Considering new sails

[Javelin]

Polyester "Dacron" (Dupont's type 52 high modulus fibre) is a great material but its downfall is its bias which effectively limits the style and cut of the sail.
The more expensive cuts like the radial cut give a better for longer shape however standard dacron does not lend itself due to incorrect bias in the warp/weft.
So as a result polyester sails are generally cross cut and most radial cut sails tend to be laminates like pentex/mylar with or without teffeta.

The exception is North who developed their own polyester weave which allows them to build radial cut sails.

Folk do have cruising sails made from more exotic materials like Vectran or hydra net (spectra/dyneema) but they are a lot more expensive.

 

[Leisure 27]

I am living in Plymouth uk and considering a new mainsail. Westaways and Ullmans have some very dissatisfied customers on the forums. Would a Dorset or Hampshire sailmaker measure and fit a sail in Plymouth.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

I am living in Plymouth uk and considering a new mainsail. I wold love to know the good one and even more need to find out the Hankey ones alanfarnworth2@gmail.com or please reply by this forum

I’m not 100% sure why but I’ve seen many other advised in the past to avoid posting their email address on the forum. Perhaps something to do with spamming etc? Private messages (PMs) seem to do the job.

 

[[70521]]

I am living in Plymouth uk and considering a new mainsail. I wold love to know the good one and even more need to find out the Hankey ones or please reply by this forum

I would recommend asking a few boat owners locally. Make sure you describe what you are planning to do with the boat. There are as many different uses for sails are there are sails. Some sailmakers specialise.

 

[richardbrennan]

I can only add my personal experience.

I had a new mainsail from Kemps three years ago. It sets beautifully and I am very pleased with it. I ordered a new genoa one and a half years ago, and just to support Javelin's point, the quote from North for a tri-radial sail in their NPC Radian cloth was marginally cheaper than a cross-cut sail from Kemp in standard Dacron. The genoa was ordered at SIBS 2016 and I believe prices are seasonal to a degree.

 

[Daydream believer]

I am living in Plymouth uk and considering a new mainsail. I wold love to know the good one and even more need to find out the Hankey ones alanfarnworth2@gmail.com or please reply by this forum

Hyde main :-

 

[ashtead]

Clearly a local sailmaker might be simpler so you should start in Plymouth but in case no one has mentioned if I was buying a new sail I would be visiting Sanders in Lymington to discuss my requirements . I speak as a satisfied customer having had 2 sails in past and once my newish but poor Elstroms need replacing he would be top of my list. Clearly if you are travelling further you might be looking at North for service network but for many this isn't a great factor as we don't all pull into Palma on a regular basis

 

[monkfish24]

I am living in Plymouth uk and considering a new mainsail. I wold love to know the good one and even more need to find out the Hankey ones alanfarnworth2@gmail.com or please reply by this forum

Just stay well away from Ullmans in Plymouth.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Hyde main :-
View attachment 68788

IIRC Hyde made the sails that came with my first boat, a British Hunter, which lost their shape after a couple of seasons of use.

I think at one time they also made the 'official' Laser sails which were overpriced tat although the retail price probably wasn't remotely connected with how much they cost to build

 

[ashtead]

I wonder how many Westerlys have their original Ratsey sails as that would be an endorsement

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Well quite a surprising lot of older Ratsey Westerly's Sails do appear regularly .
Sadly there owners may not have noticed the poor performance .When they have new sails they are often surprised at the improvement in sailing ability ..

 

[ashtead]

Well quite a surprising lot of older Ratsey Westerly's Sails do appear regularly .
Sadly there owners may not have noticed the poor performance .When they have new sails they are often surprised at the improvement in sailing ability ..

Amazed at that -I don't miss the brass Parton hanks personally

 

[[70521]]

IIRC Hyde made the sails that came with my first boat, a British Hunter, which lost their shape after a couple of seasons of use.

Interesting, I am changing the original Hyde sails that came with the boat. After 30 years of use the main is in good shape and the genoa although baggy is just beginning to fall apart, but extremely well made, according to my local sailmaker. Both sails are being kept for winter use.

Things must have changed over the years!

 

[Daydream believer]

IIRC Hyde made the sails that came with my first boat, a British Hunter, which lost their shape after a couple of seasons of use.
think at one time they also made the 'official' Laser sails which were overpriced tat although the retail price probably wasn't remotely connected with how much they cost to build

I do not know if things have now changed but when I had a Laser everything was strictly controlled
Laser specified the cloth & the cut of all the laser sails along with the prices of all the components. It was not the sailmaker that was responsible for any of this. Take for instance the cost of other parts. Class legal bailer parts etc were 3 times the price of an identical part from the same manufacturer but one could not use them to retain class legality. You had to buy from one supplier
If Hyde did make the sails ( I do not know but take your word) it would have been only to the Laser class strict spec

I have a Squib & Hyde has spent a lot of time trialing the sails ( Hyde's owner has a Squib) & if you do not have Hyde sails then you have a job being anywhere near the front half of the fleet. Hyde have told the class that they could make much better sails for it but class rules prevent a change of cloth.
last year I was asked to photo a 505 when Hyde were testing sails for that. They do put a lot of effort into making their sails right & changing the cut to suit the masts & boat.

 

[Lucky Duck]

My time sailing Lasers dates back to the early 1990s. I can just about remember the 3.8oz sail being introduced.

No doubt they can produce decent sails just my experience of them was towards the budget end!