DIY Canoe Sails
Since the late 1800s, "how-to" articles have been published about sailing canoes. For many centuries, the traditional canoe was the primary mode of transportation on the waterways of North America. The addition of a sail to this structure would naturally increase the speed and therefore the distance that the canoe could travel. Today commercial kits are available that are made of modern materials. For those who are curious about sailing canoes but wish to save money, there is a way to make a canoe sail. The canoe will need to be rigged for a mast.
Things You'll Need
- Pattern
- Polytarp, 101 inches square
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Nylon thread
- Sewing machine
- Cord, 1.5 inches in diameter
- Mast, 3 inches by 63 inches
Instructions
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1
Lay a 101-inch piece of polytarp on a flat surface and place the sail pattern on top. The pattern piece should have the following dimensions: the foot or bottom is 101 inches; the leech or trailing edge of the sail is 134 inches; the luff which is attached to the mast is 99 inches; the head or top is 71 inches; and the throat to the leech is 55 inches. Cut out this piece using industrial scissors. Ensure that the leech and foot are the finished edges of the polytarp. Fold over the edges of the head and throat 1 inch and sew in place to finish the edge.
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2
Along the luff side, make five holes 3 inches in diameter that are evenly spaced from the top to the bottom of that side. Make a similar hole in the clew, where the leech and foot meet. Reinforce the holes by sewing around the edges.
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3
Cut five pieces of the cord into 7-inch strips. Thread through the five holes in the polytarp and tie in place around the mast.
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4
Cut a piece of cord to the length of 4 feet. Tie this tightly to the hole in the clew. This will act as the main line to control the sail.
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5
Fit the mast with the attached sail into the rigging in the canoe.
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