New Sails - Help!!

[mick]

I will shortly take the plunge and order a new set of sails for my Sadler 26. I have had several quotes, ranging from £1100 to nearly £2000. I have checked the spec. carefully in each case to make sure that I am comparing like with like, and even when the spec appears broadly similar (sailcloth weight, type of construction, extras, etc.) there can be a huge difference in price. I do not want to pay a fair amount for sails which may disappoint. I am tempted to go with my local sailmaker, Saturn Sails of Largs. Although their quote is one of the highest I know that they do quality work as they made a superb sprayhood for my boat last year. Any comments will be gratefully received.
P.S. Any comments for or against a foam pad on the luff of the furling genoa?

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[Shanty]

Did you ask Owen Sails for a quote? They have a reputation for producing bombproof sails. I had a new main from them a couple of years ago - its a lovely sail. I would recommend them.


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[LORDNELSON]

I bought a new fully battened mainsail for my boat (37 foot) two years ago; quotes ranged from £1450 to £2097. In the end I bought the cheapest (from Crusader Sails) and have been very pleased with it. If you have a foam luff on your genoa its fine when its on the foil but if you have to store it below the foam luff seems to take up a lot of room.

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[davidwf]

Foam luff

The foam luff is essential to get a reasonable sail shape when reefing the Genoa.

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[Strathglass]

You won't be disapointed with a Saturn sail.

I had an Eboat spinnaker from them a few years ago and in spite of my racing hard with it four times a week, it was still being used by the then present owner of the boat bv over ten years since I had purchased the sail.

Iain

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[seaesta2]

I you plan on keeping your boat for a longish time I strongly recommend Jeckylls of Wroxham. They sometimes have some that have been ordered and not collected so you can get em cheaper. I still have a No2 and storm jib from 1966 that are in good order, a mainsail that is 10 years old and in good nick etc. I have tried other makes and not found anything as strong, durable and well made.
Martin

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[LeonF]

Parker and Kay have a great website about sail quality and talked about things I hadn't considered. You may have to look under Quantum sails to find it.

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[mickshep]

My boat was converted from 7/8ths to masthead rig in 1964 to make her more competative as she was built for offshore racing. she still has her 1964 Ratsey and Lapthorne main sail which still sets beautifully though I would imagine the filler levels in the cloth are much lower than they were, her big jenny of the same vintage has about had it though and will I fear nead replacing this year.. the standard off finishing on the main is superb though what it would cost now I dread to think, her other foresails are from a mixture of manufacturers and newer but none are in the same league as the main. Mike.

<hr width=100% size=1>"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me."

 

[graham]

Aruns are good

I have replaced my 23 year old Arun sails in the last couple of years with more from Arun.

Quality is good they set well and the company were a pleasure to deal with(delivered on time etc.)They were also competitively priced.

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[Cantata]

Mike Lucas (www.mikelucasyachting.co.uk) is an agent for Westaway sails and suppies them at a discount for Sadler owners.
I bought a Westaway main for our 29 a couple of years ago (as it happens, not thro MLY as I got a special deal on a cancelled order) and have been delighted with it.
Also bought a cruising chute from Dolphin sails, excellent in all respects.

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