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Modify pinhead main to square-top? #253420
10/12/12 10:35 AM
10/12/12 10:35 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2
Oak Park, IL
E
evansail Offline OP
stranger
evansail  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2
Oak Park, IL
I am in the process of restoring an old Prindle 19 and plan to wrap things up this fall/winter. It came with a Dacron pinhead main that is in really good condition for its age.

The boat will be a fun weekend cruiser for the in-law's cottage (i.e. no serious racing) so the project budget is limited - but it would still be cool to have a square-top main.

Has anyone had an older pinhead main like this modified into a square-top? It seems like it would only require a few new panels and some additional battens and batten pockets (though I am obviously not a sailmaker).

I am curious if anyone has had success with this modification - and maybe a picture or two they would be willing to share, and how much I should expect a sailmaker to charge.

Thanks!
Evan

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: Modify pinhead main to square-top? [Re: evansail] #253428
10/12/12 11:51 AM
10/12/12 11:51 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Originally Posted by evansail
I am in the process of restoring an old Prindle 19 and plan to wrap things up this fall/winter. It came with a Dacron pinhead main that is in really good condition for its age.

The boat will be a fun weekend cruiser for the in-law's cottage (i.e. no serious racing) so the project budget is limited - but it would still be cool to have a square-top main.

Has anyone had an older pinhead main like this modified into a square-top? It seems like it would only require a few new panels and some additional battens and batten pockets (though I am obviously not a sailmaker).

I am curious if anyone has had success with this modification - and maybe a picture or two they would be willing to share, and how much I should expect a sailmaker to charge.

Thanks!
Evan


Evan, You probably could get something put together in the shape of a square head, but it may not be worth the $. Square heads require a good bit more leach tension in the sail to properly hold their shape and Dacron would not hold up well for this. Additionally, it may be tough to keep the (probably decent) flying sail shape you have now with the modifications. If you want a square head, you're probably better off having a new sail made from pentex or similar (mylar film fabric).


Jake Kohl
Re: Modify pinhead main to square-top? [Re: evansail] #253452
10/13/12 01:31 PM
10/13/12 01:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
bacho Offline
old hand
bacho  Offline
old hand

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
If it was me, I would sell the nice p19 main and buy a cheap f18 main. It should break even on prices.

Re: Modify pinhead main to square-top? [Re: evansail] #253454
10/13/12 02:21 PM
10/13/12 02:21 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 431
Netherlands
DennisMe Offline
addict
DennisMe  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 431
Netherlands
I modded a larger main for my 5,2 by removing a strip from a cross cut area where the leach and luff were almost parallel. Maybe that's an option for you too. I admit I only did it because a proper sail for a 5.2 is more expensive that my whole boat is worth...

That worked very well although the dacron sail (leach) is too weak for serious racing when the wind picks up.

Thicker sailcloth would have been better, but beggars can't be choosers. In general it works well and gives me more speed downwind without aggravating the handling too much. I can even use it 1-up but have to let out 2 to three feet during the tack to prevent it from going into irons.

Re: Modify pinhead main to square-top? [Re: bacho] #253457
10/13/12 03:39 PM
10/13/12 03:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
Team_Cat_Fever Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Team_Cat_Fever  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
Originally Posted by bacho
If it was me, I would sell the nice p19 main and buy a cheap f18 main. It should break even on prices.


+1
Or an old N-20 main and have it modded if need be.


"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea
Isak Dinesen
If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most.
E. B. White
Re: Modify pinhead main to square-top? [Re: evansail] #253491
10/15/12 11:10 AM
10/15/12 11:10 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2
Oak Park, IL
E
evansail Offline OP
stranger
evansail  Offline OP
stranger
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2
Oak Park, IL
I like the idea of a used F18 or N20 main. Are there any P-19 sailors who have tried fitting either of these sails to the P-19 mast?

Re: Modify pinhead main to square-top? [Re: evansail] #253497
10/15/12 11:47 AM
10/15/12 11:47 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
bacho Offline
old hand
bacho  Offline
old hand

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 774
Greenville SC
I don't have a P19 but an owner called me once looking for a F18 sail for his. I've seen several 19's with them.

Re: Modify pinhead main to square-top? [Re: evansail] #253504
10/15/12 12:51 PM
10/15/12 12:51 PM

M
MN3
Unregistered
MN3
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i have purchased 2 f18 sails (mkI&mkII) for my 94 mystere 5.5. they both fit and performed extremely well (the difference from my boat to a f18 is i have a center board f18 have daggers)

I have had 2 tornado mains (both cut down a bit to better fit my mast). worked well


I am not sure what size your mast is, mine is 30'

Re: Modify pinhead main to square-top? [Re: ] #253535
10/16/12 10:15 AM
10/16/12 10:15 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,304
Gulf Coast relocated from Cali...
TeamChums Offline
veteran
TeamChums  Offline
veteran

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,304
Gulf Coast relocated from Cali...
I saw a P19 main a few years ago that had been modified to a square top by Glazer, I think. Looked great. As far as Dacron not working? Not true. I had one on my H21se for a while and It was fantastic. There are a few Dacron square tops running around here in Texas that are holding up very well. One is at least 10 years old on a 5.8 and made by Calvert (the same maker of my 21se main) and is still raced quite a bit. But back to the original question about modifying, I think that's the way more than a few P19MX's were done in the first place.


Lee

Keyboard sailors are always faster in all conditions.

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