New mainsail

J

JIM_TEAL

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Considering new sails. Fully battened main probably too much. However I have seen Kemps brochure with description of their "Power Main", a system of longer but not quite full battens.
Any one tried this arrangement? I would welcome any opinions or comment from the forum.
Jim J
 
Just my HO re full battens, I inherited my full batten main with the boat, it sets beautifully, but when singlehanded it is hard to reef off the wind, I never had the problem with a 44ftr, I could haul a reef down off the wind, the compression on the the full battens is to much on the present 32ftr, I will go for a "normal" sail when I buy new. BUT, as I said, the set with the f/b is lovely, but no good for shorthanded cruising, imho. Bill.
 
I am extremely pleased with my power main from kemps. The difference was stunning from day one, I will replace it with similar when the time comes.

If you do go this way though, I would advice a 3rd reefing point nice and deep, with 2 in a F7 we were struggling to slow the boat down, even with just the patch of genny showing.

Having said that, we have not had the need to test the deep reef since kemps added it for us later, thank goodness.

Fully recommend Kemps by the way, usual disclaimers apply.
 
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Try "Far East Sails Hong Kong" for a price, I would love to buy British but not at 2x the price.

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So who will repair your HK sails, who will launder them? Who will re cut them?

Who will do all this essential work when the UK sailmakers have shut the door, no more new sailmakers trained?

I'll wager that once these 'HK' companies know that we no long can make sails in the UK, you will finish up paying dearly for sails in the future.
 
Well, I wash my sails myself, I have never had to have sails recut, as far as having to pay dearly in the future, If I bought in the UK or here in France I would pay dearly now.
I take it all your purchases are patrioticly made in the UK, or at least the EU??? cars, appliances, clothing etc. regardless of cost.?
Assuming I last long enough to collect a pension, It will be a reduced one anyway, paid for by contributions paid since I started work at 16.
 
Well I do honestly try to buy UK or European products.

I have just ordered a new main and genoa from a local loft.

I got prices from the UK based sail 'lofts' who make no secret of the fact that they manufacture in the Far East. My local loft was little more. I dont doubt that to buy direct I could have got cheaper but, sorry not for me.

As for other purchases, for some reason, these days, the 'brand' label hides the true source of so many goods. Made for XZY, head office etc etc etc. So often place of manufacture is not known.
 
I looked at the options 2 years ago.
Ended up going for fully battened.
All I would recommend is that you talk to the sailmaker and talk through your requirements - he will advise on material and harware - he is the expert and is not likely to sell you something that won't suite you.
I sail single handed most of the time, the sail is very easily handled (33' boat) and I can even raise & lower it when off the wind. I do not have lazyjacks - tried them for a season but just didn't get on with them.
No problem when reefing at the mast & I do have the 3rd reef.
I went for a British manufacturer in the end - his quote for the one sail wasn't cheap, but I did get a new roller genoa free - he had a BOGOF offer - this made it a very good price for the 2 sails!
Am very pleased with the end product.
 
I inherited a fully battened main with roller ball bearing cars. No friction anywhere. A lot less than the previous normally battened main. The sail drops like a guileteen! I can raise it all the way to the top without a winch, then on the winch for the tensioning bit. Off the wind with the sail hard against the aft lowers it takes very little effort to pull the reef down
 
I think you are right, i.e. the set up I inherited is on the original Procter mast and I suspect the batten cars are far from the best and jam when the sail is off the wind, goes up and down fine head to wind. Bill.
 
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Is it no longer the practice to head into the wind to reef?

My reefing is at the mast and single handed I just heave to then reef. Takes about 90 seconds.

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Agree, it,s the "book"way, but it,s very handy in practice to be able to pull a reef down off the wind in a big sea i.e. without having to turn into it.
 
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