Sailmakers in UK

[Magaz97]

I am looking to buy a new main sail for my Invicta 26. I already have some quotes. Some very reasonable and some, not quite as reasonable. 100% increase in price!
Jeckells have quoted. They were very prompt and helpfull with a good price.
I would however, appreciate any recommendations. Who else should I try, who would you recommend, who wouldnt you recommend.
I am looking for a cruising main with good durability. many thanks in advance.

Tony

 

[lustyd]

I would recommend Crusader in Poole for their top notch service, friendly additude and great product. I bought a new genoa from them earlier this year and am very happy with it. They are also one of the cheaper options.
Cheers
Dave

 

[ianfr]

I bought a new mainsail from Kemps, exactly as described, delivered on time, and the first valet is free.

looks good and sets well

Ian

 

[snooks]

I would recommend Crusader in Poole for their top notch service, friendly attitude and great product.

I would too, I deal with Crusader through work and personally and have found them knowledgeable, informative and great to deal with. They made our main and genoa, both still look great.

One thing to bear in mind is to compare like with like, the same cloth, the same finishing etc.

Basically any sailmaker can build a sail budget sail, they might not like doing it but they can, as with everything else in life you get what you pay for.

Sail makers will all be able to give you a very cheap quote for a (very cheap) sail, but the material could be very basic dacron - usually reserved for your mass produced boat manufacturer's sail, the finishing could be poor, no tell tails or draft lines, sail numbers, and it could have been sewn together on the other side of the world by someone who's never seen a boat. So don't be tempted to go for the cheapest, find out what each quote includes and the cloth they are making the sail from.

Find a sail maker that makes sails you like, go to them, have a chat tell them the sort of sailing you do, tell them your budget and get them to make your sails for you.

 

[lustyd]

It could have been sewn together on the other side of the world by someone who's never seen a boat.

That was the other thing I liked at Crusader - I know it was made by a girl in Poole because they gave me a tour of the facility and I saw them being made

I have read a comment on here from a sailmaker once about the sail cloth which is worth mentioning. The cloths are apparently not different enough in price to make much difference, so rather than demand a thicker/stronger/lighter cloth, make sure you ask what is appropriate for the boat and then get quotes for that from each loft. They are the sailmaker afterall so they will probably know more about this stuff than the forum.

 

[BlueChip]

I would recommend Moatt Sails at Portland. http://www.photographers-in-dorset.co.uk/moattsails/

It's a small business in new premises near the Olympic site but they have a very good reputation locally.

I had a spinnaker repaired by them. They not only quoted me less than half the lowest quote I had received from other South Coast sail makers and completed the work in less than three days but also charged me slightly less because the job took less time than they estimated. How often does that happen?

I saw some of their work and it looked very good and they have some photos of some large yachts sailing with their sails and they were setting very well, so they definitely have the capacity and experience.

I like to support small businesses and I'll definitely be getting them to quote me for my next sails.

 

[snooks]

I would recommend Moatt Sails at Portland.

I might be wrong, but isn't that a North Sails logo?

From the image on their website

 

[Twister_Ken]

Sanders (Lymington), Arun (Bosham), Gowen (West Mersea), Lucas (Pompey) are amongst the other lofts not yet mentioned with a reputation for making good cruising sails. In addition there are several smaller lofts around the coast that deal locally. Is there one near you that deserves support?

Incidentally, I had a Jeckells Genoa built for my old boat, - great sail!

 

[Twister_Ken]

I might be wrong, but isn't that a North Sails logo?

From the image on their website

I trust their sail design programme and plotter is more reliable than their spill chucker...

"We work hard to ensure a high quality finish. Our new flexible sail design programme and plotter give spot on accurousy time and time again."

 

[Tranona]

There are very few, if any "bad" sailmakers - they don't survive in a highly competitive industry. The important thing is to discuss your requirements with the sailmaker so you are clear about what you are getting. Many of them have helpful material on their website explaing the terminology they use and the relative merits of different materials and construction.

Problem for most cuising sailors is that they only buy sails very rarely so are nervous of making a wrong choice. A small local loft can be just as good as one of the nationally known firms, but on the other hand the latter usually have a huge database of experience with different types of boats to draw on.

 

[Rooster]

I would recommend Steve Goacher sails in Bowness on Windermere. Not a million miles from you to visit him either.
R

 

[Inselaffe]

crusader