Should I trust on-line sail dimensions

affinite

affinite

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 Feb 2005
Messages
1,239
Location
Eastern Med
Visit site
Hi All
I have put myself in a silly situation.
I want to replace the mainsail on Canopus before the start of next sailing season as we are going on an extended cruise.

Th boat is ashore in Greece but I want to buy from a UK sail-maker (not yet decided on who). Problem is that I wont be able to visit the boat until the start of the season to measure up.

I know that the sail-makers will ask for measurements taken from my boat but as far as I know the rig is original and unmodified so I would have thought that "library" data wrt P,E,SPL measurements should be accurate.
(Ive checked several sources including the Moody owners association library and they all agree on the dimensions.)

In my position would you trust online sources of sail dimensions ?
 
Obviously if the sailmaker makes a sail to the measurements you supply and it doesn't fit - it's your problem. Worst case should be that you end up with a sail that doesn't fit your boat but would fit another Moody - so would have very good resale value.

Comes down to your personal perception of risk/reward.

How much is a return cheap airline ticket to Greece? I think I'd try and find time to do that one weekend....

In terms of sailmakers I'd like to recommend Crusader. They did a brilliant job on a RRG and slab main with stackpack on my last boat and will be doing the same for my current one.
 
Last edited:
yachtailsa said:
Obviously if the sailmaker makes a sail to the measurements you supply and it doesn't fit - it's your problem. Worst case should be that you end up with a sail that doesn't fit your boat but would fit another Moody - so would have very good resale value.

Comes down to your personal perception of risk/reward.

How much is a return cheap airline ticket to Greece? I think I'd try and find time to do that one weekend....

In terms of sailmakers I'd like to recommend Crusader. They did a brilliant job on a RRG and slab main with stackpack on my last boat and will be doing the same for my current one.
Click to expand...

Thanks
Crusader are on the shortlist. They made my last suit of sails.
 
affinite said:
Thanks
Crusader are on the shortlist. They made my last suit of sails.
Click to expand...

Crusader made my new foresail last year from their database dimensions. Mine is a jeanneau so pretty much standard production boat. It fitted perfectly.
I suppose the answer to your question is depends on the boat. If crusader made the last set and it was for the same boat they will still have the dimensions
 
Going on an experience I had when having a combined centre console and wheel cover made for one of the most standard boats there is, I would defo go and measure the existing ones. The company I chose said they had a standard template for mine they had used a few times which was likely to be correct, but if poss, could I just check to be sure. Glad I did, my boat had a larger wheel and the dimensions were all different. Just imagine the hassle if the sail was wrong - not light to be humping about.
 
In my experience there is an element of risk even if sailmakers visit to take their own measurements. I had a mainsail made after such a visit. When it arrived it was 80cm short in the luff and 10cm long in the foot rendering it unusable. It was altered but has a"distinctive" shape! Even the sail number was wrong on delivery. Had I been in a different country to the sailmaker resolving these problems would have been even more time consuming. Are you sure there are no suitable sailmakers local to the boat? Shipping the sail is also worth considering as it could be expensive.
 
No. I wouldn't trust generic dimensions. If there's no one local to the boat you can trust to take the measurements for you, you'll have to have a trip out there or wait until next year. A winter trip to Greece? doesn't sound too bad to me although some flights to tourist areas don't operate during the winter.
Sails are a critical item and expensive so getting it wrong will cost you dear.
 
I know a Jeckells rep in Greece, he was fitting a sail on our pontoon to a boat which is the same year and make as ours, he confirmed if we wanted it done he would have to come and measure up, as no two boats are the same even if they are.
 
Carmel2 said:
I know a Jeckells rep in Greece, he was fitting a sail on our pontoon to a boat which is the same year and make as ours, he confirmed if we wanted it done he would have to come and measure up, as no two boats are the same even if they are.
Click to expand...

Thats interesting as Jeckells are #1 on my shortlist at present. I'll call them tomorrow.
Thanks for all replies - suppose I should have said that Crusader made my sails for the last boat, not this one ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top