Are Laminate Sails worth it for cruisers

[Daydream believer]

Not all have zips but a pair of cords that fit over clipsin a criss cross pattern

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Not all have zips but a pair of cords that fit over clipsin a criss cross pattern

That would be hassle. Ours has a tensioning cord that runs on those rollers. I suppose the lacing thing does that too, but 10 x the PIA factor hoisting

 

[Bobc]

Well our boat we use for cruising has plenty of weight on board, but not “a dirty bottom” or a “fixed prop” - but we like sailing, and enjoy sailing efficiently upwind, in both very light winds (can go upwind well in 5 knots true) and breezier.
If you just put the motor on to get upwind good sails are indeed a waste.

PS aid you think stowing some jobs is an effort, try a jib with vertical battens. Sets very well though.

I'll give you a race upwind with my dacron sails. I bet I beat you.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I'll give you a race upwind with my dacron sails. I bet I beat you.

Can we join in?

 

[Daydream believer]

Boats, Handicaps?

 

[Bobc]

Can we join in?

A Forum regatta. What a great idea.

I get to set the rules though, and only sails over 15 years old are allowed to be used, and just to make sure they've had proper use, they have to have done at least 1 transat.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

A Forum regatta. What a great idea.

I get to set the rules though, and only sails over 15 years old are allowed to be used.

Are you providing them then? I have sails of 13. years max.

 

[Bobc]

Are you providing them then? I have sails of 13. years max.

I was thinking that those rules should benefit the laminate boys (assuming the sails haven't physically fallen to pieces by then), as the dacron sails should be well stretched.

 

[flaming]

A Forum regatta. What a great idea.

I get to set the rules though, and only sails over 15 years old are allowed to be used, and just to make sure they've had proper use, they have to have done at least 1 transat.

Boat isn’t that old but I’ll play…

 

[Bobc]

Boat isn’t that old but I’ll play…

But your boat isn't an overweight cruising boat. We might have to handicap you but fitting a sprayhood, bimini, stackpack, and davits, and filling the boat with 2 tons of crap.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We don’t have davits, but happy to sail with our sprayhood up, cockpit tent fitted ready, and obviously the stackpack. If you like, I’ll put the tender on board.

 

[flaming]

But your boat isn't an overweight cruising boat. We might have to handicap you but fitting a sprayhood, bimini, stackpack, and davits, and filling the boat with 2 tons of crap.

And there was me thinking this might be a race I could win…

 

[Chiara’s slave]

And there was me thinking this might be a race I could win…

Shame. I was just thinking I ought to own up. I don’t think Bob has checked my avatar.

 

[Supertramp]

I will anchor at the windward mark and offer teas since my boat has dacron sails, a long keel and too much weight and windage to actually go anywhere

 

[doris]

IMHO laminate sails are not worth it for a cruising boat. If you are racing or you are the type of person who always wants to squeeze the last ounce of performance out of your boat, then yes, but the average cruising boat is overweight, has a dirty bottom, a fixed prop, and other things that slow it down more than slightly stretched sails. Also, on the basis of the additional cost, I can replace my dacron sails every 5 years, for the same cost as replacing laminates every 10 years, so I just but cross-cut dacron with a reasonable quality cloth.

I can only assume that your boat is a converted WW1 lifeboat cos you sure as hell can’t have a clue what to do with a sailing boat. Or are you just being sarcastic in which case I’ll apologise and get my coat.
The simple answer to the OP is absolutely yes. And laminates in the long run are cheaper cos Dacron only lasts one day out with winds above about 12 kts.

 

[Daydream believer]

I will anchor at the windward mark and offer teas since my boat has dacron sails, a long keel and too much weight and windage to actually go anywhere

But like most on the forum you could probably talk a good race after 5 pints at the bar

 

[Daydream believer]

I will anchor at the windward mark and offer teas since my boat has dacron sails, a long keel and too much weight and windage to actually go anywhere

That will fox Charia. Most multihulls can only sail 90 deg to the wind. So he will have to wait for the tide to get there. He will be raging back & forth like a lion at the zoo behind the cage. Going no where fast.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

That will fox Charia. Most multihulls can only sail 90 deg to the wind. So he will have to wait for the tide to get there. He will be raging back & forth like a lion at the zoo behind the cage. Going no where fast.

You seem to be mistaking my boat for a 1960s cruisng cat. You’ll be in for a sharp wake up call Just for you, here’s the ‘how to’ upwind sailing guide. The boat in the vid. is the 28. 2ft6 smaller than us, same handicap on average. Like all boats, multis get ever faster for a given length.

 

[Bobc]

I can only assume that your boat is a converted WW1 lifeboat cos you sure as hell can’t have a clue what to do with a sailing boat. Or are you just being sarcastic in which case I’ll apologise and get my coat.
The simple answer to the OP is absolutely yes. And laminates in the long run are cheaper cos Dacron only lasts one day out with winds above about 12 kts.

He don't know me vewy well, do he...

 

[Bobc]

Just for clarity, I'm not suggesting that laminate sails are not better, they are. The shape is better and they hold their shape for longer.

The question was are they worth the extra for the cruising sailor. IMHO, I don't think so. Most cruising sailors either won't be able to get that extra 2 degrees of height or 0.2kts of boatspeed out of them (if they even actually care about it anyway). The majority of cruising boats I've seen sailing or been on have poorly tuned rigs, and the skipper does not understand how to set sails properly. I regularly get comments from people on how I am "constantly mucking about with all the ropes". Most cruising boats are also sailed by a couple, and their focus is not getting there as quick as possible, but are more focussed on having a nice sail and not spilling the tea.

If you want that extra bit, they by all means go and buy yourselves some 3Di sails, but would you, really?