How Old Does a Boat Need to be for Tanbark Sails?

[Cal_Pir8]

Originally Posted by cburger

As a past and current owner of vessels with tanbark sail be advised they don't last as long as white sails.

When you say that they don't last as long, we are talking about the dacron sailcloth, right? Do you think they don't last as long due to the color fading or because UV damage causes them to lose their shape quicker? If it's a color thing, then the scruffier the better. (Scruffy as in faded. NOT dirty)

[cburger]

The sail cloth and thread breaks down at a faster rate

[roverhi]

I thought about Tan Bark for the new Sails on my P35. All the sailmakers that I talked with were against it. The mills apparently make the best low stretch dacron cloth in white, only. The tanbark fabric was/is less dimensionally stable and supposedly best suited for baggy cruising sails like on a Gaffer. Of course you could go high tech and get those pre-dirtied sails that are all the rage with the racers these days.

[cburger]

To that point considering that the people that where origionaly performing tan barking of sails where doing this in the 1800's I think they where going with there gut feelings and no real scientific study was done to determine if it really was beneficial at all.

[Cal_Pir8]

Well, let's see...
Tanbark is more expensive, fails sooner but looks nice to me but the Pyrate Wyfe just informed me that she insists upon having white sails.
It turns out that White is just fine.
Thank you, everybody for your input.

[sarafina]

Tan bark contains *tanic acid*. The application of tanic acid made the cotton canvas less susceptible to mildew and rot. Hence the longer life of the old school sails.

It is ironic that like many old customs this is a case where aping the old school look results in a less efficient/durable product.

[markpierce]

No reason tanbark can't be used on new vessels too.

[Lancerbye]

If the darker Tanbark sails were to cause the sail to get hotter because of the darker color, would this cause a speed increase or decrease? lol

[senormechanico]

We had tanbark on our 1985 Lord Nelson 35.
Everybody said we were a stealth boat against the evergreen trees lining the shoreline in Puget Sound.
They dried out fast and we never had any mildew problems, a big plus in the Pacific NorthWet.

[Strait Shooter]

1996, that's how old it needs to be.

[zeehag]

anyone wanting to give up their tanbark sails can send em to me, c/o solitary bird.......
would look maaahhhhhvelous on my birdee......LOL

[SkiprJohn]

Tanbark is easier on the eyes due to less glare in brilliant sun. I didn't know two things about them. I didn't know they didn't last as long and I didn't know they were more expensive. I learn something from this forum every day.
kind regards,

[benajah]

Old thread but I'll bump it.
I have tanbark sails. Need a new main but my jib is good. I can't really afford two new sails right now, so I am going to look like an idiot for awhile with a white main and a tanbark jib.
I want to get another tanbark main, but the cost for white is 920, the cost for tanbark is about 1200.

[virginia boy]

I just put money down on new tanbark sails. Mainsail, 110 yankee, and staysail from North Sails. I got the 15% winter discount but they tacked on 20% to the bill for tanbark. I also ordered black UV cover

This is the first time I've ever bought sails and the $7000.00 price tag blew my mind! OUCH! The good news is they are going to be spectacularly beautiful!

I've heard different opinions about the longevity of tanbark. It's my understanding that the darker the cloth the less it's affected by UV but others have claimed otherwise. I'd be interested to hear of other peoples experiences with UV degradation etc?

Eric

[roverhi]

None of the US sail cloth makers make Tan Bark in their best cloth. The material is a lower quality cloth just dyed red. You pay a premium for a not so great material. At least that's what my sailmaker told me. Still, nothing looks saltier than a well used set of tanbark sails