Vektron/Vectron

[RunAgroundHard]

I am wanting to replace the 135% Genoa on my Dufour and have various SIBS quotes. I am tempted by Vektron 073 but slightly concerned by Vektron’s handleability - an issue that was raised on this forum a couple of years ago.

In as much as it will be on a furler it won’t really be handled but it will catch the guardrails and shrouds (though this can presumably be alleviated by simply fitting sail guard wheels).

Portland Premium 7.5 (310) is the alternative option.

I have a roller reefing Vectran head sail on a 41' yacht, made by Jeckels (also a main sail). The sail is stiff, even after 4 years. I don't have any wheels or pipe on the guard wires and it flops easily over the guard wires. I do have an inner forestay and it slips well over that except in light winds, when it needs to be walked round the inner forestay.
When removed, it was folded on deck and that was a monumental pain because of the stiffness. Managed to get it flaked and into the bag but hard work. Later it was flaked again but on the grass at home and that was a piece of cake. The old dacron roller reefing head sail could be flaked on deck easily and bagged, much softer.

The sail sets well. At the start of season, when first furled, the stiffness makes the furled sail a bit thick around the foil, until the first good wind requires a roller reef to be put in, then it starts to compact up and rolls away fine after that.

My only other concern was that the spinnaker halyard wore away the UV strip at the top of the mast on the first year. I used to keep the spinnikar halyard stored on the pulpit when in the marina to stop frapping on the mast. Now I store it flipped behind the spreader to keep it away from the roller reefing sail. The spinnaker halyard is on a swivel block at the top of the mast, is is above the foil, as normal, and I guess it was beating back on the top of the sail in any wind, when stored.

I have a fully battened Vectron main, same performance, good, but stiff when folding on the boom (I don't use a stack pack) just big lazy folds over the boom, rather than a tight "harbour stow", which would see the skin removed from my fingers if I tried that. I have had that reefed down to 3rd reef and sets well. Also difficult to fold on deck, but easier than the roller reefing genoa.

All in all, the stiffness is not an issue and it can be easily managed. Sails set great, work well.

I used to let the old dacron main drop fast at the end of the day. The heavier Vectran drops much faster and when I once let it free fall, it snapped some sail shackles and sliders. It was a stupid act by me, so control the drop speed, if you are used to a lighter mainsail.

 

[geem]

I have a roller reefing Vectran head sail on a 41' yacht, made by Jeckels (also a main sail). The sail is stiff, even after 4 years. I don't have any wheels or pipe on the guard wires and it flops easily over the guard wires. I do have an inner forestay and it slips well over that except in light winds, when it needs to be walked round the inner forestay.
When removed, it was folded on deck and that was a monumental pain because of the stiffness. Managed to get it flaked and into the bag but hard work. Later it was flaked again but on the grass at home and that was a piece of cake. The old dacron roller reefing head sail could be flaked on deck easily and bagged, much softer.

The sail sets well. At the start of season, when first furled, the stiffness makes the furled sail a bit thick around the foil, until the first good wind requires a roller reef to be put in, then it starts to compact up and rolls away fine after that.

My only other concern was that the spinnaker halyard wore away the UV strip at the top of the mast on the first year. I used to keep the spinnikar halyard stored on the pulpit when in the marina to stop frapping on the mast. Now I store it flipped behind the spreader to keep it away from the roller reefing sail. The spinnaker halyard is on a swivel block at the top of the mast, is is above the foil, as normal, and I guess it was beating back on the top of the sail in any wind, when stored.

I have a fully battened Vectron main, same performance, good, but stiff when folding on the boom (I don't use a stack pack) just big lazy folds over the boom, rather than a tight "harbour stow", which would see the skin removed from my fingers if I tried that. I have had that reefed down to 3rd reef and sets well. Also difficult to fold on deck, but easier than the roller reefing genoa.

All in all, the stiffness is not an issue and it can be easily managed. Sails set great, work well.

I used to let the old dacron main drop fast at the end of the day. The heavier Vectran drops much faster and when I once let it free fall, it snapped some sail shackles and sliders. It was a stupid act by me, so control the drop speed, if you are used to a lighter mainsail.

Did you specify a heavier Vectron sail than your previous dacron sail? Our previous genoa was 10oz dacron. The current vectran genoa is 10oz. Obviously there is no difference in weight. Same with the mainsail. I haven't found the sail cloth to be any stiffer than a new dacron sail. Over time the sail cloth tends to soften. I think heavier cloth is stiffer which is maybe what you are experiencing

 

[Mistroma]

Did you specify a heavier Vectron sail than your previous dacron sail? Our previous genoa was 10oz dacron. The current vectran genoa is 10oz. Obviously there is no difference in weight. Same with the mainsail. I haven't found the sail cloth to be any stiffer than a new dacron sail. Over time the sail cloth tends to soften. I think heavier cloth is stiffer which is maybe what you are experiencing

Our 2016 Crusader VEKTRON mainsail is still stiff. It's easy to fold away at the end of each season as it flakes easily and is flat as a board when each section is laid on the next. I didn't specify an heavier cloth than usual and it is much thinner than my old Quantum main. It furls very easily as it is flat but curls round the foil, taking up, less space inside the mast.

I'd need to check the receipt to get the weight of sailcloth but would expect it to be similar or lighter than a normal Dacron cruising sail.

 

[geem]

Our 2016 Vectran mainsail is still stiff. It's easy to fold away at the end of each season as it flakes easily and is flat as a board as each section is laid on the next. I didn't specify an heavier cloth than usual and it is much thinner than my old Quantum main. It furls very easily as it is flat but curls round the foil, taking up, less space inside the mast.

I'd need to check the receipt to get the weight of sailcloth but would expect it to be similar or lighter than a normal Dacron cruising sail.

Our vectran main and genoa were new last year. I just checked the log book and we have done over 6500NM and they are definitely less stiff than when they were first used last year. I can understand they may be a little stiffer than Dacron but not massively so for the same sail weight