Adding a cunningham cringle

jaschrumpf · #1 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009

My mainsail does not have a cunningham cringle on it. That's not so much a problem as might be imagined, as my mast doesn't have a cunningham hook on it either. But since pretty much every boat I've sailed has one, I'm interested in adding one just for old times' sake.

Adding the hook and cleat doesn't seem to be as much trouble as perhaps adding the cringle might be. Is there a DIY method of putting in the cringle, or is this something only a sailmaker should do?

Thanks!

paulk · #2 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009

You should be able to put in your own cringle by banging in one of those brass grommets with a hammer and die. You may have to cut out the cloth if it doesn't come out of the hole itself. After installing the grommet, I'd sew all around it to help spread the load of the cunningham out over a bigger area of the sail. (Your sail wasn't designed with a cunningham, so the cloth may not stand up well to having one.) When you're done, the threads should pretty much cover up all the grommet, and extend out from the hole like flower petals. (You may want to stagger the lengths of the stiches -longer and shorter - so that you don't focus stress in a line on the sail and develop a weak spot that could tear.

Faster · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009

I think you may have some trouble with the DIY grommets and tools. The area where a cunningham cringle normally goes is still in the heavily reinforced portion of the tack of the sail - there are many layers to penetrate.

It would only cost maybe $30 or so to have a sailmaker pop in a proper one.

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009

I would second having a sailmaker put in the cringle.

Liquorice · #5 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009

I repair sails up here in Alberta, Canada.

Putting in a brass or nickle plated grommet is quite straight forward, but you do need some tools.
Make sure it is in a part of the sail that has some strengthening patches.
For a 28ft boat you probably need a #5 or #6 grommet.
But you also need a hole cutter and a die to curl the grommet. It's not just a matter of hitting it hard with a hammer.

The previous lister was right, spend a few bucks and get a sailmaker to do it. He has all that stuff which you wont ever need again.

sam :-)