Hydra Net v Diax

[John_Silver]

Just back from a morning with the sailmaker. Stargazer's 3 year old 110% laminate jib has been diagnosed to have hernias. Question is what to have its replacement made of. Choice seems to come down to Bainbridge DIAX laminate or DP Hydra Net hi tech woven. Latter far more expensive but potentially more durable. Any out there with experience of life span for a high aspect / battened leach jib in Hydra Net?

 

[charles_reed]

You'll get a longer working life out of the Hydranet as, no doubt, Paul told you.

 

[Robin]

Heartilty recommend Hydranet, had a triradial genoa and a triradial fb main in Hydranet for our sun Legende 41, excellent sails made by Crusader in Poole, who had made sails for all my boats since about 1970. When we bought our current boat here in the usa the in-mast main was stretched enough to need replacing and the local place wanted too much and too long to sort out a replacement, plus they even charged me $300 for inspecting the sail and telling me it was shot. I refused to pay for an inspection that could have been done in 5 minutes at most and called Paul Lees at crusader Poole who made me a nice new in-mast main in Hydranet ( even though I hadn't insisted on it but he knew how much I like it) the new sail was delivered to my home in Florida in 4 weeks and even with shipping cost quite a bit less than the local robber here was trying to extract from me, plus the new sail was made by my trusted sailmaker of many years, win win win.:encouragement:

 

[John_Silver]

Thanks for the feedback - the voice of experience is always reassuring!
Went with Hydra Net - at Crusader prices there was only £300 in it between a short life laminate sail and one in long life / high stability Hydra Net

 

[Robin]

Thanks for the feedback - the voice of experience is always reassuring!
Went with Hydra Net - at Crusader prices there was only £300 in it between a short life laminate sail and one in long life / high stability Hydra Net

The labour cost is the same so it pays to pick the best cloth options. Our Hydranet tri-radial roller Genoa was 10 years and near 20,000 miles old when we sold the boat and it still looked and set like it did on day one, that on a cruiser racer with a tall rig and high aspect highly loaded sails that we sailed in all weathers. I think one of the PBO staffers on here also is a big Hydranet fan. I was one of the early converts when Paul Lees told me he had some in use on a couple of RTW cruisers that were reporting back good things, My sails replaced inherited North laminates that had decided enough was enough and were about ready to fall apart. The laminates are also liable to get mildewed between layers and look yucky, If you see it on Hydranet at least it will only be on the surface and cleanable. Enjoy!:encouragement:

PS WHEN you see Paul next, tell him I said to say Hi!

 

[Chanquete]

Just back from a morning with the sailmaker. Stargazer's 3 year old 110% laminate jib has been diagnosed to have hernias. Question is what to have its replacement made of. Choice seems to come down to Bainbridge DIAX laminate or DP Hydra Net hi tech woven. Latter far more expensive but potentially more durable. Any out there with experience of life span for a high aspect / battened leach jib in Hydra Net?

Have you considered nordac radian sailcloth?
I just bought a 135% roller genoa of this sailcloth and so far I am delighted.

 

[Shuggy]

I can only comment on my experience with Hydranet (as opposed to other non-dacron sailcloths) but I have a large Crusader genoa (160% ish) now completing its third season and still in excellent shape. Its predecessor was dacron of unknown vintage but looked like something Nora Batty would have worn when it was finally retired. Despite its size it's possible to get a really nice shape out of it. Completely different sail shape to yours but more prone to stretch, I would have thought.