Appendices -- Useful Supplemental Information

DABBLER SAILS’ TYPICAL FINISH

Every loft has it’s “standard” way of finishing sails. Sails that have come into our loft for repair exhibit many levels of finish -- from slapdash to elegant. Understandably, sails from the big production lofts are usually built for utility, not beauty.

Dabbler Sails has settled on a standard finish that includes: narrow panels when appropriate to match the cut and design of traditional sails, sewn with contrasting thread to highlight the construction (and keep the operator attentive to his work); three-strand spun Dacron boltropes, machine sewn on tabling cut from the same color cloth the sail is made of; traditional patches on traditional sails, or radial patches for modern sails; protective patches under batten pockets; leather where chafe might cut stitching -- as on corners where sheets are attached. Corner, reefing, and lacing hardware might be brass spur grommets, nickel-plated brass spur grommets (more corrosion resistant for salt water), or Bainbridge Inox hydraulic “pressed” rings for larger sails.

If a customer wants further elegance in finish we welcome the opportunity to make rat-tailed boltropes around corners with hand-sewn brass rings, or even hand-sew boltropes. These are time-consuming techniques requiring practiced skill, so they cost correspondingly more. (See "Custom Finish" on this page.)

The photo shows parts of three sails for a miniature schooner -- miter cut jib, vertical cut gaff fore and main. These are very small sails (total area 58 sq ft!), but they illustrate our “standard” finish. Every sail that leaves our loft has this minimum level of finish.