Crusing Laminate Sails

[AlexL]

I'm looking for some new sails for my new boat. The boat, a Hanse 371 is coming as standard with a fully Battened main and self tacking gib, made by North Sails. I'm thinking of adding an overlapping genoa and cruising chute to the wardrobe.
When we are short tacking up the rivers or out in strong winds I'll fit the gib, so the Genoa should mostly not get flogged too much, or used furled too much which removes a couple of the restrictions in sail design / material.
I was looking at sails at the show and was impressed by a sample of a 'Cruising laminate' which basically looked like a mylar laminate racing sail with thin 'dacron' type material laminated onto each side, the theory being that the mylar laminate holds its shape and doesn't stretch and the dacron coating gives it abrasion and fold fatigue resistance. Getting a tri-radial genoa made from this stuff seems like a good idea for my requirements, although it is more expensive I think it will be worth it for the better sail shape and performance in the light stuff.
Has anyone got any thoughts or experience on this type of material?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[dralex]

I've just ordered my laminate genoa from Kemp Sails after lots of quotes from the boat show. I asked a similar question a couple of months ago and had lots of really useful replies- try searching for the post. Kemp were doing good offers and a 15% Show discount. There seem to be lots of reasons for and against Dacron and Laminates- a lot seems to be down to personal experience and preference. The generla consensus is that you can get about 3 normal seasons out of a good dacron sail before it starts stretching and affecting performance- how significant the drop in performance is, is a different matter.

Personally, I'm really excited about my new sail, and it's not much more than a cross cut dacron.

Alex

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[doris]

Have been using Pentex cruising laminate for two seasons now. One notch below out and out racing sails and they are holding up v.well. Sails came from Quantum Parker and Kay in Hamble Point.

<hr width=100% size=1>Real men do it 2handed.

 

[Skyva_2]

We bought a tri radial laminate furling genoa from Kemps and are very impressed. It sets well and reefs well. The Kemp advice was that laminate retains its shape for a longer time, then performance drops off rapidly. Dacron performance falls slowly over time. Overall life is probably the same for both.

Keith

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

One thing that has been said against laminate sails is that because the mylar in the middle of the sandwich is impermeable, they don't dry out if packed away wet, and are thus more susceptible to mould. But I guess that's just a question of good housekeeping.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Oldhand]

We have a "cruiser lam" no.1 roller furling genoa and have found it to be of too heavy construction for light winds. I guess it was designed as if it was the only headsail available and thus had to be made of heavy material to cope with all wind speeds. I thus suggest if you do go for a cruiser lam ovelapping headsail, make sure the sail maker knows you have a smaller headsail for heavy winds and doesn't have to make the new sail out of heavy material.

Don't know about durability as we hardly ever use our cruiser lam No 1 due to having a smaller genoa which sets better in light winds and is more suitable in area when a breeze gets up.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Cantata]

We got a lot of quotes for a new headsail, and all the cruiser laminates offered for radial-cut sails are of LIGHTER material than the Dacrons for cross-sut sails.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Shanty]

I'm also looking for a new roller genoa - and have been going through the woven vs laminate debate. The solution that my sailmaker is suggesting is Hydranet - a woven material reinforced with a mesh of Spectra threads. I'm told it holds its shape far longer than straight Dacron, and avoid the mildew problems that can arise with laminates.

Not decided yet, but its looking like an attractive compromise. Anyone got any experience of this cloth?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Robin]

We have a Hydranet triradial genoa on it's 3rd season and a Hydranet triradial mainsail new this year and are very pleased with both. We went through a similar decision process, with big heavily loaded sails straight Dacron might stretch out of shape too quickly and laminates had their own problems, mildew as you say being one.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Oldhand]

I should hope so but you totally miss the point. If you already have a smaller headsail your No.1 doesn't have to be built to cope with all wind speeds and can therfore be built of lighter cloth so it sets better in light winds. That's the point I was making 'cause our inherited cruiser lam No.1 is far to heavy for light winds and was obviously built to cater for strong winds when we already have a No.3.

P.S. Hoods Vectran is the best material I have experienced for a cruising genoa. Lighter and easier to handle than cruiser lam with excellent shape retention.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Oldhand on 20/09/2004 19:48 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[AlexL]

Yes thats the thought process I'm going through. I've decided that If I'm going to spend money on a sail I may as well get maximum benefit, so as I've got the self-tacker (which is about a no 3 I guess) already I can get a lightweight proper shape cruiser-lam or vektron no 1, as it never needs to work in anything but light airs and never needs to work furled. I've spend alot of time this season trying to get going in light airs and it would be nice to be tooling along at a good speed with the correct sail.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

Second thought

Having spent many years racing with a full wardrobe of genoas, the light number was my least favourite for two reasons – it's so big you have to be careful not to damage it on stays, spreader ends and, when tacking, the front of the mast, and just when it's really earning its corn, and giving you decent boat speed upwind, you have to change down because you are going past its designed app wind speed.

Another light airs sail to think about is a 'code zero' - a furling (on its own furler) light airs reaching sail, which I reckon would get much more use.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[pandroid]

I'd go for it. I've had a multiweight genny built by Parker & Kay and its spot on. Sets much better than my Dacron jib, and is easy to handle. It sets when there's no reading on the wind gear, all the way up to 22 knots with one roll in it (havent got round to trying 2 rolls yet)

They werent fans of the Hydranet stuff, but that may be their opinion. By far the most important thing is to get the sail cut right - there are some cowboys out there - including big, well known ones!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: Second thought

<<Another light airs sail to think about is a 'code zero'>>
so you've resisted the temptation to buy one so far? I was rather tempted too.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

seconded .. kemps are first class

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Second thought

Spent it all on a teakmeister.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>