Rubbish Sails

[Albert Ross]

We have a 3 year old Jeanneau SO 36i which we bought new from Westways of Plymouth. (Westways have since ceased trading.)

After only 3 seasons the sails have had it and need replacing.
They were supplied new with the boat and were made by Quantum.

The Genoa … our sail maker reports that the leech is so rotten that you can push a blunt pencil through it up to 10 inches from the leech. The UV strip shows signs of UV exposure indicating that the sail has been rolled the correct way to prevent UV damage. Despite this the sail is rotten.

The Main .. is a “horrendous shape” and beyond repair. It is grossly stretched both at the leech and luff such that it cannot be flattened except around the middle.

I would have thought that sails should last more than 3 seasons (3 Summers in the Solent, South Coast and Brittany/ Biscay.)

Has anyone had similar experiences?

Why should a Genoa (with UV protection, correctly rolled) rot over such a short time?

Why should the Main have stretched so very badly ?

Thanks for your comments.

 

[Scareyclott]

Surley they should last longer than that, are they made of Dacron?
the Quantum web site says

"The highest quality, most tightly woven, and most stretch resistant woven polyester available is used to create a durable sail with exceptional shape-holding."

"Excellent performance balanced with exceptional durability and reasonable cost."

"Smooth, flat aerodynamic profile custom tailored to boat characteristics and expected usage."

I would ask Quantum to take a look and see what they suggest

Scott

 

[minkysailing]

Dear flat1,

The simple answer to your question maybe that the sails from day 1 were sub-standard and of poor cut/construction. Sadly many new boat standard OEM sails are very poor quality and are designed to last only a couple of years before they stretch and rot. I would put it to you that Quantum in UK would not wish to associate themselves with the sails claiming they are produced by a French loft to Jeanneau's specification!!!!!

Sadly I have seen this same issue arise with Elvstrom where the French loft build sails to a AWB OEM specification and are not associated with the more widely known brand.

Your sails are now 3 years old....they have done what the manufacturers wanted them to do and I see little option but for your to dig deep and buy some decent UK sails that will last....

I would suggest however that you contact Quantum and Jeanneau (albeit through their dealer network) to ask for an explanation, but I would not expect too much..!!!

 

[Talulah]

Had similar with a new Dufour 365.
Foot of Genoa fell apart in first year.
Thankfully Portways lost the dealership.

 

[smth448]

I agree with the other replies. The OEM sails provided with new cruising boats are almost always complete rubbish. Its a shame really because they ruin the boats.
The acid test comes if you ask the agent to provide the boat ex-sails so you can provide your own. If you do they get embarrassed and say that the money you would save is nowhere near what a decent set of sails would cost.
These sails are built to a price using the cheapest cloth available. Consequently they do not last. All you can do is bite the bullet and buy some decent sails. You will be amazed at how much better your boat will sail.

 

[Sailfree]

Thankfully Portways lost the dealership.

Not fair comment - All dealerships sell the boats with the sails as supplied by the manufacturer. All Dufour dealerships would have sold the same boat with the same OEM sails. All OEM sails are made down to a price. Deduct sails from purchase and they only deduct pennies.

This has been my experience on four new boats - 2 Dufours , 1 Jeanneau and 1 Wayfarer. Still have the new Wayfarer spinnaker to sell!!

New boat sails good for only a couple of seasons yet replacements good for 8 or more dependant on use.

 

[Lakesailor]

Last year I replaced the 1976 (Jeckells) mainsail on my Seahawk as it was getting a bit past it.

 

[merlin3688]

It can be the same with the spars, as has been mentioned they are all built to a price. If I was buying a Beneteau, Jeaneau etc I would purchase the hull and purchase my own sails and rig. Sails (mostly!) and spars built in the UK in my opinion are a far better quality then if purchased abroad. You will pay a little more but they will last so much longer.

 

[DanTribe]

Last year I replaced the 1976 (Jeckells) mainsail on my Seahawk as it was getting a bit past it.

I generally replace sails after about 25 years, whether they need it or not.
[not storm jibs of course, never get any use out of them]

 

[Poignard]

I generally replace sails after about 25 years, whether they need it or not.
[not storm jibs of course, never get any use out of them]

Sheer wanton extravagance. You must have more money than sense!

 

[Talulah]

Not fair comment - All dealerships sell the boats with the sails as supplied by the manufacturer. All Dufour dealerships would have sold the same boat with the same OEM sails. All OEM sails are made down to a price. Deduct sails from purchase and they only deduct pennies.

This has been my experience on four new boats - 2 Dufours , 1 Jeanneau and 1 Wayfarer. Still have the new Wayfarer spinnaker to sell!!

New boat sails good for only a couple of seasons yet replacements good for 8 or more dependant on use.

"Thankfully Portway lost their dealership" is not based on the sails.
They lost their dealership for some very good reasons.

 

[Lakesailor]

I generally replace sails after about 25 years, whether they need it or not.

I found my hand was forced on my Foxcub after only 20 years of use.

 

[Sandy]

[not storm jibs of course, never get any use out of them]

Go on you really want to try it out now and then. Or is it the colour that puts you off?

 

[Bobc]

After 7 years of fairly hard work in the Carbbean sun, my original Bavaria-supplied Elvestrom's finally started falling apart, so I donated them to the bar in Jolly Harbour, and they are now being used as sun shades. Marvellous!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

After only 3 seasons the sails have had it and need replacing.
They were supplied new with the boat and were made by Quantum.

The Genoa … our sail maker reports that the leech is so rotten that you can push a blunt pencil through it up to 10 inches from the leech. The UV strip shows signs of UV exposure indicating that the sail has been rolled the correct way to prevent UV damage. Despite this the sail is rotten.

The Main .. is a “horrendous shape” and beyond repair. It is grossly stretched both at the leech and luff such that it cannot be flattened except around the middle.


.

The UV damage cannot be anything to do with the way you have used the sails and must be downb to faulty material. The shape is different - one bad season of very hard use can wreck the best sail.

I think you have a basis for going back to quantuim about the genoa.

 

[Stork_III]

FWIW Quantum sails (QSDG) ( A Sail Design Consultancy in the UK) are made in Malaysia or by affiliated lofts, to Quantums spec.

Not true for most Quantum sails bought in the UK,until recently. Mine were made in Suffolk by Brian, a very nice chap.

 

[exfinnsailor]

Replaced ours ( Beneteau ) after 3 years. The stack pack webbing disintegrated and had to be replaced ( warrantee ) the zip fabric has now fell apart

New sails from North set far better. No UV strip just a long thin bag we haul up with the spinnaker halyard.

So just the stack pack to sort now.

The sail cloth is expensive so they use cloth with a lot of filler in it as its cheaper. Only problem is they flog and the filler breaks down and disappears.

I didn't realise until after we purchased the boat that I could have ordered it without sails and purchased a decent set at the start. Would probably have not got much of a reduction. Have now sold both sails which has helped someway towards the new ones.

 

[MoodySabre]

Flat1 - Full Circle was similarly impressed by the sails on his brand new Jeanneau 35i which have now been replaced after a few years.

 

[Spyro]

I found my hand was forced on my Foxcub after only 20 years of use.

Just needs a bit of tension on the outhaul

 

[Lucky Duck]

I didn't realise until after we purchased the boat that I could have ordered it without sails and purchased a decent set at the start. Would probably have not got much of a reduction. Have now sold both sails which has helped someway towards the new ones.

One bit of advice I was given when looking at similar boats was to take delivery of the OEM sails and then keep them somewhere safe until the time came to move on at which time the boat could be placed on the market with the unused sails. It makes sense, well sort of...