New sail?

[TiggerToo]

I am now finally trying to make my mind up on buying a new foresail. I have settled on a cross-cut dacron sail (I do mainly cruising, but the sail gets a lot of use and potential mishandling by charterers). Having sent off requests for quotes I get some contradictory advice from the sailmakers /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. Some recommend "Marbelhead" finish, others seem to think this does not really live up to its claims and gets "crazed" after a while. Do you have any direct experience about this?

 

[ajt]

I have no knowledge of marblehead sails but I have just replaced my sails and the difference was impressive.
I think you should take the advice from the sailmakers but to which one that is personal choice I used Kemp's in Poole, they were not the cheapest but I felt they gave me a more proffesional service and as much advice as I asked for.
The sails took a bit longer to make than I had hoped but the wait was worth it, boat speed has increased and also the pointing angle.

 

[michael_w]

Get yourself a tri-radial cut genoa made out of a cruising laminate with a padded luff. Dacron will turn into a sack within a season or two, though it will remain a triangle for ever.

On my last boat the main and genoa in a cruising laminate had done 18,000 miles when I sold the boat. With the exception of a touch of leach curl on the genoa, the sails were perfect.

The difference in price between a laminate and dacron will be less than you expect. IIRC, on my mainsail it was about £100.

 

[Sailfree]

Interested in your reply but like tiggertoo I am looking to replace sails on a charter boat. Will your recommendation stand up to being badly stacked by charterers and excuse my ignorance but can you get laminate roller reefing genoas (just reread your post and reference to a padded luff suggests OK for roller reefing I guess)?

Generally charterers want stack pack mains and roller reefing genoas(unless chartering for racing). If you don't supply it there is another boat around the corner that will.

I get different recommendations from different sailmakers and unlike other boats a charter boat will find out poor choices in sail spec in months!!

 

[Skyva_2]

The Kemp laminate genoa has a foam luff and rolls/reefs superbly.

Don't know about the reeking bit /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[TiggerToo]

I have not considered laminates as many have warned me off them for cruising work with charters.