How much for new sails?

[Colin24]

How much for a new set of sails?
I know this is a bit like ‘how long is a piece of string’ but given the scant details below
I’m just after a rough ball park figure.
It’s a 20 year old bilge keeler 23’ long, she still has her original sails, she is slow and heavy for her size. Certainly not a performance boat.
I do not have the measurements to hand and will not be able to get at them for several weeks. (I’m stuck on a ship) All of the sail makers I’ve tried via the internet want the measurements before they’ll give me a price, that’s a fair enough position.

She is a Matador, but that’s probably not much help as none of the sail makers have had it in their databases.
Common well known boats that I imagine would be around the same price for sails are-
Hurley 23 or halcyon 23 that sort of thing.
The sails she has now are Furling headsail and a mainsail that has a bolt rope that slides up a groove in the mast and furls by wrapping round the boom.

I’d be wanting to replace them like for like and they’d just be used for general cruising about and pottering.
ANY idea as to what I’d expect to pay for such beasts would be welcome. I have never bought a sail of ant type and don’t know what to expect.

Hope that’s enough info for someone to make a stab at it.

Cheers

Colin

 

[ShipsWoofy]

I have recently replaced mine. 30ft mast, so approx 27ft luff on the main I think, would have to check, maybe a tad more. 145% Genoa, 3/4 batten main. UV strip, 3 reefs on main. Leech lines on all but the foot of the genny.

Came in under £2k. Can't be exact as I had the UV and 3rd reef added later.

Edit>> oh yeah, Kemps!

 

[PeteCooper]

£2K sounds a bit much to me. I would have thought that someone like Seateach would have something a lot cheaper. I reckon they would do a main and genny for under £1k - check the website.

 

[chriscallender]

Hi

Two years ago I replaced my mainsail for ~£700ish. The genoa would probably be a bit more than that but a similar ballpark. My mainsail is roller reefing like yours, however the boat is a bit bigger (28').

Maybe that gives some idea? I would have guessed about 1.5k for my boat so maybe something like 1k for a new mainsail and genoa for a 23 footer?

There are also second hand sails around if you're only looking for something for pottering that might be a more economical way to go.



Chris

PS The mainsail came from Crusader and I've been very happy with it.

 

[dave_gibsea]

Hi Colin,

This is a very good time of year to buy sails as most of the sailmakers will give you 15 to 20% discount. I have a 26ft boat with 30ft mast and I would expect to pay about £500 each for a main and genoa. I would say you could get both for about £800 if you order before the end of October. I would also strongly recommend Kemps, Rob Kemp races dingies, he will take time with you and unlike some is not patronising. have a look at www.kempsails.com

If you have a slow boat consider geting a big spnnaker. So many cruising boats don't have these and I never unserstand why. They can cut hours off a long passage.

Cheers, Dave

 

[Talbot]

[ QUOTE ]
If you have a slow boat consider geting a big spnnaker. So many cruising boats don't have these and I never understand why. They can cut hours off a long passage.

[/ QUOTE ]

While a cannot argue about this as a stand alone argument, it is also clear that on cost effective grounds, it is more efficient to have a folding prop than a spinnaker

 

[Lakesailor]

Just had a look here and as you say they don't mention your boat but another 23 footer works out at about £700.

 

[FullCircle]

Replaced the sails on my Jouet 680 22ft last year, and got it down to 720 quid with bi radial rollerfurling and UV/Foam luff, and main with insignia and 2 reefs, all Bainbridge cloth. Crusader sails.

Try Seateach for good used sails when you get the measurements.

 

[twisterkai]

When we bought our current boat it had a sea teach genoa that was about 2 years old. 3 seasons later it was fit for the bin. Maybe their quality has improved now (I think their sails used to come from Hong Kong), but at the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

 

[Lakesailor]

Good point. I think they are still made there.

 

[Guest]

Seateach ... maybe they changed ??

But they were made by a local sailmaker South Coast well known that I cannot say who !! but may have started with the letter C ......

Of course I may have been told wrong .........

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: How much for new sails? - oops!

You're right, I don't know where £2k came from, must have been having a blonde moment or thought I was a mobo replying to someone asking how much it costs to run a boat! per week!!

Quick calculator exercise, with more reasonable figures, somewhere in the region of £1450, give or take as I do not have the invoice to hand. I ordered late summer july + as I received a 10% discount, this is presumably quiet season for the sailmakers....