Sailmaker

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The USS Monongahela (1862), an exemplar of the 19th century sailmakers craft
The USS Monongahela (1862), an exemplar of the 19th century sailmakers craft

A sailmaker is a person who makes and repairs sails for sailboats, typically working on shore in a sail loft. Large ocean-going sailing ships often carried sailmakers among the crew. The sailmaker maintained and repaired sails, and this required some knowledge of the sailmaker's craft and many of the tools of the sailmakers loft on shore.[1]

Today, one of a sailmaker's most important jobs is to show his customers how to set and trim their sails to get the most out of them.[2] Sometimes a sailmaker will accompany the client out on the water and adjust the sails.[3] The modern sailmaker makes use of computer-aided design and manufacturing tools. Computer graphics can allow the sailmaker to produce a "lines drawing" of the sail.[4] Once the design is complete, the sailmaker can now use a low-power laser to cut the material to the exact shape.[5]

[edit] Sailmaker's tools

  • Fid, used to stretch grommets before inserting reinforcement
  • Sail palm, an oversized thimble used to drive needles through heavy canvas
  • beeswax, used on thread
  • Benchook, to provide a "third hand" to hold sailcloth taut
  • Seam rubber, to press folds in to fabric
  • sailmaker's needles

[edit] See also

James Forten

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sager, Eric (1996). Seafaring Labour. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, p. 111. ISBN 0773515232. “The first task of the sailmaker was to maintain and to repair all sails, and this required some knowledge of the sailmaker's craft and many of the tools of the sailmakers loft on shore.” 
  2. ^ Mason, Charles (2000). "Mainsail on the Wind : Pointers for Pointing, by Herb Hild", The Best of Sail Trim. Dobbs Ferry: Sheridan House, p. 3. ISBN 1574091190. “Today, one of a sailmaker's most important jobs is to show his customers how to set and trim their sails to get the most out of them.” 
  3. ^ Marino, Emiliano (2001). Sailmaker's Apprentice. City: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press, p. 402. ISBN 0071376429. “Sometimes a sailmaker will accompany the client out on the water and adjust the sails.” 
  4. ^ Garrett, Ross (1996). The Symmetry of Sailing. Dobbs Ferry: Sheridan House, p. 122. ISBN 1574090003. 
  5. ^ Crafer, R. (1993). Laser Processing in Manufacturing. London: Chapman & Hall, p. 117. ISBN 0412415208. 
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