Radial Cut or Cross Cut Genoa?

[fastjedi]

I am looking at two manufacturers
- Similar construction
- Similar material (one up from basic with a check pattern) Dacron
- Similar features (Foam luff, three lines of stitching etc)
- Similar price
One cross cut and one radial cut

Quote "With radial sails, you can bring the panels into line with stress panels .....But there is a potential problem: since the warp threads (along the length of the panel) tend to stretch more , is there really a net gain? The answer is no, not really - unless you use warp orenentated with specially woven with a greater number of warp threads"

Discuss?

 

[vyv_cox]

The information I was given when I bought my current sails was that radial cut is best in a non-furling/reefing genoa because the stresses are always in the same direction along the warp. As soon as the sail is flown with some turns in the luff this goes out of the window and the stress directions are unfair, leading to stretch. In a cross-cut the stresses are never fair but by using a stronger material, at least in one direction, this can be compensated for.

 

[smth448]

The labour costs of making a radial cut sail are higher than for a simple cross cut sail. If the prices are similar then you would appear to be over charged for the cross cut sail.

The radial sail will hold its shape better than the cross cut and should last longer before going baggy. This is because the stress lines in the sail follow the main fibres in the cloth. As previously stated this does not work so well when the sail is rolled, but should still be better than the cross cut sail.
A cross cut sail normally has the panels at right angles to the leech, meaning that luff tension is on the bias of the cloth. Before long this area will start to stretch as the tabling on the cloth gives out. You will need an expensive cloth with high fibre content, low tabling (filler) content, as used to be produced by Hoods to reduce this effect.
If the cloth is similar between the two sails I would go for the radial cut sail every time.

 

[Sans Bateau]

The advice we had when we bought new sails. Dimension Polyant MT square sail cloth, cross cut fully batten main (it was already FB), the genoa rather than tri radial, was cut bi radial a cost/strength compromise I believe. Thanks Arun sails.

 

[vyv_cox]

You will need an expensive cloth with high fibre content, low tabling (filler) content, as used to be produced by Hoods to reduce this effect.

That's what we bought. Du Pont Vectron, now called Vektran by Hood. My genoa is more than 10 years old, heavily used, and still in perfect shape. The previous Dacron one was clapped out after three years.

 

[Twister_Ken]

North has cloth designed for radial sails called Radian which is claimed to be unique, in that the warp yarns are uncrimped and run in the strain direction.

Satisfied customer.

 

[dnickj]

material

one point to note

you should not have the same material for both cross and radial cut sails the forces within the material work in different directions within the panels