White Polytarp Sails = PolySails
PolySail International
High Performance/Low Cost Sails for Small Sailboats
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PolySail International has been supplying
low-cost, high performance polytarp sails and sailmaking
kits to home boatbuilders since 1996. Our
experience with polytarp sailmaking and with
polytarp as a sail material for small sailboats is unrivaled. And, as our research, real-world testing, and
continuing customer feedback indicate, the PolySails
we construct do not fail or fail to impress with their durability,
appearance, and performance. We now offer finished
sails in a variety of colors, weights, and trim colors. We also offer custom sail construction for a
fraction of the cost of most sail lofts.
Please see our products page
for more details on these options. Our
PolySail International lugsail captures a hint of
wind and a glint of early morning sun as Mike Monies and Andrew Linn launch
SCAMP in the 2011 |
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To learn more about our white polytarp sails, sail kits, or PolySail® construction, click on the buttons above or
scroll down to the additional buttons below and at the bottom of the
page. We offer a number of additional
pages of interest to boatbuilders, such as our recently
updated Old Boat Plans (click on
the three-masted clipper at the left) or our free and low cost boats pages. Stay up
to date on sails we are building and new construction techniques we are using
by becoming a fan of PolySail International on Facebook Clicking “Photos” and
then “See All Photos” will bring up albums on a number of different sails and
sail types we have constructed. We also host a forum
called Start Sailing @ 60 to
encourage seniors to get involved with sailing. We are currently hosting a
workshop on the building of a PDRacer called Dangerous Duck. Click 60 Sailing to go to the site. |
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From step 1È To sailing in a few
hoursÆ Click below to access the PolySail Library
and Sail Database…..
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Ray Hodsdon’s beautiful little Shellback Dinghy sports a PolySail lug. Click on the photo for Ray’s testimonial
and more customer pictures.
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We are constantly working to update this site, and a number of
new links have been added and old links restored, including: ·
18 Scows ·
Evolution of the amazing Z-PDR ·
2010-2012 Update to the Evolution of the Z-PDR ·
Free and Low Cost Boat Plans ·
Non-binding Sail Hoisting System The Links Pages have been
updated and include special instructions for accessing a Sailing
Simulator. With the help of famed author/sailmaker
Emiliano Marino (The Sailmaker’s Apprentice), we are now
working to update the Sail Database in
the PolySail Library. |
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Build a
$300 racing class sailboat! We’ve built five of
these boats for our own use and helped build seven more. Why?
These boats are simple to build, stable on the water, and great fun to race. PolySail International supports this fast-growing,
family-friendly, wide open sailboat class with
calendar sales and competition sponsorships. It is also the
only racing class that uses nearly all polytarp sails. Click the
button to learn more. |
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This
PolySail page is dedicated to families, youths and others who might want to try their hands at
building a boat for the first time. Most of the plans require little
investment in time or money, but pay off big in terms of learning,
relationships, health, and
outdoor recreation. |
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PolySail boat racing? Well, I used to live near the most
famous track in the |
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Here’s an updated list of carefully selected links
related to polytarp sails and boatbuilding. IMPROVE YOUR SAILING SKILLS with
National Geographic’s SAILING SIMULATOR or calculate
the power of your sail with the SAILPOWER CALCULATOR. Includes links to most
of the boats I have built or restored. |
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Click on
the button to the left to heck out the evolution of our scow-type fishing
boats from the Styrofoam-hulled Hot Tub to Hot Tub
III, a tunnel hull disguised as a large box. Several other photo essays trace
the development of our 4’ x 8’ box boats including 18 Scows, Z-Boat, and Evolution of the Amazing Z-PDR |
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Here
are some great old boat plans and designs from the late 1930's and early
1940's. My brother Dan, who collects antiques, bestowed an old coverless
paperback upon me, and I've been pouring over these
boat plans ever since. Updated with six newly added plans! |
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PolySail International along with the Lake Vista Association
sponsored its first Hoosier Regatta and Race in 2008 for PDRacers.
This event was a model for other PDRacer messabouts. Click on the button for more info. |
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Foolhardy was our first sharpie
design. Trials showed her to be very fast, but she was built from leftovers
and soon rotted when flooded in a winter storm and was
replaced by Essence. Essence has now been given a new home. |
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Click on
the button to the left for instructions on building a lightweight box mast
for your dinghy. |
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Click
on the Weekender Jib & Gaff button to learn how to build the jib and gaff
for this popular Stevenson Projects pocket cruiser from our 15' x 20'
Weekender White PolySail Kit. |
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Advantages
to the home boatbuilder of our stronger, U-V
protected white polytarp material include: 1.
Low cost and ease of replacement (Our kits start at $64.95) 2.
Strength and light weight (We’ve climbed onto one of our small triangular sails suspended from
the three corners to see if it would
stretch out of shape. It didn't.) 3.
Resistance to water, rot, and sunlight (We've used our white polytarp for boat covers for the past five years.
Unlike most tarps, they don't
disintegrate in a season or two.) 4.
Speed and simplicity of construction (White polytarp can be taped rather than sewn, but the material sews
easily if you want to reinforce edges and corners, add battens, or include
windows.) 5.
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Appearance and performance that rivals "real"
sails (See the Stevenson Projects link on our links page
for their comparison of polytarp and dacron
sails.) Construct your own rugged polytarp sails from our PolySail® Kit in a few hours for a fraction of the cost
of traditional sails. Our kits are ideal for the small boat sailor or builder who
wants a sail or two now for minimal cost or experimental purposes.
Made from brilliant white, heavy-weave polyethylene (polytarp) and
extra-strength, double-sided tape, our PolySails®
are difficult to distinguish from traditional sails in appearance or
performance on the water. |
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PolySail International 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. Copyright
© 1997 PolySail International. All
rights reserved. Listed
in Dun & Bradstreet |
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Page updated on 8/17/2012