Ullman Sails Plymouth uk

[Leisure 27]

Are Ullman Sails in Plymouth UK a good company to have new cruising sails made by.

 

[Bobc]

Yes

 

[clyst]

From personal experience I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole . ..... And that was regarding a new sail !

 

[savageseadog]

It used to be managed by Chris who is no longer there.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I haven't had a brilliant experience with them. I used them for winter storage and cleaning a while ago and feel like I'm still paying off the credit card bill.

I've eventually got them to stop sending me marketing emails.

 

[Leisure 27]

Thanks everyone. You have saved me a lot of money and misery. Westaways also have a lot of unhappy customers. So it looks like I can not have a local sail maker as I live in Plymouth. I will probably go to Dorset or Hampshire. Thank god for the forums.

 

[wotayottie]

My guess is that will make no difference. Every sail loft will have someone who doesnt like them. Whether the dislike is real, or unreasonable, you will never know.

 

[Tranona]

Ullman Sails is a US company that has over 70 local branches, rather like McDonalds. Seem to specialise in performance dinghy and keelboat sails.

OP might be better off talking to a loft that designs and makes its sails in the UK such as Crusader, Kemps, Sanders etc as seems like he needs good advice as much as new sails.

 

[Leisure 27]

I agree. Sanders being top of my list.

 

[doug748]

There are a few small sailmakers in the Plymouth area which seem to pop up, last awhile, change identity and then disappear. I have used a few for repairs but would not be confident enough to order new stuff. As already mentioned they seem to specialise in franchised kit that is centrally sourced and "finished"in house or dinghy sails.

Last sails I had were made by Chris Skanes at Exmouth, he sold his business and then joined a new loft as a junior partner in 2013. They are here:

https://www.exesails.com/

He may now have fully retired but if he is still there, and working, I would recommend his stuff. If not, I found Kemp pretty fair, but obviously not local.

 

[paulburn]

Solo sails in Newlyn.

https://www.solosails.com/

Andrew is an ex mini sailor and made all my Pogo sails.

He is fantastic - conscientious, meticulous and my sails were all excllent.

 

[BabySharkDooDooDooDooDoo]

Posts on here although I don't recall anything for a little while

 

[dancrane]

Ullman Sails is a US company that has over 70 local branches, rather like McDonalds. Seem to specialise in performance dinghy and keelboat sails.

I bought an RS400 kite from the Plymouth Ullman's last year. Fabulous price because having been made by Ullman, it's not class-legal for RS racing. I think whoever had originally ordered it, hadn't realised that. Doesn't bother me, though.

I emailed back and forth with a chap called Matthew Maddaford. He seemed very often very busy, but was helpful regarding description of the item and methods of payment. I was delighted with the sail and the service...so I'm surprised to hear negative reports.

Conversely, Westaway sails (AKA Exchange Sails?) seem to offer customer satisfaction which starts at zero and descends into hell.

It certainly can be hard to know who to trust, but I would definitely order from Ullman's again. No delays, no long silences and no issues over payment.

 

[Tranona]

Pleased you had a good experience.

The OP based on his other threads is looking for advice (and possibly a new sail) for a cruising boat using his Tides Marine sail track and is perhaps confused about the benefits of different types. Hence the advice that he contacts sailmakers who have proven expertise in this subject.

Buying sails is almost as stressful as buying a whole boat because there is so much choice and so much (often conflicting) advice from different sources. Have just been through it and the dilemma for me was that I know two of the big players - members of the same club. Took the path of least resistance and stuck with the one that I have always used!

 

[AlanH]

For Dan Crane. Saw pictures of your Osprey, fine looking boat, I like the oars strapped under gunwhales. Do you know the sail no and builder of your boat? I'm an Osprey sailor, and suggest you ask questions/ search info on our sites, which are www.ospreysailing.org/cms2 , and on Facebook pages Sail Osprey and Osprey. There is an e mail forum like this which hangs off the website, and it includes a brief discussion of Osprey as cruising boat. There are also lots of old class magazines etc on the website. Doubt if anyone has tried an RS400 kite on an Osprey, but do ask for advice. I expect you'll start with installing a spi chute on your boat, because if singlehanding, you want to be able to get the kite down in a hurry when you need to. The 400 kite is pretty powerful, its a bit bigger than an Osprey one. Good luck with your project and your Osprey cruising.

 

[dancrane]

Thanks Alan - I've sent you a long (probably tedious) message about my boat, here on the forum.

It's not hard to navigate - click 'Private Messages', near the top left of this screen.

Cheers. :encouragement:

 

[bendyone]

http://www.highwatersails.com/

Based in Faraday mill

 

[Adonnante]

I'm another satisfied customer of Highwater Sails, they have built me an excellent main and jib for a 40' cat. Ask for Andy Sinclair.