sail construction

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sailingby

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Can anyone advise me on sailcloth for a new sail? I'm having to replace my in-mast furling main, and various suppliers have contradicted each other as follows:
Simple Polyester (Dacron)- For:cheap Against:stretched in 3 years
Radial-cut Laminated- For:More strength, maybe twice as longlasting as above, Against:cost more, radial benefit no use when partially reefed,laminate breaks down with constant rolling.
Hydro-net (Dimension Polyant)- For:much stronger Against:More money again, not old enough for track record.

The boat is 10m and used for cruising weekends and hols.
Help!


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I'm not an expert - but for most cruising use I think a good quality Dacron is ideal. That should last much longer than 3 years - most sailmakers reckon at least 10 of the sort of use you describe, and it is very resilient.

Anything else is going to cost you roughly twice as much (or more) there are a vast range of "cruising laminates" and the like which will give marginally better performance, but will not last as long (maybe 5 years?). But many of these require more careful handling than Dacron.

For the ultimate in longevity you could consider Vectran. That would be my choice if I were sailing round the world, but hardly justified for the weekend sailing I do now.

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For the use you mention a cross cut main will be best value, however by selecting a quality, well constructed, performance dacron (dimension polyant) it should hold it's shape much longer than a cheap sail and the three years you suggest. Have a look at various websites to learn about the differences in cloth make up and material. A good sailmaker will advise on the weave of the thread and the way in which they are put together to minimise stretch. With in mast furling on a 10m boat the other cloths won't give the performance/money differentials - IMHO.

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>Simple Polyester (Dacron)- For:cheap Against:stretched in 3 years<

Very cheap Dacron maybe, but go for something like Marblehead and it's a whole different story:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sailcloth.co.uk/chal/files/marble/main.htm>marblehead sailcloth</A>

There's an American sail makers site <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again
 
Vectran

I bought Vectran sails about three years ago on the basis that I don't wish ever to buy sails again. I was most impressed by the reports made into the condition of the sails in this material on some of the Chay Blyth round the world boats. Summarising greatly, the reports said that no stretch or deformation could be detected and the sails were quite ready to go around again.

I sail virtually every weekend from March to end November, almost all holidays and long weekends spent under sail. Last winter I took the sails to a local sailmaker for a little repair stitching and he commented that they were just like new. I can't see any evidence of deterioration in shape in either main or genoa. I fully expect to get 10 years out of them, and hopefully quite a lot more.

Compare that with my previous Dacron genoa, after three years it was a terrible shape. Replacing it improved my pointing by more than 5 degrees.

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Re: Vectran

I'd agree - I've got a suit of UK tapedrive blue water sails that are now 5 seasons old. There is NO discernable change of shape in the sails whatsoever - just a little wear and tear. The kites from the same period on the other hand are shot (and theyve never been outside their wind range) - which is why they have been replaced.

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Thanks everybody. By coincidence there's a series on the subject in PBO this April/May/June. I chose a simple Contender Dacron version, haven't had it yet, will let you know!

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