New mainsail question

[Dyflin]

We just received our shiney new sail from a reputable and well known sail maker. When we attached it and raised it we found that the luff and foot are shorter than ordered. We rang them and they said that it will stretch out the remaining five inches in both directions after a few sails. Have we been had or are they dead right?

 

[Achillesheel]

Five inches sounds a lot to me (as the actress said to the bishop)

 

[moondancer]

I think, IMHO, you are being fobbed of. My understanding (and I don't mind being proven wrong) is that even Dacron sails should stretch very little and that the design shape is there from day 1. I would be pretty pi**ed if someone told me a set of sails will start working well in a few weeks time.

 

[simonfraser]

rubish, most modern cloths don't strech signifcantly

 

[wooslehunter]

I think the sailmakers design in about 1%. Now assuming you have the 42foot mast option on the Leasure 23, you should be OK. Otherwise make them fit properly.

I just got some sails where the genny luff was too long. They had no option to re-cut as the sail just didn't fit the foil and did so in quick time.

 

[Csail]

At least yours will fit, ours had to go back a few times as they were too big (and they had old ones for pattern)
What is the first letter of the companies name out of interest?

 

[michael_w]

Who did the original measuring? Remember there is no such thing as a "standard design".

 

[Dyflin]

We did the original measuring off the old mainsail which fitted like a glove, we went back and rechecked our calculations which were spot on.

I'll wait and see what happens before I take it any further, but if I can't get them to resolve it to our satisfaction then I will most definitely let you know who it is.

 

[michael_w]

If you supplied the measurements and the sailmaker has made it to those measurements, methinks you are up sh*t creek. Conversely if he's got things too short, then they'll have to make you a new sail.

This happend to me once. The sail arrived a good 14" too short in the foot. It also set like a dustbin liner. I took a couple of pictures and they took it back with the comment "Not one of our best efforts". The subsequent sail was perfect.

By the way, usually the spars are measured not the sail. That way the sailmaker can allow for tack knock-back, height of track feeder, etc.

 

[Dyflin]

No the makers have agreed that it was made shorter to allow for stretch...

I didn't actually do all the measuring, it was the other partner in the boat, the clever one!! He filled in their paperwork so I know he took the correct measurements.

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
We did the original measuring ...

[/ QUOTE ]

With what? reason I ask is that I have found some of the cut-price tape rules to be quite inaccurate.

 

[Twister_Ken]

It's never gonna move 5 inches unless it's made from really rubbish cloth.

I had some stretch taken out of the luff of my North mainsail when it was about 5 years old, and they darted out about a half inch on each of three seams, so 1.5 in total.

The time to jump up and down and scream and stamp your feet is now, not in a coupla months.

 

[michael_w]

Send it back.

Even if the sail is made from the stretchiest Dacron known to man, 5" is far too much for a little sail on the luff let alone the leach. I asume the sail is for your Leisure 23.

They've fu*ked up.

 

[weaver_fish]

..and the sailmaker is?

 

[moondancer]

[ QUOTE ]

rubish, most modern cloths don't strech signifcantly

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that is what I said, if you read my post correctly.

 

[simonfraser]

haha, puma, my ref "rubish" was not to your comment, but to the suggestion by the sail maker that the sail would stretch 5 inches !

 

[jb2006]

What is "rubish" ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[PeteCooper]

As has been stated many times above, the sail is wrong, will never stretch 5" and should be replaced by the manufacturer. However I am concerned that a sail maker would try and pass off goods, which from the description, are very wrong. I would not want to deal with a company who feel that they can 'con' the customer to try and cover a mistake in their production process.

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
I would not want to deal with a company who feel that they can 'con' the customer to try and cover a mistake in their production process.


[/ QUOTE ]

My view too. I can forgive a mistake if the supplier admits to it and gives top priority to putting it right but if they try to deny it, or patronise me, they lose me as a customer for good. And I'll "spread the word" amongst any potential customers I meet.

 

[graham]

Hello Dyflin Sorry to hear your having problems. My Sails are similar size to yours.In 4 or 5 years of regular use I doubt if they have stretched more than an inch.

Double check the measurements you gave them then demand replacements / money back.Show them a link to this thread if theres any argument.