material (tape?) to repair sail

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www.ttdown.com - 17 Jul 2003 01:37 GMT

I just bought a used r/c sailboat.
very fancy, very fast.

there is a very small hole in the sail.
actually, it isn't even a hole yet.
it's a dimple, with some fraying fibers
around the edges.
less than a centimeter in radius.

i'd like to fix it now, before it grows.
i'd like to do it nearly invisibly.

suggestions for a material to use?

i don't know what the sail is made of.
the rest of the boat is kevlar, carbon
fiber, etc. so that suggests something
"upper end".

i've seen references to polyurethane
sail repair tape, but:
1) no apparent sources on the web
(according to google)
2) i'm not sure this is thin enough for
my paper thin sails. seems like it
is for "real" boats, not r/c models.
3) not a lot of local "hobby shops"

thanks!

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Steve Watkin - 21 Jul 2003 21:58 GMT

Try sticky backed ripstop nylon possibally from "real" boat shops or kite
stores

SW

> I just bought a used r/c sailboat.
> very fancy, very fast.
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> thanks!

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Paul Davenport - 22 Jul 2003 20:33 GMT

I agree, ripstop nylon can be gotten in very thin sheets and is quite cheap.

Davers

> Try sticky backed ripstop nylon possibally from "real" boat shops or kite
> stores
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> >
> > thanks!

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Stagis Family - 26 Jul 2003 12:53 GMT

*blush* On my TriSpi 25 sails, I had to repair a cigarette melt-through
(remember - you can admire your boat from further than 3" away). I used
Scotch tape, believe it or not. It's still on there after a full year.

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Fly Higher - 26 Jul 2003 14:40 GMT

> *blush* On my TriSpi 25 sails, I had to repair a cigarette melt-through
> (remember - you can admire your boat from further than 3" away). I used
> Scotch tape, believe it or not. It's still on there after a full year.

I wondered about using that too. I'd be curious to know what performance
differences it might make to the sail and boat? Doubt it would be
detectable in a model though. Unless maybe it's a big patch. :)

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Stagis Family - 30 Jul 2003 01:08 GMT

It was on a Victoria, so it's a small boat - and luckily, a small hole. But
the tape hasn't lifted, so it's fine with me - and I cleaned up the scorch
marks before taping (a little X-acto work). It's basically invisible,
though it's yellowing some.....

> > *blush* On my TriSpi 25 sails, I had to repair a cigarette melt-through
> > (remember - you can admire your boat from further than 3" away). I used
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> differences it might make to the sail and boat? Doubt it would be
> detectable in a model though. Unless maybe it's a big patch. :)

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Water Models / July 2003

material (tape?) to repair sail