What is this sail cloth?

[ridgy]

Just took the Genoa off my new to me boat. It feels and mostly looks like Dacron except it has this yellow check running through it which I haven't seen before. It is also a lighter weight than I might have expected.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Hydra-Net?

 

[savageseadog]

I've seen that cloth before, it's a similar idea to ripstop nylon used in spinnakers. Don't know the name though. Sorry not much help but I have some sample books and will see if I can find it.

 

[SaltyC]

Think it could be Vectran, it looks similar to mine with the yellow thread.

 

[ridgy]

Think it could be Vectran, it looks similar to mine with the yellow thread.

Yeah I think this is the stuff:
Bainbridge Sailcloth HSXv Vectran Hybrid | Sail Cloth
Sounds expensive, I like it.

 

[SaltyC]

Yeah I think this is the stuff:
Bainbridge Sailcloth HSXv Vectran Hybrid | Sail Cloth
Sounds expensive, I like it.

Yes it is expensive! but then it's marine.
Seriously, my understanding is, although not a laminate it's performance and lack of stretch is nearer laminate than Dacron. Mine is only 2 years old but the shape and performance is fantastic. It took some getting the Genoa cars correct as there was no stretch and needed different settings to the (not so) old Dacron sail. It is also far more sensitive to the car setting.
Maybe this is normal with new sails, never put new sails on a boat before.

 

[srm]

I had a new 100% high clew jib made by Jecklles in 2014. I chose Ocean Premium Plus (OPP) sailcloth for offshore/ocean use and it has a "ripstop" type grid of threads, very tight weave and low resin content. It has proved to be an excellent sail that holds a good shape even when deeply rolled/reefed and worth the extra initial cost. I think that the labour and other material costs of making a sail remain almost constant so its worth the extra cost of good quality cloth if it gives a longer and more efficient working life.

 

[mjcoon]

I had a new 100% high clew jib made by Jecklles in 2014. I chose Ocean Premium Plus (OPP) sailcloth for offshore/ocean use and it has a "ripstop" type grid of threads, very tight weave and low resin content. It has proved to be an excellent sail that holds a good shape even when deeply rolled/reefed and worth the extra initial cost. I think that the labour and other material costs of making a sail remain almost constant so its worth the extra cost of good quality cloth if it gives a longer and more efficient working life.

I had a quick look at Wikipedia and read this warning: "Although the tensile strength is similar to Kevlar, Vectran still tends to experience tensile fractures when exposed to significant stress. The wispy, hair-like fibers tend to fray, to easily acquire dirt, and to readily entangle in hook-and-loop fasteners, from which they must sometimes then be cut or (when possible) torn.[2] If used without protective coatings, Vectran has low resistance to UV degradation, and should not be used long-term in outdoor environments."

 

[CJ13]

Definitely Vectran!

 

[johnalison]

I had a quick look at Wikipedia and read this warning: "Although the tensile strength is similar to Kevlar, Vectran still tends to experience tensile fractures when exposed to significant stress. The wispy, hair-like fibers tend to fray, to easily acquire dirt, and to readily entangle in hook-and-loop fasteners, from which they must sometimes then be cut or (when possible) torn.[2] If used without protective coatings, Vectran has low resistance to UV degradation, and should not be used long-term in outdoor environments."

That suggests that it should be carefully looked after and then it will give good service. A good sacrificial strip of course, and careful attention to avoiding letting the sail flog unnecessarily.

 

[srm]

I had a quick look at Wikipedia and read this warning: "Although the tensile strength is similar to Kevlar, Vectran still tends to experience tensile fractures when exposed to significant stress. The wispy, hair-like fibers tend to fray, to easily acquire dirt, and to readily entangle in hook-and-loop fasteners, from which they must sometimes then be cut or (when possible) torn.[2] If used without protective coatings, Vectran has low resistance to UV degradation, and should not be used long-term in outdoor environments."

I don't think my sail is Vectran. I doubt Vectran has a monopoly on ripstop type reinforcement.

This is from Jekells when I was considering the purchase:

"Ocean Premium Plus is the closest woven Dacron available today with the benefit of a ripstop reinforcement. It is virtually resin free and is made using only the highest quality polyethylene terepthalate yarns. It is woven on the most modern shuttleless looms which have been specially rebuilt and reinforced to pack in the highest possible number of yarns.

Because of its tight construction there is not the usual crimp problem so this material is ideal for the most discerning yachtsman be it for round the cans racing where a long lasting good performance sail is required or for a Round the World yachtsman who wants, expects and demands the best and most manageable sails."

 

[Rafiki]

Just took the Genoa off my new to me boat. It feels and mostly looks like Dacron except it has this yellow check running through it which I haven't seen before. It is also a lighter weight than I might have expected.

Others have said Vectran, but my Vectran mainsail only has these special yellow vectran threads running in one direction. They are very strong and do enable the sail to be made in a lighter weight, which is very useful on an in-mast reefing mainsail.

Maybe there is another version with the threads in both directions, but it wasn't offerred to me by my sailmaker last winter when I wanted a new genoa.

 

[Daydream believer]

I reckon that it is like a lightweight duvet I used to have. Around 8 tocs I seem to recall.

 

[jdc]

Said before - nothing to add!

 

[DJE]

This is Vektron as supplied by Kemp Sails. Darker threads in one direction only.



And my new mainsail is still looking great after five seasons.

 

[geem]

This is Vektron as supplied by Kemp Sails. Darker threads in one direction only.

View attachment 145017

And my new mainsail is still looking great after five seasons.

Their cloth is made by DP in Germany. We have the same cloth. When I was doing my research into replacement sails I discovered that for my kind of sailing 20,000nm was about where Dacron was in need of replacement. DP Vectran fabric should give 40,000nm. Our genoa managed 27,000nm but that was a Dacron called Square. A high end Dacron cloth. The main managed 20,000nm but was stretched. An average quality long distance Bainbridge cloth. The Genoa was new in 2012 and was retired in 2020. The main was new in 2015 and also retired in 2020.

 

[geem]

Just took the Genoa off my new to me boat. It feels and mostly looks like Dacron except it has this yellow check running through it which I haven't seen before. It is also a lighter weight than I might have expected.

Could be DP Square or one of the cheaper Bainbridge clothes. Not Vectran

 

[dunedin]

Might help if the OP stated the name of the sailmaker, and/or a photo of the sailmaker logo normally on the sails. And of course a quick email of the photo to the sailmaker, if still around, would give the best answer.

AFAIK Vectran is a FIBRE, not a sail CLOTH - although some sail cloths include a variant of Vectran in the cloth title if there is an element of the fibre in the mix - eg the VEC 084 in post #15.
Quite how useful the special fibres are depends a lot on the precise nature of the cloth, and the way used to construct the sail.
Too little info in the OP

 

[ithet]

My boat came with sails from Jeckells that looked similar, and had the square re-enforcement - the cloth for mine is Bainbridge Ocean Premium Plus. It is not produced anymore. When I enquired for new sails I was told the square pattern was probably a bit of a gimmick. Anyway, those sails were well stretched.