Rubbish Sails

[Leonidas]

Nice thought but a bit of an oversimplification. First are you talking laminate or Dacron. Secondly how has the boat been sailed. Thirdly, how much was paid for the sails in the first place.

I still think the jury is out on the longevity of laminates but good modern laminates well cared for should last longer than 5 years, unless you're determined to be at the front of racing fleet. Good Dacron should give 10 or 15 years good cruising service if well looked after. Then there's elementary sailsmanship like reefing early, UV protection, not letting sails flog, cleaning and early repairs. Lastly, paradoxically it may be cheaper to buy expensive sails that'll need replacing less often.

Spot on! Treat the sails gently, reef early, don't let them flog (A flapping sail is an unhappy sail !) and winterize them properly off the boat . My dacron sails were cut by Alpha Sails in Athens about 10 years ago. Apart from the odd restiching and local repairs, I had nothing more to do. They have held their shape well and trim nicely. I do however take them off the boat every season and send them to the local sail loft for valetting and checking. Maybe this helps to keep replacement costs manageable. I am not planning to replace them in the foreseeable futute as they are still good for a few more seasons.

 

[flaming]

I once sailed a championship where the winner (a sailmaker) used a new suit of sails EACH DAY ! Didn't actually make them go faster, but they then sold on 6 suits of sails as "winner of world championships"
Certainly top dinghy sailors often replace sails multiple times in a season - but bot necesary for cruising sails

That must have been a fair while ago... Been against the rules for as long as I've been racing.

Longevity wise - it really does depend on the use you put them to, and the standards of shape you're prepared to accept. My Dad's Dufour 40 had Pentex laminates from the start, 2005, and the shape is still pretty good, and they are showing no signs of giving up. Not exactly a low useage boat - 2 Seasons in Demark, now in Spain.

On the race boat we're currently making 3DLs last about 2 seasons. Although we do retire them before they explode, tends to be when they are in the loft more than they're up the rig. Interestingly, our one panelled laminate sail is about 2 or 3 seasons old and the shape is now looking pretty iffy.