Kemp's off the shelf e-sails experiences?

I do wonder how much effort goes into 'bespoke' cruising chute design for a normal cruising boat. If these are to Kemp's normal production standard (no reason to doubt that) then I suspect these will suit you just fine
 
I am not sure about e-sails, but Kemp have a very good reputation for their made to measure sails. I have a Kemp main that sets beautifully.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I got mine made to measure by Jeckells, and the price including snuffer was about the same.
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Really? How long ago? Not tried Jeckells but other bespoke sail makers are double the price (2.5k v 1.2k) without snuffer . Jeckells quote when I bought a fully battened main was aligned with other suppliers.
 
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richardbrennan said:
I am not sure about e-sails, but Kemp have a very good reputation for their made to measure sails. I have a Kemp main that sets beautifully.
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I had a Kemp genny made for my last boat (over-generous leach which started hooking or fluttering after 3 months regardless of leech-line tension) and a main for boat-but-last ( huge roach which caught on fixed backstay, de-velcroing the top batten, despite specifying I wanted backstay clearance) which were OK but I wouldn't buy from them again without a decent financial advantage. Sanders would be my choice for white sails but my thinking is that a cruising chute is more of a bag than a foil and won't get all that much use. I've also had an FB main from Crusader which is a lovely sail but required a bit of tweeking re. reefing points before it behaved fully.
 
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Quiddle said:
Really? How long ago? Not tried Jeckells but other bespoke sail makers are double the price (2.5k v 1.2k) without snuffer . Jeckells quote when I bought a fully battened main was aligned with other suppliers.
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About 3 years ago. Boat show price, but everyone does that. We got quotes from 3 or 4 sailmakers, and Jeckells were best value. I like their snuffer design, too.
 
RivalRedwing said:
I do wonder how much effort goes into 'bespoke' cruising chute design for a normal cruising boat. If these are to Kemp's normal production standard (no reason to doubt that) then I suspect these will suit you just fine
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I'm sure this site has been posted before, but I didn't realise it was run by the Kemps. I met both father and son last year and they treated me very well for a small amount of work in the busy season. I was super impressed.
 
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The only time we've ever had new sails made, we went with Kemp for the main. We were replacing the boom as well and they have a good relationship with Z Spars so we knew it would all match up. Couldn't fault the final products.
 
I bought an esails asymmetric chute a few weeks ago. It is fine. The first couple of times I put it up the snuffer snagged but now the sail has been used a couple of times it is fine. The head and foot have pressed rings rather than a solid rings as found on a very expensive sail. Very good value and useful sail. I am glad I bought it and would not spend a lot more on a more expensive type. Not connected to Kemp other than as a customer
 
I too have a Kemp Tri radial cruising chute. See it in this video. If you want to skip the into, start at about 30 seconds. The video was taken by a kind German sailor who saw me sailing whilst he was motoring. There was not much wind and I was making about 5 knots. When the German yachtsman hoisted his white sails and turned off his engine I sailed away from him. I met him a month or so later and he gave me a USB stick with the video on it.
 
In reply to the o p’s question I should also have said that the esails cruising chute does just what he wants to do / it means I can sail at decent speeds running and reaching in relatively light winds and means more sailing and less motoring
Rigging is easy with a short strop clipped on the bow roller plate and sheets led aft to blocks on the quarter. I use the launch bag and snuffer making it easy for me and a very cautious wife to hoist and handle.
I wish I had bought one years ago.
 
An update - you can now order customised white sails on the E-Sails site in addition to cruising chutes.

We have an E-Sails mainsail on our Morgan Giles 30, and we are very happy with it.

- W
 
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