In sailing is canvas and sails the same thing?

Question

My friend says he repairs sails and canvas, but if they are not the same thing, I can not think of what canvas would be. Help!

Answer 1

Sails are sails canvas is the top> enclosers> Covers>

Answer 2

Looks like it's been covered well...

Back in the day, to "press on some canvas" was to install and hoist sails...or to say a boat was "fully canvassed" means she had a full and complete inventory of sails suitable for all weather conditions.

Nowadays you will only find canvas on the outer and bottom edge of a foresail or Genoa and usually a cruising sail at that. It is intended as UV protection of the more sensitive Dacron(polyester)...Dacron is a Dupont trade name, or whatever material. Actually, this would be the case only on a furling(roll-up) sail. Once rolled up, the canvass is the only material left exposed to the sun.

Nowadays, to say a boat "has nice canvass" refers to her optional and colored  soft goods such as a Dodger, Bimini, Enclosure, Sailcover and the like.

Just my 2 cents to give you a broader picture.

Answer 3

As the other guys say - sails power the boat and the word canvas isnowadasy reserved for everything else.  As one company puts it:

"At Sails & Canvas we run a dedicated canvas department specializing in all that you may need for your yacht. Everything is custom made whether it be sprayhoods,sail covers, dodgers, awnings etc."http://www.sailsandcanvas.co.uk/can...

Answer 4

Originally, the heavy sails for large boats were made of canvas and the techniques used for reprairing them remain pretty much the same, but sails for boats we normally see are dacron - to withstand the sun and are not much heavier than bed sheets.

  Canvas these days includes awnings, shades panels put in frames, and tents of various shapes like those just down the interstate from me at the car dealership that look like mountain peaks and shade the car lots.  Any large piece of fabric you see outdoors would be treated like canvas even if it isn't literally - stiff, hard to sew, bulky to handle.

Answer 5

ONCE upon a time, sails were made from canvas.  BUT canvas would also be used for hatch-covers, sail-covers, sun-shades, etc.

TODAY, canvas is VERY rare for sail-making.  MOST are made of synthetic materials.  So a shop MAY do only sail repair, OR may repair sails and all other canvas accessories.