What Kind of Headsail is This?

[endoftheroad]

This thing is new, it was given to me. The previous owner found it in his boat and has no clue either. It is heavy pvc (i think) material, like an inflatable dinghy fabric.
It measures 32' 34' 13', with 19 loops and 3 on the other side.
It isn't sewn, it's glued or wellded or something.
Anyone seen anything like this?
Should I save it for an emergengy headsail?

In the middle picture the sail is still semi folded.

[Target9000]

An "unusual" headsail. :P

[zeehag]

looks like a tarp for either catching water or for shading the pointy end

[endoftheroad]

The person suspected of buying this sail (a prior owner of my friends boat) spent a fair amount of time in Mexico with the boat.
If that helps with identifying this type of sail.

zeehag;
No...it's not a tarp, it really is a sail. I thought it was a tarp all this time when it was in the bag. Today I needed some tarp to cover a construction project and when I took this out of the bag and found it wasn't a tarp I didn't have the heart to cut it up as it is well constructed and durable.

[sabray]

Looks like a cover for shading. Like a tarp but fancy so we could call it a cover. Profile makes it look like it would sit up in the bow at the pointy end. Zee is right twice today. Not that I am counting.
See how it has straps on both edges all the way up tword what might have been the head. It's a tarp cover

[endoftheroad]

2 more pics

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by sabray

Looks like a cover for shading. Like a tarp but fancy so we could call it a cover. Profile makes it look like it would sit up in the bow at the pointy end. Zee is right twice today. Not that I am counting.

Look at the pics close up, it is meant to be a sail and not a tarp.

Anyone ever had a pvc sail before?

[Delancey]

Might come in handy as a collision mat someday?

[sanssouci]

Is there a reinforced luff tape? Are there any batten pockets?

[Target9000]

How would you attach a halyard and raise it? It doesn't appear to have any spot for that.

[Jim Cate]

Considering the lack of either a luff tape or hanks and the tarp-like material I'd have to think that it is not meant to be a sail.

Nicely made, very heavy (at least in appearance) material... some one put a lot of thought and effort into this item. If it were meant to be a sail, yo would think that those above mentioned features would be there!

Cheers,

Jim

[sabray]

Aren't there ties on both edges of the sail cover tarp thing?

[endoftheroad]

The mainsail of my friends boat was of pvc material when he bought it from the previous owner. He naturally took it off of the mast and boom and didn't use it.
So...it seems that the previous owner was really using these things for functioning sails.
There is alot of work, care and thought into building this thing.
I started this thread thinking that someone here on the forum may have seen this type of material for sails somewhere
It definately is a headsail.

Target90000,
there isnt any cable or rope, only 19 stainless loops (i'm not sure what you would call them) for what would seem for fastening some sort of hanks.
There are no pockets for battens.

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

The mainsail of my friends boat was of pvc material when he bought it from the previous owner. He naturally took it off of the mast and boom and didn't use it.
So...it seems that the previous owner was really using these things for functioning sails.
There is alot of work, care and thought into building this thing.
I started this thread thinking that someone here on the forum may have seen this type of material for sails somewhere
It definately is a headsail.

Target90000,
there isnt any cable or rope, only 19 stainless loops (i'm not sure what you would call them) for what would seem for fastening some sort of hanks.
There are no pockets for battens.

You could tie(hank) it onto the front stay loosely with some Spectra line and raise it by the SS ring at the top ,I can see that ,but that stuff would seem to be unsuited for sails,maybe the guy was a tent maker that worked at Ringling bros and a sailor on a budget..lol..why not ask the PO?

[Bash]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

This thing is new, it was given to me. The previous owner found it in his boat and has no clue either.

Brilliant. The PO probably bought the boat from a classified ad that said, "Brand new headsail, never used."

Might make a nice riding sail for someone with a ketch who has no self respect.