Appendices -- Useful Supplemental Information

TANBARK & CREAM SAILCLOTH

Since Dabbler Sails specializes in traditional sails, customers often choose a dyed cloth that mimics either the off-white, creamy color of Egyptian cotton sailcloth (which is extinct), or the tanbarked canvas of yesteryear’s working watercraft. The flavors we usually stock (from the top down) are Contender tanbark (a rich chocolate brown) from Holland; Challenge tanbark (a reddish brown) made in America; Hayward Mills tan (a brownish red) from England; Bainbridge Classic Cream from England; and Contender Classic Light Cream (very pale) from Holland. Except for Bainbridge cream, which is not available lighter than 5.5 oz, all these fabrics are available in weights from 4 oz up.

These traditional-colored cloths are woven for low-aspect applications, like four-sided sails and leg-o-mutton shapes. They tend to be “softer” than the standard white cloths, and make friendly sails for small craft. Mills seem unable to supply cloth with consistent color -- the next roll will not perfectly match the previous one. To minimize waste, the sailmaker uses the slightly different left-over cloth for patches and tablings, or hopes for a very small sail to use up the short rolls. Higher initial cloth cost and the inevitable waste because of color variation raise the cost of tanbark and cream sails significantly.

Historically “tanbarked” sails were those soaked in a solution of oak bark to keep the natural fiber from mildewing. Modern day tanbark and cream polyester fabrics are dyed in the bolt with synthetic colors.

Beware -- all dyed sailcloth will fade if left uncovered in sunlight for weeks at a time. If left uncovered on a boom, only the portions most exposed will fade -- resulting in a streaked effect.