Hydranet

[youen]

Hello
Iwant to order new genoa and mainsail for my Hallberg Rassy 34,my sailmaker propose me Hydranet as fabrics what do you think of that

 

[Twister_Ken]

I've recently been down the route of ordering a new suit for a 34 footer. It ain't easy and different sailmakers tell you different stories.

In the end I found a sailmaker I trusted and went with his recommendation. His view on Hydranet is that it would make too heavy a sail on a smallish boat.

FWIW, my choice was North tri-radials in Radian cloth. Pleased so far, but ask again in 10 years time.

 

[snooks]

I think it's great...what do you think?

Do you know what hydranet is?

You've got a Hallberg Rassy, what sort of sailing do you actually do? Not the sailing you dream of doing btw.

Hydranet is expensive, but retains it's shape for longer and it is hard wearing. If you're considering going for a cruising laminate sail, consider hydranet. If you're happy with polyester/Dacron why change?

We have hydranet on Pixie and I know why I chose it

 

[gardenshed]

North's Radian cloth is quite similar to Hydranet, but uses warp oriented dacron fibres whereas hydranet uses warp oriented dyneema/spectra fibres.

Spectra is stiffer (elongates less for the same load) than dacron, hence cloths in Hydranet should be either stiffer/more stable for the same cloth weight or lighter and easier to handle for the same stiffness/strength

I have Hydranet Radial on both a triradial cut genoa & fully battened main on a 39' masthead rigged sloop, 9t displacement. Both sails in great condition after 3 years. I'd use the same (or similar) again.

Easier to handle than laminates, much better than dacron (stability of shape in gusts, lighter cloth weight & no reliance on resin finish hence onger expected life).

I believe that to get the same stability from a dacron or genoa, I'd have had to use a much heavier cloth so I find Twister Ken's comment slightly puzzling as Hydranet also comes in different weights.

I believe that other sail cloth manufacturers have similar products so if you get your hands on the technical details of the cloths proposed, (e.g. http://www.dimension-polyant.com/en/Hydranet_2_2_1.php) then you can make a considered judgement.

 

[snooks]

Dimension Polyant own the patent for the process of weaving Dyneema (no spectra in them) into polyester cloth, so while other cloth manufacturers might double the polyester yarn thickness to make it more stable, polyester stretches more than Dyneema, so Hydranet will always be better.

If you do go for Hydranet, to make the most out of it you should have Dyneema or Spectra halyards

 

[Chris Davison]

Sail Cloth Choice.

Sail cloth choice is never any easy thing. We have made many sails from dacron, Hydra-Net and Cruise Laminate. The reality is that they all have there uses. It depends what you want to acheive. The age old battle between lifespan, cost and performance has no answer, but depending on what type of sailing you will be doing there is a fabric out there for everyone. Personally i prefer either a good dacron or cruise lam. Hydra-net does not offer enough increase in performance or life in my eyes for the price hike. If you need any more help or some prices to compare, let me know. Chris