on No. 3 mainsail.

sail is at
The allowance for the pressure upon the centre of

of
the rate
is
in.
per
foot
of the width at
is
centre.
The clew gore
not
foot of
added in this case, as there

is different
no
slack,
and the strain upon the

for the
to a round
foot mainsail.
The allowance
round
head
is
at the
same rate as that
of No. 3 mainsail.
sail,
It
should be mentioned that this

not so conducive to speed,
although
it
may
be
made
very
flat, is
when a
vessel is close-hauled,
as a properly constructed round-foot sail, there being no freedom at
the foot for the pressure of the wind at the centre, because
it is
laced
upon the boom.
There
is
almost an equal strain along the boom,

sail is
and the principle upon which the
made renders
the strains
such that no slack seams can be effectively taken in from the centre
for a
freedom of the wind out of the after leech.
ON ALLOWANCES.
35
(Fig. 4) CiLCULATED upon 12-in.
Canvas.
The following Table
of
Seams
gives the necessary allowances

foot,
for the stretching of the sail
upon the head and
not including
the
Body Seams.
36
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
(Pig. 4)

of
The following Table

Seams.
Seams
gives the allowances required for
the giving out of the sail upon the head and foot exclusive of
Body
Head Seamsi
ON ALLOWANCES.
amount
the sail will stretch along the boom.
line
37
This
is
taken in by the
line
seams in the
from tack to clew, starting upon the square

{g to h)
from tack to leech

leading
until the diagonal line is reached,
and
down
inside.
(Fig. 5)
Calculated upon 18 -in. Canvas.

of

for the giving-out of the sail
Seams
gives the allowances required

foot, exclusive of
upon the head and
the
body seams

38
SAILS
The allowance
AND SAILMAKING.
wind upon the centre
is
for the pressure of the
made by hollowing
at the centre,
the mast a
in.
per foot of the width of the sail
and adding the clew
gore.
(Fig.
5)

of
The following Table

the giving-out of the sail
Seams
gives the allowances required forfoot, exclusive of
upon the head and
body
seams
ON ALLOWANCES.
The head needs
-gaff.
39
to be
rounded a
in.
per foot of the length of
An
allowance for the throat bolt must be made,
if
necessary.
Barge's Sprit Mainsail (Fig.
6).
The allowance
"2 in.
for the giving out of the
head of the above

ft.,
sail is
per foot of the peek gore, shown at 24
less the
amount
of
-slack
taken in
viz.,
1\
in.
which
is
at the rate of 3 in. per foot of

will
ihe clew gore

46|- in.
therefore the
amount that the head
stretch is
This amount must be
taken in by the seams, from the

less 5 in.,
square
-which
line of the throat,
beyond that of the body seams
may
be creased in upon the leech tabling.
The
"tration.
giving out of the leech
may
be ascertained from the
illus-
The
foot will stretch at the rate of 3 in.
per foot of the
clew gore, which must be taken in by the seams in the bend from the
tack to clew, less 1
in. to
be rubbed in upon the leech tabling.
The allowance
clew
is
for the
round of
foot
from the
line
of tack to
6 in. per foot of round over and above the width of

line of tack to clew,
seam
foot
upon the
seams.
which must be taken in by the
The hollow
of
sail
to the
mast required
of effort,
is
a J in. per foot of the square
from the centre

7-^ in.
adding a
in.
per foot of the clew
:gore,
making
The slack must be taken in from the centre

part
of effort, the greater
towards
the
peek.
The head
of
the
sail
should be spread
straight.
The peek should be rubbed

line
in for the earing of

size
head rope,
from the
of head,
spirit.
half the
amount of the
in circumference
of the log of
The only
to
peculiarity
of
this
sail
is
that
in
the
head rope requires

to
be
much
The
larger
sail
than
other
sails,
proportion
so that
the
strain
applied.
when stowed
is brailed
up,
the
head rope

40
SAILS
exposed to
all
AAD SAILMAKINQ.
when
the mast
;
is
weathers, and
is
lowered the rope
has to bear the weight of the sprit and gear

life
therefore the safety of
and property
is
dependent upon the strength of the rope used.
ALLOWANCE FOR MAINSAIL

(Fig. 6)
The
following Table of
Seams
gives the allowances necessary for
the stretching of the sail upon the head and foot, not including the
body seams
No. of
ON ALLOWANCES.
of
it,
as the manufacture of the materials
is
the same, there being no
appreciable difference in the stretching tendency.
The cause
of the giving out is th-e displacement of the threads of
the canvas, in consequence of the wind plying upon the angle of the
cloth.
It
does not matter whether the rope
is
put on tight or not at
such parts.
stretch
In respect to the head of a mainsail, the canvas will

gore,
upon the
and
if
the rope
is
not put on to allow for the
giving out, the slack cloth will be seen and the sail will be rope-bound.
It is
not merely in this particular that the sail will be faulty, for
if
it
the
will
calculation is not correctly
made
for the stretching of the gores,
not only be uneven but short upon the square lines from the throat to
leech,
and from tack to

important
leech.
It is
especially for racing yachts
that such lines be
out to their full extent, as the spars are calculated upon for the rating
of the same.
Therefore
it is
a great advantage to have a
full sail
at
centre.
It
makes no
difference
whether
sails are
made
all
I.).
of 24,
if
18 or
12-in.
canvas, as the allowances given

is
apply to
a heavier
number
used in case of wider canvas
(see
Chapter
The amount,
of the slack
seams can be
relied upon, if the quantity is proportioned
at the rate of 3 in. per foot of the clew gore.
Yacht's Stat Foeesail (Pig. 7) Calculated upon 12-in Canvas.

It will be seen that the clew gore of the sail is 2
foot will give out at the rate of
total stretch is 5 in.
ft.
in.
The
The
in.
per foot of the gore, therefore the

(c
upon the
line
from the tack to clew
to d).
seams must be creased

the body seams.
this 5
in.
wider upon that line than that of
The round
to the foot
shown
at 2
ft.
being a double

42
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
gore and cut both ways, requires the seams to be creased 4 in. per
foot of
round beyond that

c).
of the
seams upon the
line
from the clew to
tack (d to
The
follows
:
calculation of the allowances necessary for the
seams
is
as
ON ALLOWANCES.
The stay rope
Bope.
43
is
to be
sewn on as under
Slack
Glotli.

4^
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
jib,
clew be above tbe square of tack, the stay should be treated as a
with a flow to stay, upon the square line of sheet at the same proportion as given for jib (ordinary cut). Fig. 6.
ALLOWANCES TO YACHT'S STAY FORESAIL

(Fig.
7)
Upon
of
18-in. Canvas.
The under-mentioned Table

for
Seams

foot,
the
:
giving out of the sail
upon the
exclusive of the
body
seams
ON ALLOWANCES.
seams
at foot 4 in. per foot of round, therefore the
45
seams should be
creased 6 in. wider than upon the line from clew to tack.
The giving out
of the stay
can only be arrived
at
by a calculation
to the
of the stretching tendency of the rope, using one's
judgment as
proportion of slack cloth required, and considering the relative position

of the threads of the canvas according to the direction of the strain
applied.
Much
sail.
" art and science "
is
necessary in the production of this

size rope is required
It is essential to
it
know what
and how
to
put
on.
size of the stay rope is 5 in.,
The
which should be reckoned to
give out its size in circumference per yard of the length.

After allowing for the slack cloth, there is about
25 yards
of rope,
which, multiplied by
5, gives
125
in.,
the
amount the rope

:
will stretch.
The stay rope

Bope.
is to
be put on as under

46
SA/LS
in.
AND SAILMAKJNG.
The amount
in.,
7 yards, which, at 5
per yard, is 35 in.
of slack cloth
taken in
is 2 4 J in.,
which subtracted from the 85
gives
is
10|
in. as
the amount the tack wiU stretch.
The upper part
treated in a
similar way, and will give out 2 If in.
ALLOWANCE TO
(Fig.
8)
JIB (Ordinary Cut)

upon
24-in.
Calculated
of
Canvas.
The under-mentioned Table

for the giving out of the sail
Seams
upon the
foot, exclusive of
body seams
ON ALLOWANCES.
should be marked from / to the outer part of line
e.
47
and from thence to
When
the sail
e)
is
spread the flow at stay from the line of head to

in.,
tack (/to
should be about 27
as shown upon drawing.
It will
be seen by the figures given for the sail that the slack
cloth to be taken in
upon the stay rope can be
easily calculated.
I.,
In reference to the tables of ropes, given in Chapter

of the rope is calculated to give out as
the size
much
per yard as the size in

is
circumference.
The
first
yard at the head and tack
reckoned at
about one-third slack canvas to the size of the circumference of the

rope,
and
at the strain or flow
upon stay there
is
-^
in.
more slack
cloth per yard than the size of the rope, varying the quantity from the
flow the greater to the less.
The seam allowance
for the foot is as
under
Calcdlated upon 18-m. Canvas.

48
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
9).
Diagonal Jib (Fig.

This sail
is
the same in size as the ordinary cut jib (Fig. 6).
The
is
allowance needed upon the stay for the giving out of the length,
arrived at
by calculating the amount which the rope

in.
will stretch
and
is
deducting the amount of slack cloth taken
For instance, there
25 yards
of clear rope
upon the
stay,
which
will give out 5 in. per
yard, therefore the total stretch of the rope is
125
ins.
The rope
is
put on as under
Kope.
ON ALLOWANCES.
the
49
amount
it
will give out, viz.,

it
13^
in.
Mark upon
the leech the

line
amount from the head what

which
will stretch (21 in.),
marking a
from
per
these points, and extending the last line out at the rate of
foot of the last gore,
is
in.
11
ft.
in.,
therefore the last line should
he extended
leech
5|- in.
Another
line should be struck
from
line
upon the
and
foot to the outer part of the extended last line, as
shown
upon drawing.
as
When
the sail
is
spread, the
amount
of flow should be
is
much
in.
as
is
given from the inner line to the outer, which
about
18
The sheet
of the sail will give out at the rate of 1 in. per foot of
the last gore, which must be taken in by the seams from the square
line to last, with the exception of one-fourth of the
amount
of stretch,
which should be creased in upon leech tabling.
ALLOWANCE TO DIAGONAL
(Fig. 9)
JIB.
Calculated upon 18 and 24-in. Canvas.

of

Seams.
18 Inches.
Seams
gives the allowances

last, exclusive of
re-
quired for the giving out of the sails upon the
Body
50
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
Yaed Topsail
The allowances necessary
this sail are arrived at
(Fig.
10).
for the
stretching of certain parts of
by finding and marking the centre of gravity,
and getting
line
of
pressure
by squaring from the mast, striking

sail,
through the centre across the

the head.
the threads
as the strain
is
shown
to be
upon
In consequence of the angle of pressure differing upon

of the
canvas of the
sail
from that of a mainsail, a

If the line
difference in the allowance is necessary.
of pressure
be
upon the mast, as
is
the case in some topsails, the allowance for the
stretching of the head will be 2 in. per foot of the peek gore, unless the
gore exceed in length the square line from the leech to throat, which in
that case the allowance will be calculated at the
same
rate
upon the
length of square line at the throat.

struck from the point of pressure
In this case a line should be

sail
upon the head across the
by
the square of leech as shown upon drawing
marked
li
and
i,
measuring
28
ft.,
which must be reduced by the length from the

is
line of pressure,
which
at the clew, to the line leading
from the point of pressure

is
upon the head

leaving 14
ft.
to the leech
in.,
marked
i,
which
13
ft.
in.,
thus
the length to be calculated upon for the giving
out of the head.
The
rate of
2 in. per foot gives 29 in. as the
amount
line
/i
of stretch,
i,
which should be taken in by the seams upon the

be creased in upon the leech tabling.
is
to
less
in., to
The
6
in.,
foot will give out 2 in.
per foot of the foot gore, which
15
ft.
therefore
it
will stretch
31
in.
This amount should be taken in by

clew,
the seams
commencing
at
the
and following along the

in., to
line
leading towards A at the mast, less 4
be creased in upon the
mast
tabling.
The mast
will stretch
about 12 in
which shows in the
illus-
tration by the line
marked from A upon the mast down upon the
foot
ON ALLOWANCES.
inside the tack.
51
This must be allowed for in the roping.
The head
needs to be rounded at the rate oi

yard.
&\
in.
per foot of the length of the
The mast, when rubbed

by a
line
in,
should show a fulness at the point
of about 9 in.
from throat to the tack.
The allowances
for the
seams are as follows
52
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
ALLOWANCE TO YARD TOPSAIL

(Fig. 10)

of
Seams
gives
the allowances re-
quired for the giving out of the sail upon the head and foot, exclusive
of
Body Seams.
ON ALLOWANCES.
\\
in.,
53
which can be creased in upon the leech tabling. by creasing the seams upon
line
The round
it
of foot should be allowed for

foot of
in.
per
tc
round over the amount of seam upon the
from the tack

5-
clew.
Hollow
is
required to the mast at the rate of a
in.
per foot ol
the line from the square of mast through the centre, as shown upon
drawing, which
is
25
ft.;
therefore the hollow to
mast
is
6 J in.
in.
is
This
sail
The
follows
:
needs 28f cloths, reckoning the body seams at 1 seam allowance for the giving out of the foot
as
54
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
BARGE'S TOPSAIL
(Fig.
12) Calculated upon 24-in. Canvas.

for
The allowances
described.
this
sail
are
similar to those
previously
The hollow to the mast should be rubbed in from the

Whatever distance the tack
sail,
throat to the lower hole at mast head, and from thence to the tack
perfectly straight.
is
required
away from
carrying
the mast head
when spreading the

of sail
a line should be pulled tight

fixed,
it
from the head
where the slings are to be
down
mast
to the line of the tack, touching at the lower hole
upon the
of sail.
The tack should then be rubbed in the distance needed

line.
from the straight
For the stretching

under
:-
of
the
foot
the seam allowances
are
as
ON ALLOWANCES.
gravity
55
and the action
of the
wind upon the
sail
to those
parts
attached to the spars, etc.
BALANCE LUG
(Fig.
13) Calculated upon 12 -in. Mateeial.

is
The above
easily
sail
if
in great
demand and very

is
serviceable, being
sail.
worked, and
properly
made
a very
flat
It will be
seen from the illustration that the centre of effort (marked by a star)
shows the position
of strain to
be on the mast.
The
line
from mast
striking through the centre towards the leech is the square line from
mast, being the shortest line from the centre and

"the strain.
is
the position of
The head
the peek gore
-square line
;
but should the gore be longer upon the leech than the
from the throat to leech, the allowance should be made

of the
upon the length

measures 6
in.
square line.
For instance, the peek gore

line,
more than the square

21^
which
is
10
ft
in.,
therefore the head will give out

-taken in
in.
This amount should be
by the seams upon the head,
less 3 in.,
which
may
be taken
in upon the leech tabling.
The
foot,
which
is
laced at the boom, will stretch at the rate of
in.
per foot of the clew gore, but on account of the position of centre
sail, it
of gravity of the
,runs
should be calculated from the

is
line
which
through the centre to the leech, which
ft.
9 in. from the
clew, therefore the foot will stretch
13^
in., to
be taken in by the
seams, less \\
the clew.
in.,
which can be creased in upon the leech tabling at
The wide seam

the tack
(A) is
for the foot
should commence upon the line at

c,
following along towards
until the line leading through
the centre
reached, and from thence led
down on
line of the clew.

56
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
line
The head seams should commence upon the

the direction of
a.
at throat
(fc)
in
The head requires

if
to be rounded a
if
in.
per foot
of
of the length of yard,
a straight one, but
bent, the
amount
round must be added to the allowance already given.
The mast needs

line
to be hollowed a
in.
per foot of the square
through the centre, and reduced by length from slings to the line
of pressure of
upon the mast

is 1
at the
same
rate.
For instance, the length
square line
ft.
ft.
subtracting length from line of pressure to
slings 6
will leave 7
ft.
ft. is
quarter of an inch per foot of 7
1|^ in.,
the amount of
hollow required.
The seam allowances
for the stretching of sail are as
under
ON ALLOWANCES.
57
lower, according to the size of the sail, than in others of a different
shape
therefore there
is
not so
much
pressure upon the boat.
It
will be seen
from the illustration that the strain caused by the action

is
of the
wind upon the centre
on the head
of the sail,
and assuming
that
all strains
work upon straight
lines, this
must be considered and
dealt with accordingly.
The centre
of gravity of this sail causes a difference in the allowsails.
ances to those of other
For instance, unlike the mainsails

line
shown in Chapter The

it
IV.,
where the
of
pressure does not pass

this lug passes
through either of the square

both.
difference this
lines, that
upon
through
makes
to the stretching of the foot, after

ft.,
allowing
is
to give out 3 in. per foot of the clew gore, which is 11

it
by reducing
ft.
9 in., the length from square line to line of

ft.
pressure upon the leech, leaving 7

stretch.
{d)
8 in., or 22 in. the
amount
of
This must be taken in by the seams, commencing at the tack

line
running upon
leading
towards
c,
until
encountering
line
leading from line of pressure to the clew, the seams running

inside.
down
The allowance
to the
head
is
arrived at by striking a line from
the line of pressure upon the head across the canvas by a thread, and
measuring the length of the
line
and
if
the peek gore exceeds in the length of line

line
length such line, the allowance must be
made upon
give-out
across the sail at the rate of 2 in. per foot.

across the
sail is
For instance, the

26
in.
13
ft.,
allowing for the
In conse-
quence of the position of the threads of the canvas in relation to the

strain,
a reduction must be
made by measuring
the distance from the
line of pressure
upon leech
to the upper line across sail,

ft.
which measures
6
in.,
ft.
in.
Deducting this from the 13
leaves 3
ft.
or 7 in.
as the give-out upon the head.
The head should be rounded

length of yard.
at the rate of a
in.
per foot of the

58
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
of lug, already described.
The mast should be treated as that The seam allowance

is
as follows
Foot Seams.
No. of Seams.
Inches.
1st,
...
... ... ... ...
...
J
t
2 3
4 5
6
i J
1
7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
...
... ...
...
...
...
...
...
IJ li li If li li 2 IJ li
... ... ...

...
1 f
\
3 Leech
22
59
CHAPTEE
VII.
CALCULATION OF GORES.
Best Wat op Calculating Gores Calculation of Gores for Cuttek Tacht's Mainsail (Round FootI, Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Laced Foot), Yawl Yacht's Mainsail, Barge's Sprit Mainsail, Yacht's Stay Foresail, Jib (Ordinary Cut), Jib (Diagonal Cut), Yard Topsail, Jib-Headed Topsail, Barge's Topsail, Balance Lug and Lug Sail.
The
io
all
calculation of the
gores of a sail being a very simple matter
sailmakers, in this chapter I shall merely
make a few
suggesfirst
tions as to the quickest
and best way.
It is
by calculating
the
total length of the gore required
upon the number
of cloths needed for to
sail.
The eating
in
by the seams, which are widened
make
the
allowance for the stretching of the gore, should be calculated separately

{see
Chapter VI. upon Allowances, and Chapter VIII. upon Cutting-
out).
It
must be understood that there are other calculations needed upon the gores
of a sail, which, if not
before starting
made and
them
Chapter
con-
sidered
in their bearing upon the gores will render
faulty,
VI.).
however carefully they
may have
been calculated
will give out,
{see
The
calculation as to
what the head
and the amount
of
slack required
in mainsail, etc.,
must be considered before one can upon a mainsail,
calculate the gores aright.
Having made these
calculations, say
starting
with the head gores, take the length of peek gore and reduce by
amount
of slack calculated for the seams.
For instance, the peek
6o
SAILS
is
AND SAILMAKING.
ft.
:
gore of mainsail (Fig. 3)
21
reduce by amount of slack in seams,

ft.,
which
is
ft.,
thus calculating the peek gore for 17

of a
with a round
of the gaff
upon the head

is
in.
per foot of the
gaff.
The length
47
ft.,
giving a round of 11|- in.
The
foot gores should be got in a
similar way, not allowing for slack seams, but only for the stretching
of the sail at the clew,
which
is
about 12
in.
thus the calculation of

ft.
the foot gores must be the
made
up
to cut
down 15
in., after
deducting
amount
of the gore cut
at the clew, for the
formation of a round
foot.
The mast gores must be calculated

ance for the eating in of the seams.
to the full,
making no
allow-
For treatment
of seams, see
Chapter YI.
All gores should be calculated
gore,
upon the length
of the selvage of
and not upon the angle
of the canvas.
If the gores are calculated
aright
gore,
upon the length
of the selvage (Fig. 3)
shown upon mainsail

fail to
the
such, for instance, as the peek
angle of the gore for the
length of head cannot
be right.
sail,
In calculating the gores for a large

the most simple and effectual
where a round
is
required,
of cloths
way
is
to divide the
number
needed into two or more parts, which can be done by measuring upon
the square line and marking equal proportions
thirds or quarters, as desired.
line
either the middle,,
Then squaring
at those parts,
from the
marked upon, getting the length

if
of gore needed at those points,
and allowing tablings

this
required, with the necessary
round
of head.
By
method one can make sure of calculating the exact round required, and in the same form as shown upon paper.
For calculating the gores
(ordinary cut) in Chapter Y.
is
for the
stay of a jib, see drawing of

(a) to
jib-
The length from head
the point
the total length the gore required.
Add
to the length of square line
from the sheet to stay at the rate of a ^

subtracting
it
in.
per foot of tack gore, and

line.
from the length of the bottom
The remainder,
if
divided by the width of canvas used, will give the
number
of cloths
needed below the square line of sheet.
The upper gores should vary

from the sheet
to the head,
from
this point to cut the length required

little
with what
reduction
may
be necessary for the stretching of the
upper
part.
62
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OF THE GORES FOR MAINSAIL

(Fig. 3)
Upon
12-in. Canvas.
63-

(Fig. 4)
Upon
1-2-k. Canvas.
64
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR MAINSAIL

(Fig.
5)
Upon
12-in. Canvas.
65

(Pig. 3)
Upon
18-in. Canvas.
66
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR MAINSAIL

(Pig. 4)
Upon
18-in. Canvas.
67
CALCULATION OF THE GORES FOB MAINSAIL

(Fig.
5)
Upon
18-in. Canvaf,
68
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR STAY FORESAIL

(Pig.
7)
Upon
12-in. Canvas.
No. of
69
CALCULATION OP THE GORES TOR

(Fig.
8)-
JIB
Upon
18-in. Canvas.
No. of
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR STAY FORESAIL

(Fig. 7)
Upon
18-in. Canvas.
Ko. of
71
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR

(Pig. 8)
JIB
Upon
24-in. Canvas.
Bo. of
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
JIB
CALCULATION OF THE GORES FOR DIAGONAL

(Fig. 9)
Upon
24-in. Canvas.
72
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR YARD TOPSAIL

'
(Fig; 10)
Upon
18-in. CanVas.
Ifo. of
74
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR YARD TOPSAIL

(Pig,
10) Upon 24-in. Canvas.
No. of
75
CALCULATION OF THE GORES FOR JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL

(Fig.
11) Upon 24-in. Canvas.
Ho. of
76
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL

(Fig.
11) Upon 18-in. Canvas.,
No. of
77
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR BARGE'S TOPSAIL

(Fig.
12) Upon 24-m. Material.
No. of
78
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OF THE GORES FOR LUO

(Fig. 14).
No. of
79
CHAPTEE
ON CUTTING
VIII.
OUT.
WflBKB TO Commence to Cut Out a Mainsail Drawing showino a Method of Marking Gorbs Figures for Cutting Out Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Bound Foot), Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Laced Foot), Yawl Yacht's Mainsail,
Barge's Sprit Mainsail, Yacht's Stat Foresail, Jib (Ordinary Cut), Jib
(Diagonal-Cut),
Yard
Topsail, Jib-Headed Topsail, Barge's Topsail,
Balance
Lug and Lug
Sail.
The mode
different
of
cutting out
sails differs,
as
may
be
supposed, with
makers.
Some
cut from the leech, to enable
them
to use
up the remnants
same.
of canvas
upon the short
cloths without lasting the
The
best
way
first
to
cut out a mainsail is to

cloth,
commence
at the
throat seam, or
head
which can be done by measuring

(o),
down from the
throat line
(d)
to foot
and getting the exact length.

mast cloths and
By
so doing the
remnants
of the bolts are left for the
linings.
It is
taken for granted that everything necessary has been done
to produce a flat
and
lifting sail,
such as testing selvages, calculating
the gores, slacks and allowances required for the stretching of the
gores.
As
just
stated,
it
is
best to
commence
at the throat seam,
having the head and foot gores, and the width of each seam plainly
marked in
line of the
number
of each cloth.
It is best to calculate
the peek and clew gores to just the length required, and not at the
same time trouble about
eating-in of seams.
8o
SAILS
As the creasing
AND SAILMAKING.
seams
it is
in of the wide
of
head and
foot shortens
the length of the long edge or gore,

cloth the width of the
advisable to
mark upon the

the
seam wanted, from the
calculation of the allow-
ance necessary
for the giving out of the gores.

in., strike
For instance,
if
head gore needs to be 14

14
in.
across the thread and measure
up the
selvage,
from the thread struck, and mark the same;
then measure in from the selvage the width of seam required for that
particular
head cloth upon the thread
of
the
canvas
and when
yard
marking the gore from one selvage

stick
to the other, lay spline or
upon the mark
of the
near selvage to the inner part of the
seam-mark upon
off selvage,
marking thereto and cutting the same.

is
By such
its eating-in
a method every seam
allowed the exact amount of
as the cloths are cut out
(see illustrations to this
Chapter,
Pigs. 16, 17).
After cutting out sail to the leech, the

in a similar
mast should then be cut
manner, allowing the

gore.
foot
seams upon the gore and the
body seam upon the mast

It is
a good plan, should there be room, to cut the mast of sail

floor,
out
upon the
as
it
will
save
time in
striking
the various
remnants up
the floor.
It
one after the other, as they can then be pulled along
can then be seen what cloths they

plan
is
will
best
cut
to
advantage.
If this
adopted the
first
head cloth must
be
spread down, marking up from the foot to the square line at the
relative position of the sail.
Mark upon
marked and the
the line the length as

(c
shown in the
to the
illustration
from
square line to the tack
to g).
The hollow
mast can then be
sail cut thereto.
If these directions are carefully carried
out a good sail will be

if
produced, for
it is
possible to cut a sail of 1,000 yards

;
the calcu-
lations are true,
and only be a few inches out

will not be out at all.
and
if
the threads are
exactly square
it
Fig, 16.
rig. 17.
Drawings on J
cloths so as to cut
in. scale,
showing method
of treating
amount
of the length of gore
which
will be reduced
seam allowance when cutting out by seam when creased.
ON CUTTING
OUT.
8i
There are several important points to be observed in producing

fore
and
aft
sails,
although not bearing upon cutting out, but they

sail is cut out.
need to be borne in mind when the
As the
cloths are
foot
cut they should be struck together and
marked up, and the
seam
if
marked
any
at its width.
It is
necessary this should be done to know
of the cloths
is
have shrunk, as they often do in damp weather.

line
After this
done the head should be spread, and the square

is
marked from the throat to leech across the threads, which seam-mark for commencing the wide seam for the giving out
head
gore.
the
of
the
The
foot
must
also be
marked from the tack
to leech
upon the
square line across by the thread, also from the tack to clew.
It is
also necessary to
if
mark
the angle line from the throat to
clew,
and
possible to spread the sail
and mark from the lower

sail, for
square line upon the leech to the centre of the
the slack of
giving
seams, in a similar manner, as shown upon mainsail,
th&
method
of finding the centre of effort.
S2
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT MAINSAIL

(Fig.
3)
ON CUTTING
OUT.
83

(Pig.
3)
Calculated upon 18-in, Canvas.
i84
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.

(Pig. 4)
No. of
ON CUTTING
OUT.
85

(Fig.
4)
86
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.

(Fig.
5)
"TTING OUT.
87

(Fig. 5)
IQ'n
Calculated upon 12 -in. Canvas.
nf
Sg
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
^DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT BARGE'S SPRIT MAINSAILl

(Fig.
6)
ON CUTTING
OUT.
89
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT STAY FORESAIL

(Fig.
7)
Ho. of
90
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT STAY FORESAIL

(Pig. 7)
No. of
ON CUTTING
OUT.
91
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT

(Fig.
8)
JIB
No. of
92
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.

(Pig. 8)
JIB
No. of
Cloths.
ON CUTTING
OUT.
93
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT DIAGONAL

(Fig.
9)
JIB
Calculated upon 18 -in. Canvas,
94
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT DIAGONAL

(Fig.
9)
JIB
ON CUTTING
OUT.
95
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT YARD TOPSAIL

(Fio.
96
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT YARD TOPSAIL

(Pig.
ON CUTTING
OUT.
97
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL

(Pig.
No. of
^8
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.

(Pig.
No. of
ON CUTTING
OUT.
99
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT BARGE'S TOPSAIL

(Fig.
No. of
SAILS
AND SAILMAKJNG.
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT LUG SAIL

(Fig.
14) Calculated upon 12-rN. Canvas.
lOI
CHAPTEE
IX.
ON ROPING.
Importance of adjusting Rope to Strain Applied Treatment of Rope Roping OF OirTTBR Yacht's Mainsail (Round Foot), Cutter Yacht's Mainsail (Laced Foot), Yawl Yacht's Mainsail, Barge's Sprit Mainsail, Yacht's Stay Foresail, Jib (Ordinary Out), Jib (Diagonal Out), Yard Topsail, Jib-Headed Topsail, Barge's Topsail, Balance Lug and Lug Sail.
It
is
very important in producing

is
flat
and
lifting sails to
know what
sized rope
required for the strain which will be applied, and also to

it
know how
to put
on.
This knowledge can only be acquired by close

It
observation and practice.
need hardly be said that the best
bolt-
jope obtainable should be used.*

All sailmakers will
admit that, however nearly
sails
lated and put together,

practically
spoiled.
if
roped by an inexperienced
may be calcuman they will be
The author has endeavoured The roping

(Figs.
to deal with this
subject in as simple a form as possible, and has given tables of ropes

suitable for sails in Chapter
I.
of each sail has also been to 14, Chapter lY.).
shown and calculated from drawings
3'
The question may arise in the mind

a
sail
of a student
why
a rope upon
needs to be put on tighter at certain parts than others.

is
The
answer
that there are forces
affecting such
parts of the canvas

stretch, while
which displace the threads and cause those parts to
other threads are not affected on account of the pressure of the wind
jDlying in the opposite direction
upon the canvas.
The
study
of
mechanics
will
make
this truth plain.

all sails,
There are strains working against strains upon

* That manufactured by Messrs. G. Langford and Son, of Portsmouth, mended.
and
is
strongly recom-

SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
if
therefore a careful sailniaker will find out
the strain at any particular
point will cause the canvas to stretch, and to what extent, which will
enable
him
to judge
how
to put
on the rope so as to be
fair
when
fully-
stretched.
ROPING OP MAINSAIL
(Pig.
3).
This sail
is
treated throughout as that of a large racing cutteris
yacht's mainsail, therefore in the roping the allowance

great strain such as
is
made
for the
applied to sails of this class.
The
size of the rope required

it
upon the mast

it
is
5 in.
Prepare
the same by turning
out and fairly rounding

It is
in again, for the pur-
pose of making
it
workable.
as well to have a chalk line
marked
upon
it,
to
make
sure of keeping the
same lay throughout,
especially
for those
who have not had much
practice at roping, as great skill is
required to enable the sailmaker to rope exactly.
The best way

allow the
of putting ropes on, is to
mark each yard up and

whichever
is
amount
of the slack rope or cloth,
needed, as
one proceeds.
The following
figures give the

:
amount
of the slack cloth required
per yard upon the mast of the sail

Kope,
ON
ROPING.
105
The mast rope continued upon the head should be sewn on even
with the canvas.
The head rope should be calculated

sail will give out
for instance, the
head of the
34
in.,
and the
size of the rope to be put
on
is
in.,
which
will stretch at the rate of 2 in. per yard.
After
deducting the
length of the mast and peek ropes upon head, and allowing for these
to stretch
1\
in., it will
give about
14 yards
of
head rope, which

to be
will
28 in. It, therefore, wants 3^ in. of slack rope upon the head, as given by the following figures
give out
:
sewn
Bope.

I04
SAILS
The
AND SAILMAKING.
and turned, sewing
be attached.
it
foot tabling should be cut off
on by the
foot splice
same thread
as the sail to
which
it
will
The
and
tails
must be sewn on
slack, according to the gores.
ROPING OP MAINSAIL
(Fig.
4).
is
This
sail,
being of the same size as No. 1 mainsail,
treated
"upon the mast in the same manner.

"to
The head
of the sail is calculated
give out at the rate of 2 in. per foot of the peek gore, there being
no
slack seam, thus the head will give out 42 in.
Allow for the mast
and peek ropes
to give out 2-^ in.
upon the head.
Calculating for the 14 yards of head rope at 2 in. and stretch-
ing 28
iead.
in.,
it
requires
11-^ in.
:
of slack rope to be
sewn upon the
Figures as given
Kope.
ON
ROPING.
in.
105
yards, giving out at the rate of 2
per yard,
it
will stretch
34
in.,
thus requiring the rope to be put on 2

filack cloth
in. tight, at
the rate of
in.
per yard of the rope.
ROPING OP YAWL'S MAINSAIL

(Fig.
5).
in.,
The mast rope
for this sail is

:
4^
which should be put on in
the under-mentioned proportion
Bope.

io6
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
sewn on, as shown by the following
allowance
figures
:
^viz.,
37i
in.
to be
Rope.
ON ROPING.
The head
107
is
the peek gore, which

in.,
is
24
ft.
Eeduce by amount
about 47
in.
of slack, viz.,
1\
and the head

in., will
will therefore stretch
The
rope,
which
7^
give out two-thirds of its size in circumference per yard

is
:
of the length throat.
where the greatest strain
applied,
which
is
nearest the
Eope should be put on as under
Bope. Yards.
1
2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
...
io8
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
ROPING OF YACHT'S STAY FORESAIL

(Fig.
7).
The
size of the stay rope is 3 in., to
be sewn on as under
Rope.
ON
ROPING.
JIB
109
ROPING OF DIAGONAL
(Fig.
9).
The stay rope

under
Eopo.
for this sail is 5 in.,
and should be put on as

SAILS
commenced
slack,
AND SAILMAKING.
so that the last yard at
and gradually tightened,
clew has 1 in. slack cloth.
ROPING OF JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL

(Fig.
11).
:
The mast rope
is
2^
in.,
and should be sewn on as follows
Eope.
ON
The head
be put on even.
rope,
ROPING.
which
is
a continuance of the mast rope, should

is
The leech rope
ij
in.,
and
is
sewn on \
sail.
in. slack
rope per yard of length.
The clew rope
is
even with
The
foot
rope
is
If
in., to
be put on slack.
ROPING OP BALANCE LUG

(Fig.
13).
The mast rope
is
cloth per yard of rope.
if in., and should be sewn on l|- in. slack The size of the head rope is ^ in., and it
:
should be put on as under

Eope,
CHAPTER 'X.
ON DIAGONAL-GUT
SAILS.
Bemauks upon Cutter and Yawl or Ketch's Mainsails, Foresail, Jib-Headed AND Yard Topsails and Jib Number op Cloths Required AllowancesCalculation op Gores Cutting Out and Roping op same.
Theee
is
nothing to be said in favour of diagonal-cut
sails over those
of the ordinary cut as regards their flat
and
lifting qualities.
One
advantage
is
gained, however, in the case of a mainsail for North

sail is
Sea fishing and large coasting vessels, as the

split
not so likely to
upon the
foot
when
is
the craft
is
lurching and plunging about.
Another advantage
that should the sail split, the cross

sail
seam
is
safeguard against the
rending from top to bottom or across.
In cutting a high-sheeted jib
by
this
method the
foot gore
is
is
dispensed with, and as the proper treatment of the foot gore

difficulty
with the majority of sailmakers, a
sail
of that kind is
more
simple to construct.
It is
necessary, however, to have a knowledge of the stretching
tenîency of the gore
upon the
of flow
foot before proper allowances
can be
made, as the amount
needed to the stay depends upon the
quantity of the foot gore.
Many
which
is
jibs are
made
that girt across from the sheet to the stay,
caused by not making sufficient allowances for the giving-
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
out of the foot.
SAILS.
a
iij
Cutting them diagonally does away to
great
extent with the likelihood of this occurring, as the gores of the lower
part of the jib will not give put so much, and consequently so great
a flow
is
not required.
stretching of the last gores does not materially affect the
jib,
The
standing of the
as the position of the stay
is
unaltered.
The
to
gores stretching towards the sheet give
an unsightly appearance
the
sail,
unless treated in
its
manufacture.
Appearances must be
studied as well as effect in order to give satisfaction.

It is
necessary to draw these sails by straight lines in order
tO'
get a true calculation of the allowances required for the stretching of
the gores.
It
is
not essential to
to-
show, or
even determine, the
amount
of
round
the foot before getting the calculation of allowis
ances and the gores, as
the case in an ordinary-cut
sail.
CUTTER'S MAINSAIL.
The
all
circular line
upon the clew
the drawings
of the cutter's mainsail
as
on
is for
the purpose of arriving at the right position
of the last gores, which is obtained by extending the legs of a pair of
compasses to an indefinite distance, fixing one point at the clew and
marking with the other from the leech

central position
to the foot line.
Get the
upon the
circular line with the compasses,
from the
points of the circular

line
mark on the
leech and foot.
Strike a straight
from the clew through the centre of the circular mark to the
(fe),
mast
which
will give the position of the last

(6),
seam.
Square from
gore
the leech line to the mast
which
will give the length of the
upon
leech, viz.,
36
at
ft.
6 in.
To
arrive
the quantity of
mast gore needed, measure the
same length
will give 2
ft.
of line
of
upon the
gore.
foot as
upon leech (36
ft.
in.),
which
mast
IT4
SAILS
To
find the
AND SAILMAKING.
mast
relative to the last,
(a to h),
number
of line
of cloths for the
measure the length
from the leech to mast

c at
and mark
the same length from 6 to
a similar distance from the clew as a
upon
leech.
c,
Mark a
straight line
from the clew to the end of line
from h to
which show that the mast does not require the same
number
of cloths as the last

requisite
by about 15
of
in.
The
mast gore
number
cloths
for
the head
is
obtained by
squaring from the leech to the throat

is
{g to h).
(gr
To determine what
required, square from the line
to h) at point h to line
to
h.
The mark
inside the leech line, from
g to the head, shows the
amount
of stretch
upon head.
from
e
The
to
star indicates the centre of effort.
The
from
line across the sail

e
i is
The
lines
to
/ towards
the clew and upon the last line show the
amount
of stretch at the clew.
Lines from dio
and / are those from which
the wide seams should be commenced for the giving-out of the last
gores.
The
line
from the tack to the
letter o is for the calculation of
the slack seams.
YAWL OR KETCH'S
The
lines
MAINSAIL.
upon the
cutters,
upon
this sail are similar to those
and
are arrived at in the
same way, which can be seen from the
alculation of the allowances.
FORESAIL.
The
circular line
upon the
sail at
the clew
is for
the purpose of
(6).
getting the position of the last seam, which extends to the stay
Line a
to
fc
is
squared from the leech, which determines the length of
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
the last gore marked upon leech 14
ofthe upper part
ft.
SAILS.
115
8 in., and also the stay gore
marked 15
ft.
9 in.
From
11
ft.
6 to c is the corresponding line to that
from
a,
to
h,
and
determines the amount of stay gore upon the

3 in.
lower part
marked
From
effort.
a to /
is
the line of pressure, and the star the centre of
From d From
The
to
0,
and from
to
e,
are the lines from which the wide
seams commence
for the giving-out of the gores at clew.
d\,o e towards clue
and upon the
last
seam indicates the
extent of the stretching ef the clew.

line
running from clew towards and below the tack shows
the difference of cloth required upen the stay to that of the last.
JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL.
Lines upon this
'the
sail represent in
every particular those upon

is
foresail already described, save that the centre of effort
upon
the lower angle of topsail.
YARD TOPSAIL.
Lines within the area of a to 6 and 6 to
sails previously
c are
is
similar to the
mentioned.
Line from
(i
to
squared from the

part, viz.,
line 6 to
c,
and gives the head gore upon the lower

is
11
ft.
!10 in.
From i to/
is
squared from o to
A,
and gives amount
of the
imast gore, which
ft.
The
line
from the clew to
upon the mast shows that more
cloth is needed at the
mast than
at the last.
ii6
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
JIB.
The
lines
upon
this
sail
are identical with those
already ex-
plained, with the exception of the stay lines.
The centre The outer

line
is
the straight line by which the sail was

flow.
first
drawn.
shows the extent of
The inner
line indicates the
position of the head
and tack when spread, as the amount

is
of flow is
calculated from that line to the outer one, which
explained in the
allowances.
,,,.
,e.-aiirr??
^^^^^^
i
in. per foot.)
**'"^"'
'^''
(Scale,
?5
'?r
J^
^ ^
IS.
xS^.=Y AWIi or
KETCH'S MAINSAIL
(Scale, i in. per foot.)
(diagonal cut).
Fig.
20.-F0RESAIL
(diagonal cut).
Figr.
21.JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL (diagonal

(Scale, J In. per foot.)
cut).
Fig.
32.YARD TOPSAIL (diagonal

cut).
Fig.
33.JIB (diagonal
(Scale,
out).
in.
per foot.)
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
SAILS.
117
CUTTER'S MAINSAIL.
(Fig.
18.)
The number
of cloths required for this mainsail

:
upon 24
Feet.
in.
canvas are arrived at as follows

Length of Line, a Leech and Mast Tablings 14 Seams, If wide
together,
Inches.
8
Add
to J
27
1
7J
Divide by Width of Canvas

(Giving barely 14i Cloths)
2)
29 14
15J
The mast does not need
so
much
cloth
by 18
in. as
does the
YAWL OR KETCH'S
(Fig.
MAINSAIL.
19.)
The number
under
:
of cloths required for this mainsail are obtained as
Feet.
Inches.
6 8
Length of Line, to 6 Leech and Mast Tablings

ffi
...
28
1
15 Seams, If inch wide
8J
"Width of Canvas
(Barely 15J Cloths)
30
15
lOJ lOJ
The
last cloth is
even with that of the mast.
FORESAIL.
(Pig.
20.)
:
The number
of cloths required is arrived at as follows
Length of Line, a to 6 Leech and Stay Tablings

8 Seams, \\ inch wide

ii8
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL.
(Fig.
21.)
sail
The number
follows
:
of
cloths
required for this
are
obtained as
Length of Line, a to 5 Leech and Mast Tablings 7 Seams, 1 inch wide
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
SAILS.
119
CUTTER'S MAINSAIL.
The allowances The head
gore,
in,
requisite for stretching, &c., are as follows
will give out
at the rate of 2 in. per foot of the peek

of slack
which
is
is
12
ft.
Eeduce by the quantity
seams taken
from the
which
at the rate of 3 in. per foot of the distance

leech.
clew to
upon the
ft.,
The
line is
squared from the leech to tack,

the
and gives 13
which, deducted from the peek gore, gives

as
amount
h to g.
of stretch
17^
in.,
which must be taken in by the seams

to
and leech To
tabling,
commencing
widen the seams upon the
line
arrive at the necessary allowance for the stretching of the

effort
gores at clew, the centre of
must
first
be found, which
is
shown
upon the drawing by a

ing so that the line
is
star.
Square from the leech to mast, mark(e
struck through the centre
to
i).
The allow-
ance needed
e
is at
the rate of \\ in. per foot of the length of line from
upon leech
to the star at centre,
which
is
is
14
ft.
in.,
giving the
stretching tendency at 2 If- in.
This
from a square
of the leech
and and
foot lines to the last seam,
and should be taken in by the seams

e
tablings,
commencing
to
to
widen at the lines dio

is
upon the upper

The amount
at centre is at
i
part,
and d
/ upon
the lower, as the strain
across the canvas
inside d to mast, so that no

of hollow required to the
seam allowance
is
needed.
mast
for the pressure of
wind
the rate of a j in. per

viz.,
ft.
of the length of line across the sail

in.
to
e,
81
ft.
9 in.
ft.),
Add
per
ft.
of the length
from clew to
hollow needed,
at the rate of
upon
viz..
|-
leech (13
which
will give the
amount
of
is
Ill
per
in. bare.
ft.
The round required

gaff.
to the
head
in.
of the length of the

of the sail
The mast
for
is
must be regulated
For a coasting
to the class
vessel,
of
vessel
which the
sail is intended.
where the truss
much
used, the mast will not stretch, but where a vessel has the
main
tack set in tight the mast will stretch about 6 in.
SAILS Ai\D SAILUfAKING.

The seam allowance
is
as under
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
FORESAIL.
The allowances required The
for the
SAILS.
stretching of the gores at the
clew should be calculated upon the same principle as the mainsails.

stretch being only 1 in. per
ft.
of the length of the line

ft.
from
leech {d) to the star at centre, which is 8
6 in.
the allowance to
be taken in by the seams and tablings
is
Q\
o to
in.,
commencing
to
widen the seams upon the
line leading
from
for the
upper part,
at the stay
and from
o to e
upon the lower
part.
The hollow needed
to counteract the wind's pressure at centre is at the rate of \ in. per

ft.
of the length of line

;
from the stay to leech (/to

ft.
d),
which
is
17
ft.
6 in.
adding ^
in.
per
of the distance
is 1 ft.
from the ciew to a square
from the leech to tack, which

stay will be 4|- in.
6 in., the necessary hollow to

for the wind's exit out
The slack seam required
of the after leech is at the rate of 3 in. per foot of the distance
from
in.
the clew up the leech upon a square of the tack, which gives 4^
to be
commenced
at the centre, the greatest portion being
taken in
above.
The seam allowance

a,re
for the giving out
of the gores at the last
as under
SAILS
This
sail
differs
;
AND SAILMAKING.
effort
only in respect to the centre of
being
upon the lower angle
thereforethe line through the centre must be
struck from a square of the foot line, and the calculation the length of line from the foot of sail
is
is
(e)
made upon
which
to the star at centre,
ft.
6 in.
in.,
The amount
to
to be taken in
by the seams and tablings
1\
commencing
widen the seams upon the line leading

o to e
from
id d
upon the upper, and from

at the mast,
is
upon the lower
part.
The hollow
which
is
required to act against the wind's
pressure at the centre

line
at the rate of \ in. per foot of the length of
from the mast
to star at centre,
which
is
ft.
Add
\ in. per
of
foot of the length of line
from the clew up the leech upon a square

this
sail
the tack, which
is
upon
12
ft.,
making
7 in. as the
amount
of hollow required.
The seam allowance

last is as follows
:
for the
No. of Seams.
stretching of the gores
upon
the-
Last Seams.
Inches.
...
...
i \
14
Leech Tabling
YARD TOPSAIL.
The necessary allowance
under
:
for the
stretching of the gores are as
For the clew the

which
is
rate is
in.
is
per foot of the
full
last
gore,
14
ft.
therefore 14 in.
tablings need to be taken in,

the upper part
amount which the seams and commencing upon the line 6 to a upon
the
and
6 to c
upon the lower.
This allowance
is
upon a
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
SAILS.
123
square of the leech and foot lines to the last

line
it
line.
Upon
7
the last
will give out
about 18
in.,
and the
foot of sail at the tack will
give out 1 in. per foot of the
mast
gore,
which
is
ft.
The head
will stretch but very little, so there is
no wide seam needed upon the

in about 4 in. to
head.
The leech tabling should be creased

per foot of the length of the yard.
make
the allowance required.
The head should be rounded

The mast
at the rate of
in.
of this sail should
be creased straight.
The seam allowance

under
:
for the
stretching of the last gores is as
124
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
amounts
as the
to 33j- in.,
slack canvas per yard as under
which deducted
of
from the 452

the stay.
in-,
leaves
12J
in.
amount
of the stretching
Rope.
Slack Cloth.
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
SAILS.
125
CALCULATION OF THE GORES FOR CUTTER'S MAINSAIL

(DIAGONAL-CUT)
Upon
Upper Part.
24-in. Canvas.
126
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OF THE GORES FOR YAWL OR KETCH'S MAINSAIL (DIAGONAL CUT)

Upon
Upp
24-in. Canvas.
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
SAILS.
127
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL

(DIAGONAL-CUT)
Upon
24-in. Canvas.
128
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
CALCULATION OP THE GORES FOR
JIB (DIAGONAL-CUT)
Upon 2 4 -in. Canvas.

Upper Fart.
No. of
Cloths.
Lower Fart.
Last
Grores.
Stay Gores.
Ft. In.
Stay Gores.
Ft. In.
Inches.
104
6
114
Hi
114 114 114
25
7
15
74
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT CUTTER'S MAINSAIL

(DIAGONAL-CUT).
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
SAILS.
129-
DIMENSIONS FOR CUTTING OUT YAWL OR KETCH'S MAINSAIL (DIAGONAL- CUT).
';
'3
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.

(DIAGONAL-CUT).
ON DIAGONAL-CUT
SAILS.
131
JIB (DIAGONAL-CUT).
132
SAILS
If
AND SAILMAKING.
it
a leech rope
is
put on,
should be at the rate of a ^
in.
per
yard of slack rope.
The
size of the clew rope is 4|- in., which,
when over the
splice,-
should be commenced even, and gradually tightened so that the last
yard at the clew has
If- in. of slack cloth.
The
foot rope
must be sewn on
slack.
ROPING OP YAWL OR KETCH'S MAINSAIL

(DIAGONAL-CUT).
The mast and head should be treated in the manner already
described for the cutter's mainsail.
The
size of the leech rope should be 3 in.,

size of the clew rope is
and sewn on even.
The
splice,
5 in.,
and should, when over the
be commenced even, and gradually tightened until the last yardin. of slack cloth.
has 2
ROPING OP PORESAIL (DIAGONAL-CUT).

The
size
of the stay rope is
2^
in.,
and must be sewn on, com-
mencing the
the
first
yard with 2 in. of slack cloth, gradually decreasing
amount
The The
of slack per yard until the last yard is even.
size of the leech rope is 1|^ in.,
and should be sewn on

sail.
at the
rate of \ in. of slack rope per yard of the

size
of the clew rope is 3 in.,
and should, when over the

until the last yard
slack.
splice,
be
commenced
even,
and gradually tightened

foot rope
has 1
in. of slack cloth.
The
must be sewn on
ON DIAGONAL-CUT SAILS.
133
ROPING OP JIB-HEADED TOPSAIL (DIAGONAL-CUT).

.The size of the mast rope
is 2|^ in.,
and must he commenced even
at the tack, gradually tightened so that the centre yard has 2 in. of
slack cloth, then diminishing the

slack cloth.
same
until the last yard
has ^
in.
The
size of the leech rope is
If
in.,
and must he sewn on
at the
rate of ^ in. per yard of slack rope.
The
little
size of the clew rope is 2|^ in.,
and should he commenced a
slack and brought even at the clew.
The
foot rope is 1|^ in.,
and must be sewn on
slack.
ROPING OP YARD TOPSAIL (DIAGONAL-CUT).

The
^
size of the
mast rope
is
2f
is
in., to
be sewn on at the rate of
in. of slack cloth
per yard of rope.
The
under
:
size of the
head rope
li
in.,
which should be put on as
Sope.
Yards.
1
2
3 i 5 6 7
8 9 10
11
12
134
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
JIB (DIAGONAL-CUT).
ROPING OP
The
size of the stay rope is
3^
in., to
be sewn on as follows
Bope.
135
CHAPTER
XI.
ON HOBIZONTAL-GUT
SAILS.
Cutters, Mainsail and Foresail Calculation of Gores Necessabt Allowances BopiNG, &c. Beuabes Thereon.
CALCULATION OF GORES FOR MAINSAILS (HORIZONTAL GUT).

12-iN. Canvas.

SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
NECESSARY ALLOWANCES.
Foe
the stretching the
leach shows 24 in. round.
The seams
should'
in. per-
be widened from straight line of peak to sheet, at the rate of 6

foot of
round
this therefore needs

foot
12
in.
taken in by seams.
gores, at the
Head and
seams require
to be creased wider at
ft.
rate of \ in. per foot of gore.
Head showing 8
in.
gore, foot
28
ft.
For stretching upon spars f
per foot of gore on head and foot
this gives
head
13|^ in., foot
21
is
in.
The head needs

in.,
to
be rounded
in.
per foot of length
which
at
in.
20
giving 5 in. hollow to mast
at the rate of
in.
per foot of width at line of throat
foot straight,
likewise..
with exception
of end
sheet
turned up 2
in.
and tack
Body seam reckoned
at
ROPING.
Mast rope 2J
in., to
be put on as under
Eope.
Pig.
24 MAIN3AIL
(horizontal cut).
ON HORIZONTAL-CUT
SAILS.
137
CALCULATION OF GORES TOR FORESAIL

(HORIZONTAL
Liaoh.
CUT).
Stay.
138
SAILS
AND SAILMAKING.
NECESSARY ALLOWANCES.
Leach 9
to sheet.
in.
round
seams
in.
to
be widened 4|
in.
from line of head
Hollow to stay
4J
per foot of width at centre.
ROPING.
Stay rope, size 2^
in.,
to be put
on as under
:^
Yard..
1
2 3
4 5 6
7
Fig. 25
-FORESAIL
(liorizontal cut).
>39
CHAPTEE
Keed
XII.
CONGLUDINO REMARKS.
op Care in the Manupacturb op Sails Good Workmanship Essential Oreasino Wide Seams Proportion op Allowances The "Science" and
"Art"
of Sailmaking.
Great care should be exercised

sails
in the manufacture of all fore
and
aft
throughout
and even those things which are deemed by some

Carelessness and
sailmakers very trivial should be carefully treated.

indifference in this respect will do
much
to spoil the effect of a sail,
however near and true the calculations may have been.
The rudimentary part
of the art of sailmaking has not been dealt
with to any great extent in this treatise. be denied that good workmanship
of a good sail.
is
At the same time,
it
cannot
most
essential to the production
For instance, the holes that are worked upon the

etc., of
head, mast, foot,
sail,
should be worked at the same depth
from the edge, one with the other.
Holes
for
the cringles at the
corners should be worked fair with the angle of strain, and each part
bear a proportionate strain.
When
sewing over the splices of ropes,

is
they should be treated so that when strain

fair
applied they shall be
with the
sail,
and not turn over or under.

it
When
sewing over the
big end of a splice,
should be turned out long-jawed, and gradually

splice.
If
rounding in again until over the
working from the small
end, as upon the clew rope, the splice should be gradually thrown over
upon the
splice,
sail,
so that the rope is

it
made
longer jawed until clear of the

is fairly
then gradually bring
back until the rope
rounded in
I40
SAILS
All linings
AND SAILMAKING.
of the
again.
sail, at
and tablings should be
same thread as the

and tack
the parts to which they are attached.

absolutely necessary that the position of the throat
It is
of a mainsail be determined before the creasing of the wide seams can
be properly done.
jib
The same may be
said as regards the sheet of a

sheet.
It is
and
all sails
that are cut
down from the
the best plan,
when
creasing the wide seams, to use a board or dresser, so that the
cloth can be laid out to the full length of
seam required.
The
cloth
can then be pinned down
to the
board with a small pricker at the
width of the body seam, where the wide seam commences.

pricker should then be inserted at the
calculation.
first
Another
width of
seam mark
at
For instance, upon the
foot of mainsail it should be

first
evenly creased from pricker to pricker, after which the
pricker
can be used to pin down the width of the seam required at

will be
foot.
This
found a great improvement to treating the seam upon the
bench.
To
round,
it
get the true length of the foot of a mainsail
which has a
should be spread upon the floor to get a straight line from
the tack to clew,

line with
when
it
should be picked up and measured upon that
a yard-stick.
first
The
three mainsails that are mentioned in this work have

sails.
been treated as racing yacht
If
no leech ropes are used, the

sail,
tabling should be turned in 4 times thick for a large

for a smaller one,
tight.
and 3 times
which must be well

fitted,
stitched, but the twine not
drawn
be of
restraining line,
within the leech tabling,
may
some
benefit in steadying the leech of a mainsail
when damp.
When
putting in, sufficient
room must be allowed
for its working, or it will
prove more detrimental than otherwise.
The proportion
is
of allowances given for the roping of these sails

sail.
as great
as
is
required for any
For smaller racing yachts
the same proportion of allowance of cloth per yard of rope should
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
_.
141
be made, reducing the amount of slack cloth in like manner as the

size of the rope in circumference.
The mast rope

the
of
mainsails, for the class of
vessels that use

;
main tack but

jibs,
little,
should not be sewn on so tightly
but stay
ropes of
which are not attached to a
stay, should be treated as
those given in Chapter VI. upon Allowances.
There
is
no reason why
all
merchant vessels should not have
sails--
of the best manufacture, as the percentage of risk is not so great,
and
there
is
not so
much
strain
upon the
vessel.
The best
sails, also, add.
to the sailing qualities of a vessel, and being fair they bear a propor-
tionate strain throughout, therefore lasting
much
longer than
unevem
ones,
and costing no more in

There are
their manufacture.
many
sails of various
shapes the names of which are

is
not mentioned in this work.

treated upon,
The reason
that
if
all sails
had been
much unnecessary matter

satisfaction, all
sails
so far as the art given.
and science
of the trade is concerned
would have been

The "
To
give
must be manufactured upon the

science " of the trade
;
principle laid
down
in this book.
is
in
getting out a geometrical plan of the sail required
finding therefrom
is
the centre of
collected,
effort,
where the force
of the
wind
;
supposed to be
finally,
and obtaining the angles
of strain
and
squaring
the sail from the after leeches, thus finding the position of strains in
relation to the threads
of
the canvas,
and thereby being able
to
calculate the allowances needed for the stretching of the gores upon
such parts as are affected by the wind, &c. The " art " of the trade is in dealing with the knowledge thus
gained,
and in the general work

all
of
necessary in
branches of the trade,
to properly produce a fore
and
aft
sail
Much skill is but any sailmaker who is able can make ships' square sails,
manufacture.
as they are more simple of construction.

UNWIN BROTHBES, LIMITBD, THE GBESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON.
A OVER TISEMENTS.
Thomson's Yacht Canvas.
M.
C.
Thomson &
'
Co., Ltd.,
SAIL-CLOTH MANUFACTURERS,
moxha; Wardmill Arbroath.
,
98.
Holm
la,
street,
,
QLASGOW,
.^,^^, LONDON,
Bow
_,
Lane,
Make
Speciality of
YACHT SAIL-CLOTHS
of
every description.
FLAX, EGYPTIAN
Sole NlaKers of
tl|e
& AMERICAN COTTON,

24
SILK,
in 12, 15, 18,
&
36 inch widths.
World lênowned
"HURRICANE" CANVAS.
> ^^^
Tarpaulin and Waterproof Canvas a Speciality. Pattorns and PricBs on ApitHcationm
BINKS BROTHERS,
Established 183S.
MAKERS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF
STEEL & IRON WIRE ROPES, AND GALVANIZERS.
MILLWALL, LONDON,
l/acliis* 7{igging fitted conjpiefe
E.
alo/f.
ready
to
send
ALL KINDS OF IRONWORK GALVANIZED.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
Henry Bannister &

yacftt
ESTABLISHED
1520.
Co.,
Rope
IKanufacturers,
Co WES,
War
Office,
I.W.
of Trade.
Contractors to Admiralty,
Board
SPECIALITIES :
Finest Yacht Manilla,
Hemp &
all
Italian Rope,
of the highest class and made from specially selected imported Hemp.
BOLT ROPE OF HEMP OR ITALIAN,

Lightly Tarred by Special Process.
Orders
of any description
can
be executed promptly.
DYIME
"
A.
EVEWS,
LONDON,
.
Lignum
Vitse.
York Road, Limehouse,
Yacht Blocks and Sheaves,

In Ash, Boxwood, and
Hl0o
of
in (Bun=jfflbetal
an& (5alpani3e6 5ron.
Makers
DYNE'S PATENT YACHT BLOCKS.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
Shipbuilding, Marine Engineering, Navigation, etc.

Marine Engines and
G. Baubb.
Boilers.
Their Design and Construction.

.
By
Dr.
Translated from the German by E. M. Donkin and S. B. Donkin, Edited by L. S. Eobertson, M.Inst.O.E. Medium 8vo, cloth . Net 25/-
The Naval Architect's and Shipbuilder's Pocket-Book

Rules, and Tables, and Marine Engineer's and Surveyor's 0. Maokrow
of
Formulae,
Book
of Reference.
By
Net 12/6
Wannan's Marine Engineer's Guide

Certificates of
to
Competency.
By
A. C.
Board of Trade Examinations for Wannan and E. W. I. Wannaw. 8vo,

Net 10/6
cloth
Wannan's Marine Engineer's Pocket-Book.

leather
By
A. C.
Wannan.
18mo,
5/.
Marine Engines and Steam Vessels.

Crown
8vo, cloth
By
E.
Mueeat and
G. Cablisle.
4/g
Elementary Marine Engineering.

Polio, cloth
A Manual
for
Young Marine Engineers
and Apprentices. By J. S. Bebwbr 16 Chain Cables and Chains. By T. W. Teaill, E.E.E.N., M.Inst.O.E.
The Shipbuilding Industry of Germany.

Super-royal 4to, cloth
By
2 2s. G. Lehmann-Felskowski.
Net 10,6
. . .
Ships and Boats.

Sliips for
By W. Bland.
Crown
Crown
8vo, cloth
.1/6
of.
Ocean and River Service,
Principles of the Construction

4to, cloth
.
An
By H. A. SoMMEBFBLDT. Atlas of Engravings
Svo, cloth
1/6
to Illustrate above.
Naval Architecture.
J.
An
Exposition of the Elementary Principles.
.7/6 By
Pkake.
Crown
Svo, cloth
The Art and Science of Sailmaking. By S. B. Sadler. Sails and Sail-Making. With Draughting, and the Centre
Sails.
3/6 4to, cloth, 12/6
of Effort of the
2/6
By R.
-
Kipping, N.A.
Crovm
Svo, cloth
Masting, Mast
Crown
Making, and Rigging of Ships.
By
R. Kipping, N.A.
2/-
Svo, cloth
Sea Terms, Phrases, and Words. English-French, French-BngUsh. By W. PiEEiB. Pcap. Svo, cloth SA Eudimentary Treatise on Navigation. Sailor's Sea Book By J.
:
't'
Practical
Gbbbnwood and W. H. Rossbr. Crown Svo, cloth By J. Greenwood and Navigation.

half-bound
2/6
W. H. Eossee.
12mo,
7/_
Navigation and Nautical Astronomy, in Theory and Practice.
By
Prof.
2/6
Mathematical
Crown Svo, cloth Tables, for Trigonometrical, Astronomical, Calculations. By H. Law and J. R. Younq. Grown Svo
J.
R. YouNa.
and Nautical
.
.
4/-
London: CROSBY
LOCKWOOD &
SON,
7,
Stationers' Hall Court, E.C.

Sadler Sailmaking

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sadler Sailmaking

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sadler Sailmaking

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Art

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE

uorary Cornell University

3 1924 030 902 765

Cornell University Library

Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

the United States on the use of the

AKT AND SCIENCE OF SAILMAKING

AET AND SCIENCE

Pbaotical Sailmakbe, Buenham-on-Ceouch

CKOSBY LOCKWOOD AND SON

STATIONERS' HALL COUBT, LUDGATE HILL

meet with a favour-

able reception, not only

by the Sailmaker, but also by those who use

as no book has hitherto been published, to his knowledge, which

deals with the subject of Sailmaking in a really scientific manner.

convinced that no manufacture can be successfully carried

and science are required in Sailmaking

evident from the fact

maker, and have

Author uses the word "

and, indeed, essential feature in a fore and

does not hesitate to add that, in his

of lives sacrificed annually, in

should only be the means of

reducing this loss of

and property, the Author

has given years of careful observation and study to the work of

he believes, to set before

anyone who brings intelligence to his work principles by which can be

productions of no maker in the trade.

has not forgotten a remark made to him

years ago by the

foreman of the most famous yacht sailmaking firm in this country

perhaps in the world

as to the secret of that firm's success,

that their success was owing to " attention given to apparent

be found to practically demon-

strate the truth of that assertion.

so arranged that the several operations of Sailmaking

with distinctive heads,

under each chapter;

and the Author confidently believes

that, while a careful perusal

will confer a lasting benefit

handbook of the kind

in the prosecution of their calling.

NOTE TO SECOND EDITION.

edition being called for, the

Author gladly takes the opportunity

of expressing his grateful thanks

for the favourable

that its trustworthiness and accuracy

in detail have been verified in practice.

(being Chapter XI. of this edition) has

The Best Bolt Rope Its Flexibility Tables

ON THE CENTRE OF EFFORT.

Importance of Finding Position of Centre of Gravity Drawings