sails - ullman or westaway or maybe crusader

[Bosun Higgs]

In the market for a roller 105% jib in a cruising laminate. Have quotes from the above 3, and apart from Westaway giving a bit more design confidence , there is only price to differentiate.

Anybody with practical experience of these sailmakers care to comment?

 

[TiggerToo]

In the market for a roller 105% jib in a cruising laminate. Have quotes from the above 3, and apart from Westaway giving a bit more design confidence , there is only price to differentiate.

Anybody with practical experience of these sailmakers care to comment?

no idea about laminate. But W-y made a couple of great cruising sails for Tigger. The genoa is now in its 4 year and still looks good (heavy use), and the main (new last year) is fantastique (hydranet). Both sails were made and fit perfectly first time round. In both cases W-y were well below competitors is cost - with like for like specs.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

no idea about laminate. But W-y made a couple of great cruising sails for Tigger. The genoa is now in its 4 year and still looks good (heavy use), and the main (new last year) is fantastique (hydranet). Both sails were made and fit perfectly first time round. In both cases W-y were well below competitors is cost - with like for like specs.

Thanks. As it happens Westaway are the most expensive.

 

[DJE]

In the market for a roller 105% jib in a cruising laminate. Have quotes from the above 3, and apart from Westaway giving a bit more design confidence , there is only price to differentiate.

Anybody with practical experience of these sailmakers care to comment?

I've only used Westaway of those three. Got a No.3 genoa for my Sadler from them via Mike Lucas about eight or nine years ago. It only comes out on the windier days but has always set well and is still going strong.

I also have a cruising laminate No.2 from Kemps and I don't think I'd bother with cruising laminate again. Either a staightforward laminate or one of the new high tech Dacrons for me next time. (But I'm one of those funny buggers who takes his headsail off and puts it away before he leaves the boat.) Cruising laminate is surprisingly heavy and suffers from mildew between the layers. It's keeping its shape well though after six or seven years as my main working sail, but the leach is spoiled by the extra weight of the UV strip and/or the difficulties of cutting a good leach on a big overlapping genoa. Vertical battens for me next time I buy a headsail.

 

[NUTMEG]

Vote for Crusader

Good price, delivered on time, nice to do business with. Sails seem well cut and robust in construction but not yet sailed with them.

135% furling Jenny and main with two slabs.

 

[nickd]

Vote for crusader

Had a new genoa from them last year, they were very helpful and nothing was too much truble even when I changed the spec after they had made it! They delivered on time and the sail performs well.
Have just taken delivery of a new main from them, again delivered as promised, cannot tell you if any good because I will not be fitting it until March!
Cheers
Nick