Drifter Details

Work on the drifter continues. I worked a bit Saturday evening and today, and I'm nearly done. I added the reinforcement along the luff, foot, and leech, and installed the leechline and luffrope. I have some handwork to do still, then I'll trim out the three corners with leather. I've decided not to add the snaps. I think we'll try setting this thing flying and see how it looks. If it's clear that we'd be better off hanking it to the forestay, then I'll install the snaps. This will be our first season with a light air sail, so I suppose we'll be doing some experimenting before we know just what will work best.

Once the drifter is done, it's on to the dodger. Spring is rapidly approaching.




Unfinished tack. I still need to finish some stitching and add leather reinforcement.


Tack and the head. Again, more stitching to be done.


Leech.


Leechline visible through tape reinforcement.





Leechline cam installation. Sailrite's suggested method of mushrooming the rivets didn't work. I'm going to drill them out and use a proper pop-rivet tool.