Makers of Sailmakers Palm

[NickfromWI]

I'm looking for a new (or gently used) palm and haven't found many in my area. Ebay has a few to offer, but they look past retirement age!

The one at the local West Marine looks cheap (and I don't mean affordable, I mean flimsy).

Any tips? Maybe manufacturers sites, or somewhere that sells more than one kind?

love
nick

[Bob Pingel]

Nick-

Bainbridge sells several different William Smith palms. Check with a local sailmaker, they will likely have a Bainbridge account.

Bob Pingel
also from WI

[FrayedKnotArts]

I've had good luck on Ebay (fortunate for me, since the only "chandlery" around me is West marine's branch in Philadelphia) with used palms... the rattiest I got I simply soaked in some neat's-foot oil and then dried it and let it sit for a while. It absorbed the oil and (besides being easy to locate by smell alone) came right back to life for me.

Best of luck.

[NickfromWI]

Any idea on a website for William Smith? Just to make sure, is this the same W. Smith that makes the needles that come with the green label with black writing?

I can't find them on google ANYWHERE!

FrayedKnotArt- your explanation is exactly why I DON'T wanna use ebay. The thought of some nasty smelling thing...

love
nick

[Bob Pingel]

I beleive it is the same Smith. They makes lots of different types and qualities of palms.

I have only seen them marketed through Bainbridge, though there must be other sources.

One caveat, the palms are far from uniform in size and cup placement. Buying one mail-order is sort of like buying shoes, shoes with no sizes printed on them.

woodenboat.org does have Smith palms on their website.

Good luck,

Bob

[Brion Toss]

Hi Nick,
Smith and Co. is not exactly the kind of organization that is big into ecommerce. They're a tiny, tiny shop in Redditch, and I doubt they have a computer on the premises, unless it is coal-fired, with an isinglass monitor screen. But they do make mighty fine palms. As has been noted, there is quite the range of grades, but the worst is far better than anything you'll find at West. Just get the best grade you can afford. The Wooden Boat Foundation is a good source. Or you could contact Des Pawson at Footrope Knots, and beg him to drop by Redditch to high-grade a palm for you. It'll cost more, but you'll get a good story out of it.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[NickfromWI]

Thanks guys! I will definately follow your advice and if all else fails, I'll have to pick up the bat-phone and call Mr. Pawson!

Quality is worth it. I was in the aisle at WM looking at the Palm they had and just said outloud, "blech" and I put it back.

I'll let y'all know what I end up with!

love
nick

[NickfromWI]

Where, where, where?!?!

I checked out the WBF site and found nothing about palms. I found a couple of dead link. Maybe the palms are gone now?

love
nick

[Bob Pingel]

Nick-

The palms ae still at WoodenBoat. Use this link -> http://www.woodenboat.org/store/folder.asp?f=255

Bob Pingel

[osteoderm]

From the "Overly Romantic Files"... The best way to aquire a palm is to go crew on a square-rigger for awhile, and have one passed on to you. That's how I got mine, and how other friends have gotten theirs.
Besides, what makes for better story?
"So, after walking the aisles of West Marine in dismay, I emailed a guy who knows of a company that takes a credit card..."
OR
"Hands chapped and scarred, cursing the dropped pliers (yet blessing the sturdy lanyard), I was hanging in my harness half-way down the front of the nicely-drawing fore top'sl, tending to a started seam in the second reef band. 'Yar", says the mate on the aft side of the sail, pushing the needle back towards me, "You'll be needin' a proper palm, you will... I've a spare in me ditty bag to fit yer ham-hands..."
As if you needed another reason to go volunteer of a square-rigger...