Buying sails from South Africa

[JamesDavis]

Does anyone have any experience of buying sails from South Africa? I am working here (in SA) for 5 months and have been pricing up various options in the UK and here. For the same money as the budget Crusader option I can get a quality cloth, radial cut, fully battened with 3 reefs etc.The company is called Quantum in Capetown who used to be part of Doyle Sails. My boat is a Rival 32 with I assume a standard mast and boom.The dimentions I gave the companies for quoting were:
I=38, J=12, P=32.66, E=11.25. Can anyone confifm these?
Any unseen pitfalls to watch out for?

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[Rohorn]

Hi ...I'm also interested in any info. I have a South African Dean cat here in the aegean and this has a coloured genoa made by North in S.A. I'm interested to replace it after 14 years, but they say that no one, but no one has a coloured genoa.....even though they made this one. I've heard that sails there are well made and not expensive. Do you have an address for Doyle?
Cheers...R

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[Talbot]

I have a blue genoa made by Arun, and have seen other colours around in the solent, so it is possible to get coloured sails, but there is a school of thought that considers the dye process to reduce the working length of the sail, and it certainly costs more!

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[aitchw]

But I seem to recall from a previous thread there are significant benefits in terms of visibility and certainly tan sails are still very popular so maybe it depends a bit on the dye.

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[JamesDavis]

Re: Reply about coloured sails

Hello coloured sail people. The company I am dealing with are called:

Quantum SA
491 Voortrekker rd
Maitland
Capetown
7405
SA
Tel: +27 21 5931620

Now, how about some answers to my questions!

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[temptress]

Quality sails are quality sails wherever you buy them and you generally get what you pay for.

That said good sails can and are made outside the Uk and SA is a good place to get some made up if you are confident inyour sail measurments. Ask around thr Yacht club as to the locals experiance with the sailmaker. I usually find the folks in SA very friendly and they will tell you weather so-and-so makeg good sails/fast sails/cheap sails. The latter usually exscluded the first two.

Remember that if you bring saild made outside the EU into the EU you will have to pay HM customs import duty AND VAT.

<hr width=100% size=1>Temptress of Down
Southsea Marina
Hants
UK

 

[Rohorn]

Re: Reply about coloured sails

Hi ...Thanks for the address, and sorry not to be au fait about UK prices. Reference pitfalls, the only one that comes to mind is customs duty. A sail that size may fold up compactly into a large wheelie hold-all, since there are no battens, and one could walk confidently though, sweating mildly. But it is a thought. In my case I'd have to have mine shipped, which would probably nullify the advantage in price.
Cheers and thanks again....R

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[BrianJ]

Talk to ...www.cruiserlog.com in ZA... ( open their site and ask the wquestion.. )they are extremely helpfull
BrianJ

<hr width=100% size=1>BrianJ