FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Cindy will measure your boat. Her sails are 'rugged' for long term cruising. I went to her sailcare and repair day. Brilliant day, and the most I have learned about sailing in one day for a long time.
Dolphin Sails
- Thread starter Sundowner 39
- Start date
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
Not quite the Solent but I can vouch for Crusader sails in Poole being absolutely thorough. Picked some sails up for a friend after they'd been re-cut, repaired and valeted. Because I wasn't the owner they rang him before I could take them away not just to make sure I wasn't nicking them but they wanted to be sure the owner got their comments and would follow up if they were any issues. It was obvious that they not only understood that they would get more business if their customers were happy but that everyone I saw there wanted to produce something they could be proud and that would earn them respect. A very good company.
doris
Well-Known Member
I would add One Sails, who used to be Quantum Parker and Kay, in the Hamble. Still all done locally and directly responsible for thier products. They have done my last four sets of sails and though a tad more expensive than some, the honesty and direct attention has always been worth it. I would never accept 'production' sails. Every time you put your sails up you would get pi**ed off"! Staggered by the travails of the OP. Amazing that a company can stay in business in this day and age with that sort of service. Ship in Rogue Traders and that red headed woman.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
ooh no, Ms Robinson is more trouble than Dolphin could ever be.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
I had Jeckells (deepest darkest Norfolk) build a sail for Indigo. They had a local contact who came to the boat in Lymington and did all the measuring. Good sail resulted.
Maybe Wilkinson also has local contacts for measurement?
Corribee Boy
Well-Known Member
I bought a new 130% genoa from Dolphin. I had it measured up by Simon from Response Rigging first - It fits beautifully and seems well-made but Dolphin used such heavy material that I can't actually get it wrapped around the furler without using both hands on the furling line, and it won't wrap less than 4" diameter! Also it won't set in less than 10 knots of wind - which is roughly when I'm thinking of furling some of it away.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Perhaps if I do another of Cindy's (Wilkinson Sails ) one-day sail repair courses this winter I could apply for the job?
wilkinsonsails
Well-Known Member
Hee Hee,
not a problem .I could talk you thru measuring what we need ,or come an be nosy and look at your boat too.
I do measure sails from Cornwall to Whitby, just need to book it a bit in advance.
Have taken tape measure to Florida,Rhodes and Malta too,I like really like my job.
Cindy
not a problem .I could talk you thru measuring what we need ,or come an be nosy and look at your boat too. I do measure sails from Cornwall to Whitby, just need to book it a bit in advance.
Have taken tape measure to Florida,Rhodes and Malta too,I like really like my job.
Cindy
nmeyrick
Well-Known Member
Sounds terrible Cindy - it's a tough job but someone has to do it!
On a serious note it would be great if you are able to do another of your sail courses - I would love to come along and I'm sure plenty of other people would be interested
On a serious note it would be great if you are able to do another of your sail courses - I would love to come along and I'm sure plenty of other people would be interested
Fluter
New Member
Dolphin are not part of Oyster Group
pmagowan
Well-Known Member
Another vote for Crusader sails, excellent product, excellent service.
Just a happy customer
Just a happy customer
Captain Haddock
Well-Known Member
Shocked!
I'm quite alarmed by the negative responses to Gowan/Dolphin sails. I was looking to order a new main, sail stack pack and dodgers. Having spoke to Jon he seemed a nice chap and appeared to know what he was talking about. I'm not so sure now based on the OP's experience.
I'm quite alarmed by the negative responses to Gowan/Dolphin sails. I was looking to order a new main, sail stack pack and dodgers. Having spoke to Jon he seemed a nice chap and appeared to know what he was talking about. I'm not so sure now based on the OP's experience.
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
'' Seemed a nice chap".
I sincerely hope he is.
Shame about two recent posters disappointments with the delivered product and after sales service then, eh?
I sincerely hope he is.
Shame about two recent posters disappointments with the delivered product and after sales service then, eh?
G12
Well-Known Member
I had a large issue with my Crusader Genoa, they avoided my calls for 4 days and when I did finally get to speak to the boss then it was only because I'd sent them a recorded delivery letter saying I was chasing my money back.
They'd made me a nice sail, only it was the wrong cut and the wrong fabric. He couldn't understand why I was so mad. I now have 1 year's free use of the sail and they will make me another one if I'm not happy with it by the end of the year. I have to say, it's not going well so far, it's stretched loads near the clew and I think this is because they didn't use the Hydra Net Radial that I asked for and used the older stuff instead which isn't so good in radial cut sails.
They also messed up the delivery and left me waiting for the sail for a week before realising it was still waiting to be shipped when I phoned asking where it was.
I will be really impressed if they DO honour their word and make me what I asked for without complaint.
Habebty
Well-Known Member
This is not the sort of thread I like reading when I'm about to order a new main and genoa. Some people seem to have good experience with a sailmaker whilst other have carp time with the same sailmaker.
Personally I don't rate Jeckells as they did a less than average job of a UV strip on my existing genoa yet I like the cruising chute I got from them. Bugger really as they are just down the road from me.
My current shortlist is
Kemp
Doyle
Arun
Westaway
Probably Doyle as they made my original very fast sails but could be swayed. My current Doyle sails have had a lot of use and are still very useable but are losing their edge a bit.
I now wait for someone to suck their teeth and say they wouldn't use them again!!
Difficult to know who to give your hard earned beer tickets to isn't it?
Personally I don't rate Jeckells as they did a less than average job of a UV strip on my existing genoa yet I like the cruising chute I got from them. Bugger really as they are just down the road from me.
My current shortlist is
Kemp
Doyle
Arun
Westaway
Probably Doyle as they made my original very fast sails but could be swayed. My current Doyle sails have had a lot of use and are still very useable but are losing their edge a bit.
I now wait for someone to suck their teeth and say they wouldn't use them again!!
Difficult to know who to give your hard earned beer tickets to isn't it?
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
Habebty, speak to Sanders Sails if you haven't done so already. I rate them equal or better than those on your list.
Seajet
...
Habebty,
there is one on that list who despite being closer to me I wouldn't dream of using, nor do any locals I know; but things change and if they've improved that's great.
I've had quite a few sails from Westaway ( and in the past had secondhand racing boats with their sails inherited ) and must say they get my vote every time, not the cheapest but I happen to think best true value/ quality overall.
Of course I suppose they have bad days too, but I wouldn't expect anything like the OP and others have experienced, I'm afraid I wouldn't invest in a certain sailmakers' shares right now !
No connection in any way with Westaway.
Rigger Mortice
N/A
I looked at all those when I bought my sails. I ended up with Kemps and they were very good. There was a small problem because of an understandable error which they made, but they sorted it out qucikly and very efficiently. For me the test of a company is how it handles a problem and, on that basis, they were superb.
They also gave me excellent advice which meant that I ended up with better sails than I would have had using my initial specification.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
I have a newish Tilley hat, with 50 euros tucked in the pocket. I will eat it raw without ketchup if Paul Lees does not come good on his promise.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
I would rather eat worms than deal with Jon again.
