I hadn't kmb, no. I would have thought that might rub off on your hands and clothes, especially in warm weather. The originals were painted with fish oil and soot! You might see them in natural off white while the fabric was stretched, then they'd get "dressed".
Black cotton sheets, waxed would probably do the trick, but since my Grandad used to polish his car with Kiwi boot polish, maybe you're on the button with that suggestion. I don't recall his old A50 ever becoming a black danger zone.
Worth a try I suppose. I think I have some somewhere. T'ain't long since I had some black leather shoes. BTW, PM'd you about the wherry article scans.

Martin

Just a thought Martin on the wherry sails , have you thought of using boot polish to colour the sail.
As you probably know that the original wherry sail started of white and it was only the waterproofing treatment they used that turned the sails black.
Ron

Well, the dear bride has just had me down at Dunelm buying net curtains and a pole and while I was there I found the Egyptian cotton sheets mentioned above. Frankly I thought the stuff a bit soft and fluffy, so didn't buy. it was also very expensive. I have, meantime, received samples of various fabrics at least two of which are suitable, but Cambric was the best by a long way. Actually waxed Cambric was the one. I shall be using that one when I've made patterns and worked out how much I need for the Vanity and the Marblehead. The Wherry will have to be done with whatever sheet fabric I can get in black as I don't have much luck dying stuff.
The Cambric comes from....B&R Textiles Ltd., Winton, nr. Bournemouth. Phone 01202 528388 and e-mail:- sales@bandrtextiles.co.uk.

Cheers,
Martin

ChrisG, I can't claim originality for the idea of Egyptian cotton sheets. I wish I could, but it came from "another place". mind you, I was bomblin' round a boot fair yesterday and there were several nice sheets which would have made good sails if they hadn't been a pale pink! a quid for a double sheet, all laundered and looking just so seems like something to seek out in an off white as Vanity was a leisure craft.
A model of a Norfolk Wherry is next and that will need a sail as black as yer 'at. But my wife assures me you can get black cotton sheets now, so I'm sorted for that. Saves me getting the soot and fish oil out

Cheers,
Martin

I like the Egyptian cotton idea and of course they can be dyed with all sorts of things to give a realistic O.G. look. I used tea on a model of a Bawley but changed to a red dye later.
You could probably make a suit of sails for every day of the week from a bottom sheet.
I think I will pinch your idea and make a new set of sails for this year.
Great idea.

Nice one Martin . After all if your happy with the finished sails that's all that matters mate.

I've just heard (from another place), that Egyptian cotton sheets are available in Dunelm Mill, so I may well be having a trip to our local one. My wife is going to have a go at the dodgy tension on her machine and make them for me, though I will probably have to hand stitch the boltropes.

Cheers,
Martin

Thanks, Ron, but that is WAY more than I could spend on a model of any kind. it looks like I'll just have make them myself, by hand if necessary, if my wife can't sort the tension out on her machine. I tried somebody called Wiles, but didn't get a reply. So I will have to do it myself. I'm not bothered about absolute correctness of bolt rope and stitching as you can't see it when it's on the pond and I don't sail with others anyway. There are no clubs round here.

Martin

Hi Martin I have always used Frank Nylet some of his prices may seem on the high side but he is a professional sail maker. My last suite I had of him was for my Bristol pilot cutter which cost £320 but in my opinion worth every penny as they are made as the original full size sails .
The only other options are you could try PJ sails but little difference in price .
Ron