new vs recut sails

[blackbeard]

Visit to SIBS produced a quote for new sails for my little coastal cruiser, said quote being (don't tell anyone) a bit less (taking into consideration reduction for sails ordered during or shortly following Show) than I had been expecting.

Existing sails are a touch baggy. As in, bag of washing. There are various means on my rig of flattening sails, but these are no match for sails now about 12 years old and which have seen a fair bit of use. The old sails actually show little sign of wear and the workmanship is holding up well, apart from their being ... baggy. Like a very baggy thing.

I understand it's possible to re-cut sails which will improve their shape, but still will not produce as good a shape as that of new sails. Is it worth going that way, or would it be better to just get new sails? I'm in the fortunate position that the piggy bank, shaken sufficiently vigorously, rattles in a such a way as to reassure me that I can afford it if I need to.

 

[lw395]

Personal choice.
Another route is to find out if your cruiser would fit a set of lightly used sails from a racing boat of some sort.
I see a cruiser using a main I raced with 15 years ago from time to time.
Re-cutting is a variable thing, depends a lot on the skill of the sail maker, while new ones are designed by 'puter and assembled by numbers to some extent.

 

[rob2]

Re-cutting may give you some improvement for a couple of years - but nothing compared with the pleasure of sailing with a brand new suit of sails! I've done both over the years and the new sails win hands down. There, that should ease your conscience.

Rob.

 

[charles_reed]

If, after 12 years the sails are showing no UV deterioration but are baggy, it's probable that the original material was not particularly well-woven and whilst recutting may improve the set it will be a short-term benefit.

Modern woven sailmaking fabrics (having just done the research) have improved dramatically in the last 10 years, that unless the saving of re-cutting the sails is less than about 15% of new sails, I doubt it's economically or qualitatively viable.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Modern woven sailmaking fabrics (having just done the research) have improved dramatically in the last 10 years ...

Everything that anybody want you to buy has improved dramatically since the ones you have now were made.

 

[DeloiseRagusa]

That is sincerely a personal choice i guess.

 

[charles_reed]

Everything that anybody want you to buy has improved dramatically since the ones you have now were made.

If you believe them and can't be bothered to do the research for yourself.

 

[bedouin]

If the sails were well made in the first place then if they are baggy now it is because the fabric is coming to the end of its working life.

I would expect that to do a proper job of recutting would require pretty much every panel to be recut and re-sewn which much be about as much work as making a new sail from scratch. I would guess that the cost of that would be at least half of the cost of a new sail. I would say it is very unlikely to be cost effective.

 

[boaterbaz]

If you can afford it get the new rags, been down the ebay/boat jumble route, the reason for selling old sails is cos they are nkackered. Even recycled racing sails are not a long term solution. Took a big breath and ordered a set of hyde (No connection except as a satisfied customer). The local S.W rep visited the boat and made a few suggestions as he measured up for the sails. Crispy new sails are a delight.

 

[doug748]

Everything that anybody want you to buy has improved dramatically since the ones you have now were made.

Yes the power of marketing, in the end we believe it.



I would get yourself some new sails blackbeard. Secondhand ones can also be got, if you spy out on various, suitable class websites.