Sail Question?

Dougal

Dougal

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Hi Peeps

Wonder if you can help....? I need new sails for my Evasion32 Ketch. However, here be my dilemma.... As the boat is kept in France, I brought the sails home, hoping to get repairs, or new sails made here. Seems they’re pretty well shot though.

I’ve only approached one sail maker so far, who said they can ONLY quote from a template – that to produce, they need the rig measurements. This I don’t have this here.

Is it not possible to use the old sails as templates?
 
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Is it not possible to use the old sails as templates?

[/ QUOTE ] Yes, if you're sure they're the right size
 
Phone any of the major sailmakers, they will have the right soze on Database.
Alternatively, I would think that French sails are a bit cheaper?
Had some Technique Voiles on my Jouet which stood up quite nicely.
 
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surely old sails stretch and therefore would be a poor template?

[/ QUOTE ] Yes but if they fitted then it's OK. If they are a close fit then care will be needed. Cruising laminates won't stretch much so as long as there is a little allowance for stretch should be OK
 
Your old sails will be stretched, the new ones will need to be made to dimentions allowing for this, otherwise after they have been used for a while, they will be too long, you will be unable to tension them the luff foot etc . The sailmaker will have a formula for the various materials.
BTW, I am awaiting delivery of my new genny!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Phone any of the major sailmakers, they will have the right soze on Database.
Alternatively, I would think that French sails are a bit cheaper?
Had some Technique Voiles on my Jouet which stood up quite nicely.

[/ QUOTE ]
I got quotes here in France, they were no cheaper, if not more than UK quotes, ordered from Far East, for 1/2 the price, I cannot afford to 'that Loyal'.
 
Never use the old sails as templates.

The sailmaker must come and measure up if you want a decent sail. There are too many measurements to get wrong. After all, you are ordering the equivalent of a bespoke suit. You wouldn't expect a tailor to use an old jacket and a pair of your pajamas as a guide.

Popular one-design dinghies excepted.
 
I am sure the size of sails for a keel boat even when used for low level racing are not so important. Provided the new sail will fit within the available luff (track) space and the roach is not too big. (The outside curve of the leach must fit under the backstay).

Likewise for the jib the luff must fit on the forestay with space for roller gear and the foot must fit within the sheet track positions available.

But sails are never quite the right size. If the wind is light you wish for more sail and if the wind is strong you wish for less sail. So you have to choose for yourself what size sail you want.

If you were happy with the size of the old sails you should get new ones the same size. good luck olewill
 
[ QUOTE ]
Never use the old sails as templates.

The sailmaker must come and measure up if you want a decent sail. There are too many measurements to get wrong. After all, you are ordering the equivalent of a bespoke suit. You wouldn't expect a tailor to use an old jacket and a pair of your pajamas as a guide.

Popular one-design dinghies excepted.

[/ QUOTE ]

Depends, if serious racing sails, ok,
but for cruising, no, (but, I can,t afford a tailor either, not even M&S!), if the old sails are a decent fit, a good sailmaker should produce good sails from the profile of the old one's. But better if you measure the spars yourself, it,s not difficult. Bill.
 
Puzzled. I have just received my sails. Checking with the old (20Yrs + and baggy) the new are a little longer on both luff and foot but within the spar dimensions. Queried the sailmaker who stated that the bolt rope on the old shrinks over time thus reducing the size. Seemed counterintuitive but on checking both on a floor, it is evident that the old luff rope stretches under moderate tension to close to the new sail dimensions. Is this correct?
Jim J
 
Yes, which is why racers periodically get their sails remeasured to take advantage of the small decreases in size in reducing their rating.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Puzzled. I have just received my sails. Checking with the old (20Yrs + and baggy) the new are a little longer on both luff and foot but within the spar dimensions. Queried the sailmaker who stated that the bolt rope on the old shrinks over time thus reducing the size. Seemed counterintuitive but on checking both on a floor, it is evident that the old luff rope stretches under moderate tension to close to the new sail dimensions. Is this correct?
Jim J

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Sounds Very Odd to me! Shrinks? Bill.
 
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Oh %^&$

Now i'm even more confused!

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Sorry about that Dougal!, but I have never heard of sails shrinking. Any sailmaker I have asked for a quote, (Dacron cruising sails) has a formula to calculate the allowance he must make for the stretch that will occur during the life of the sail. Bill.
 
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