Sailcloth suppliers.

[Dave Brewer]

Could anyone point me towards a domestic source for tanbark dacron -I know Duckworks has it but hopefully it would be cheaper purchased locally.TIA,
Cheers,
Dave.

[Boatmik]

Most Sailmakers will sell cloth, thread, doublesided tape, stickyback and eyelets at reasonable prices. Of note are the eyelets. We have been able to find only one set of tools for one size of DIY eyelets that are reasonably priced. They are in the eyelet sets from Primus for tent/tarp repairs. Duckflat have them at about $10 for 15 eyelets including the tool.

Otherwise punches and the press are really expensive.

I would probably recommend making the sail then taking it you your local sailmaker to put in the eyelets.

For cloth - these people will cut lengths off the roll.
There is independent cut length (ICL) which has many types of cloth not mentioned on their website. http://www.iclsa.com.au/aboutUs.html

There is also Paskal with a downloadable catalogue at the top right of the page - I can't see sailcloth there. But useful for other things at least.
http://www.paskal.com.au

the big sail cloth suppliers are not always helpful to the home sailmaker, generally I have found more support from local sailmakers. Thought the occasional one gets narky ... most are extremely helpful.

There is no website for Dimension Polyant a big supplier of sailcloth
Dimension Polyant Sailcloth Pty Ltd 9 Powells Rd BROOKVALE NSW 2100
(02) 9905 9565

The other with no website is Bainbridge International (Aust) Pty Ltd 273 Harbord Rd BROOKVALE NSW 2100
1800 731 149

The third biggie has a reasonable informative website .. Contender
http://www.contendersailcloth.com/wovens.asp. Probably you are most interested in the "low aspect" cloths on the left. margin on this page.

Number four is
Challenge Sailcloth Australia
Burke PTY LTD
1/5 Clyde Street
Rydalmere 2116
Phone: 61 02 9638-4333

Best wishes
Michael Storer

[Dave Brewer]

You've sure given me plenty of avenues to explore-this is going to be an interesting exercise.I have copies of the Sailmaker's Apprentice and the Complete Rigger's Apprentice on the way-I plan to do a sail for my Waterman first,before moving on to the gaff cutter suit for my Yellowtail.
Best regards,
Dave.

[Boatmik]

There were some links to sailmaking videos somewhere here a few weeks ago.

Michael

[cookiesa]

Just wondering how you went? I am about to start the process of making a small sail (gaff) for our sailing dingy and was thinking of making my own (unless I can buy some second hand ones in the mean time lol)

Did you end up sourcing the cloth in Adelaide or elsewhere?

[Dave Brewer]

-ordered a pile of stuff at the one time so freight worked out pretty well.Great service too-I'll be dealing with them again.
Cheers,
Dave.