Westerly pageant mainsail

[davidmh]

A friend is looking for a used mainsail for his pageant or a new one. He is on a limited budget. Would like recomendations for supplier of new or used.
My thinking is that a used sail for that boat would probably be in very poor condition, and if good used one could be modified to fit a Pageant the cost is likely to be almost as expensive as a new sail.
Based in solent area. Lake sails has been suggested as a reasonable priced company for sails.
Any pointers would useful

David MH

 

[ashtead]

Ask on westerly owners Assoc as a starter . As someone who might give a quote to recut if in Solent maybe try Covercare at Thornham marina -it’s a family business and great to deal with -they repaired parts of my UV strip but I’ve never used for sails but might be able to advise on any suppliers of secondhand sails . Just be careful though with second hand quality as you say.

 

[Tranona]

For low cost sails try here direct-sails.com made in China but delivered direct to buyer UK VAT paid. Or for a UK made sail suggest here e-sails.com same quality as Kemp custom made but limited choice of fittings and own measurement (although Pageant will be pretty standard)

 

[Humblebee]

Good advice above, I'll just add, someone on the Westerly Owners Assoc will give you dimensions for a Pageant mainsail, might be helpful if you order from the links Tranona gave you.

 

[Refueler]

I bought a very good 2nd hand sail from these guys ...

www.exchangesails.co.uk

They packaged and sent quickly .... price was good ..

 

[oldbloke]

Look for a racing class with suitably sized sails, for a Pageant I would guess an open keelboat, sqib, yeoman , x boat etc. Racers get rid of perfectly sound , but not good enough to win, sails. Owners of pocket cruisers not so much so

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Look for a racing class with suitably sized sails, for a Pageant I would guess an open keelboat, sqib, yeoman , x boat etc. Racers get rid of perfectly sound , but not good enough to win, sails. Owners of pocket cruisers not so much so

If the XOD dimensions are close enough, look no further. I have access to what Blackadder would describe as an endless supply. Not pristine ones, but usable for cruising. And if you wreck it, there are more.

 

[BobTec]

I went through the process of replacing my Genoa this summer.
If buying second hand can I suggest it's important to look at it yourself and check the dimensions are suitable.
The condition is subjective and the dimensions are often critical.
If you like the one offered and happy with the price lucky you.

The used route didn't work for us and our local sailmaker had retired.
Direct Sails supplied us in the end. Absolutely delighted with them in every respect.

 

[Refueler]

I bought a very good 2nd hand sail from these guys ...

www.exchangesails.co.uk

They packaged and sent quickly .... price was good ..

When you look through the listing they have - it gives a condition appraisal number ....

The sail I bought was rated as good but with some marks .... when I got it and laid it out - the marks were so small as to be barely noticeable. The sail was in fact better than what they advised me when in email communication.

I was looking for a similar luff length but shorter foot as the genny I had was too powerful and led to weather helm .... the reduction of foot moved the CoE fwd and was a remarkable improvement on the boat ...

I daresay - these guys would even sort the sail number / insignia on the mainsail .. and total cost still less than a new ..

 

[BobTec]

When you look through the listing they have - it gives a condition appraisal number ....

The sail I bought was rated as good but with some marks .... when I got it and laid it out - the marks were so small as to be barely noticeable. The sail was in fact better than what they advised me when in email communication.

I was looking for a similar luff length but shorter foot as the genny I had was too powerful and led to weather helm .... the reduction of foot moved the CoE fwd and was a remarkable improvement on the boat ...

I daresay - these guys would even sort the sail number / insignia on the mainsail .. and total cost still less than a new ..

Delighted it worked out for you with them. It didn't work out for me!

 

[Fantasie 19]

If none of the above work out I'd recommend a chat with the nice people at Batt Sails.. always had excellent service and good prices from them...

 

[doug748]

Delighted it worked out for you with them. It didn't work out for me!

Yes, would be wise to search: exchange sails before investing any money.

 

[Refueler]

Yes, would be wise to search: exchange sails before investing any money.

Fair comment - investigate any company for whatever product you are wanting ...

Exchange sails are a renamed company that I know has a number of bad posts on these forums in the past. I entered into discussions about two sails that matched my dimensions ... one was sold while discussing and I therefore accepted the other - which they had listed as slightly lesser condition. Price with delivery was good ...
The sail arrived quickly by courier ... sail was in a proper sail bag - not just folded into any shipping bag ... which had the previous company name on ... that confirmed a post I had read about name change.
What did I find ? The sail was in very good condition, ES had said they had made a number of small repairs and that there were some small stains on the sail. I could not find the repairs - the sail was good. The stains were barely noticeable.
The only thing wrong - was I had made mistake of which side UV strip should be ... not their fault.

I have no connection to ES - other than being a satisfied customer. I would have no trouble buying from them again. I noted the old thread about them under previous name - but have to say this .... as a business owner myself - if they were as bad as some said - why are they still in business ? So they changed company name - likely because of bad online 'press' - given Internet and social media, it is so easy for a few bad reports to overwhelm the good - .... but despite that - they are still around and appear to be more than surviving.
If a potential buyer is UK - then why not go and visit .. check out before handing over the hard earned ??

Like most things in life - bad gets reported ... good tends not to be unless prompted for. It would be interesting to see the good vs bad ratio ...... and I bet its not as bad as some try to make out.

No doubt there will be counter post one or two now ... I am just posting my experience of buying from them.