Sail numbers.

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trebor
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Sail numbers.

Post by trebor »

Hi All,
I am looking for tips to stick Sail numbers on straight, I thought they would come with a graph paper on surface so you had a square to line up, but it is just the numbers, they are 4230, so only the number 2 comes with a flat base.
Their is just a trace of slightly whiter sail showing where the original numbers were.
Robert
Minisprint 4230
Tinker Traveller 160
Mirror 61147 Anastasia
http://www.aquabatdinghy.co.uk
Rupert
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Location: Cotswold Water Park

Re: Sail numbers.

Post by Rupert »

Draw a thin pencil line on the sail to line them up along. Then get them crooked anyway... Others must be better at it!
Rupert
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trebor
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by trebor »

Thanks Rupert, made me laugh, that was my first idea.
Robert
Minisprint 4230
Tinker Traveller 160
Mirror 61147 Anastasia
http://www.aquabatdinghy.co.uk
fcdbm
Posts: 36
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:51 pm

Re: Sail numbers.

Post by fcdbm »

I have used 2 ways to set out numbers.

When doing numbers on a new laser sail, lay it over an old laser sail and follow the numbers line on the old sail.

Or if you haven't got a sail to use as a template, carefully set out the line of the new numbers, as described in the racing rules or the class rules. Then mark the base line with a wide line of masking tape. Place the numbers on the sail and pencil mark the numbers to match a base line on the masking tape. Once it all looks good, start sticking the numbers. Some creasing is almost inevitable.

Setting out letters or numbers is harder than it looks, ask any old school draughtsman who had to use a stencil.
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Michael4
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by Michael4 »

as someone trained as a typographer I would make sure you don't jam them up too close to each other...space them so they look right, forget measurements and fiddle. They need a bit of air.
Tideway 206
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
Pat
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by Pat »

Draw a pencil (or masking tape) base line then to help get the numbers vertical, use a set square and draw (or masking tape) lines at right angles to this at each side of the number area and draw a vertical (fine chalk) line on each number. Then you can measure the distance between lines on sail and lines on numbers which should be the same top and bottom of the number. It's how dressmakers pin pattern pieces on to run straight and a dressmaker's fine chalk pencil may help on black numbers.

One picture or video I saw recently had a fleet where every boat had wonky numbers!
(Half Cut and What a Lark Removals Ltd)
Rupert
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Location: Cotswold Water Park

Re: Sail numbers.

Post by Rupert »

Buy a really old example of a boat so you only have one number on each side of the sail!
Rupert
Michael Brigg
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by Michael Brigg »

Rupert wrote:Buy a really old example of a boat so you only have one number on each side of the sail!
A true enthusiasts approach.

Gets my prize as the most original solution :lol:
Michael Brigg
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trebor
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by trebor »

I wonder how many number ones of all classes are left ?
Robert
Minisprint 4230
Tinker Traveller 160
Mirror 61147 Anastasia
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BRS
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by BRS »

I've got a number seven, should be easy :)
Michael4
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by Michael4 »

Don't even try to remove the glue residue from the previous numbers...you'll just make a very noticeable mess.
Tideway 206
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
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trebor
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by trebor »

Hi Michael.
I have removed all traces of old adhesive, 5 numbers per side, I worked my way through all suggested methods, cheapest first, they all worked to a degree, but best results came from celullose thinners, this dissolved all traces of adhesive, did not rub into little balls and spread all over, it went straight into rag.
Putting the new numbers back is the problem.
Robert
Minisprint 4230
Tinker Traveller 160
Mirror 61147 Anastasia
http://www.aquabatdinghy.co.uk
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trebor
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by trebor »

The one tip

Make sure sail is right way up, stood back to admire results, oops
Robert
Minisprint 4230
Tinker Traveller 160
Mirror 61147 Anastasia
http://www.aquabatdinghy.co.uk
Michael4
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Re: Sail numbers.

Post by Michael4 »

Maybe you inhaled an excess of cellulose thinners...!

I worried about cellulose thinners and sail material and didn't use them, not sure why but they'll melt anything. The other thing I thought of for clearing glue was carbon tetrachloride (oldies remember Dabitoff?) which is probably thoroughly illegal by now.
Tideway 206
11+
Sold the 'Something bigger and plastic', it never got used.
fcdbm
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Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:51 pm

Re: Sail numbers.

Post by fcdbm »

Sail numbers is one those jobs that seems straightforward, but is easy to mess up.

Remember the starboard side numbers should be above the port side numbers.

Carbon tet, well and truly banned for good reason. It used to be used in fire extinguishers as the gas would remove the oxygen from a fire, not good if used on someone on fire as it would snuff out the fire and the victim.
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