PolySail International

High Performance/Low Cost Sails for Small Sailboats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARE POLYSAILS AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL SAILS?

In response to a question about dinghy sailcloth, Emeliano Marino, author of The Sailmaker's Apprentice, wrote, "Perfectly acceptable sails may be made from Tyvek, polyethylene tarp, London Fog raincoat material, bag nylon, or tent canvas, not to mention old sails. Tarp or Tyvek sails may be taped together and require no sewing." One intrepid adventurer who goes by the name of Captain Freddy even sailed from Massachusetts to Florida rigged with blue polytarp sails that are much weaker than the white material used in our sail kits. And in Indonesia, according to Nick Burningham, an Australian who's an expert on Indonesian working craft, overlapped [doubled] polytarp sails are the standard for most ocean sailing craft.

 

While we don't recommend ocean voyaging with our white polytarp sails or use by craft larger than 20' LOA and heavier than 2000 lbs., nearly 15 years of use by reputable designers, builders, and sailors demonstrate that well-constructed polytarp sails are a sensible alternative to increasingly expensive sailmaking materials. Recently, we have constructed large polytarp sails for customers that promise to test the limits of polytarp sails. One balanced lug mainsail, constructed from 10 oz. white polytarp and intended to power a 27’ yawl, is well over 280 sq. ft. This sail is believed to be the largest single polytarp sail ever constructed, and we look forward to getting feedback once the boat is launched.

 

PolySail International CEO Dave Gray couldn’t get any lovely 100 lb. models to stretch out on our PolySail material to test the strengths of a small sail’s corners, so he hoisted his 190 lbs. onto the material for this shot.  

 

 

 

Customer Richard Frye shows off his Weekender featuring a PolySail gaff and jib.

Construct your own rugged white polytarp sails from our PolySail® Kit in a few hours for a fraction of the cost of traditional sails. No sewing required!

 

At PolySail International we constantly look for ways to test our kit materials for strength and durability. We also survey our customers to determine their satisfaction with our products and services and post these results on our website for all to see. Our aim is to offer high value, low cost products that will allow experienced boat builders and sailors inexpensive experimental sail options, and novice sailors and builders an opportunity to construct cheap, easily assembled, high-performing sails.

 

We have been in business since 1996 offering sailors both in the US and abroad an alternative to high-priced custom made sails and sail making kits. We estimate that well over 3000 sails have been constructed both from our kits and our free web-based instructions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click below to access the PolySail Library….. 

 PolySail International Owner Dave Gray sets a world record of 164 sq. ft. of sail carried on a PDRacer.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

Chuck and Sandra Leinweber’s Caprice sailing under PolySail power. 

 

The photos below show a 287 sq. ft. lug sail being cut out from a 20’ x 30’ piece of 10 oz. white polytarp and the finished sail.

PolySail International

2291 SE Gaslight St., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952-7332.

 Email polysail@polysail.com or call Dave Gray at 317 385-3444

PolySails–Sold on the Web since 1996. Customers in all 50 states and around the globe.

 

 

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This page last updated 4/3/2009