Kemp Sails vs Momentum Sails

tgalea

tgalea

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Dear All,

In a bit of dilemma. I'm buying a new roller reefing genoa for my Trapper 950 and after evaluating many brands I seem to have shortlisted to either Kemp or Momentum Sails.

Prices between these two are a few pounds away so not a decisive factor.

Any experience with these people ? Anyone have any comments as to which sail maker they prefer ?

Thanks as always.

Tyrone Galea
 
we have a kite from momentum and very pleased with it.

we looked at a set of white sails from momentum too. but were warned off due to the sail material.

It seems there is some sort of legal battle going on regarding there vectran material which is spelt different to Hoods vectron.

They may not be anything wrong with the material but it's not been proven yet !

Looking at the quality of the sail's i've seen at boat shows there don't look much wrong with them.

Personally I would buy a Hood/Kemp sail just fo the piece of mind of measurments and if anything went wrong, it could be adjusted.

On a different note i've just bought a rather nice North sail instead of the momentum at a sensible price.
 
If timescale is important go for Momentum...nearly a year of re-makes from K even though they had the old sails as pattern! Sails are good now though (missed a whole season!)
 
I've just ordered new main and genoa from Arun sails, not as sexy as some companies but still they know what they are talking about and I have struck a good deal.

My second choice was Kemp.

I particularly want to buy my sails from a company that would visit the boat to measure and then make them in their own loft in the UK.

Out of interest when I was harvesting information from sailmakers one very very well know company did not reply to my email when I asked for confirmation that the sail would be made in the UK!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Kemp and hood sails also merged this year I believe.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, they are still separate businesses operating from the same site.
 
I've only ever bought one new sail and it was from Kemp.
At first I bought a new sail from them which had been rejected by the original customer. I had a Sabre 27 at the time and this sail had been made for a Sabre 27. The original purchaser had complained that it did not fit so I got it quite cheaply. The luff rope was too big, and it was sent back for a smaller one, all at the expense of Kemp. I thought this very decent of them. When I got it up it did not fit my boat either. I sent it back, was offered a full refund. This too was good service. I then sent them very accurately measured dimentions for the new genoa. I waited for a reasonable period and then received my new sail. It did not fit. Having argued on the phone that they had made a mistake, and received no satisfaction, I then went to Wareham (from Croyde in North Devon) and asked that they lay my new sail on top of the non-fitting one I had previously bought. The two were a perfect match. Having offered a 'bespoke' sail making service, they had received my measurements, but then used the stock pattern they had on file. My point is that they took no notice of the measurements I gave them. They also, having caused me loads of arseing around hassle and fuel costs, charged me extra for the increase in the amount of sailcloth for the correct size sail.
I came away from my dealings with Kemp annoyed. The sail I eventually got was truly good, but I hated being treated like an idiot. I will not buy from them again.
I have no knowledge of Momentum sails so cannot comment.
Nicki Crutchfield
 
Consider getting someone reasonably local to do your sails -all other things being equal, it will save time and expense on measuring up etc.
 
We bought fully battened main plus mizzen from Kemp earlier this year.
Excellent at LBS stand, good support in advance of production.
Sails are top notch and do exactly what they are supposed to do.
We also bought stackpacks and when one of the front covers was wrong, they sent a replacement within days.
They will certainly be 'on the list' when we look to replace our genoa.
No connection, just a satisfied customer.
 
Nicki Crutchfield's experience is not the first bad experience I have heard of with Kemps.

However, we bought a new genoa and main from them at the end of 2006, and they were excellent. They also offer a very cheap valet service, at least at the end of the first season.
 
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