Which new Sail???

Which Sail

  • Total voters
    1
D

David_Goode

New Member
Joined
30 May 2022
Messages
9
Visit site
Hi all, I sent my main sail to be washed, new tell tails put on and they performed some minor repairs that they noticed to the leech tape. After putting the Sail on and while flaking it over the boom the sail tore at the leech. I was pretty disappointed and the sail company apologised for cleaning/doing work on the sail and not noticing it was near the end of its life. Which is nice as I am unsure if I am judging them to harshly by presuming they could have…..Anyhow they offered me a quote for a new sail but it’s quite a long lead time. Out of curiosity I got a quote from another company, and they are roughly the same price however the other company has a faster lead time. I am new to sailing and don’t know which one would make a better sail so I was wondering if you could help? There is a lot more technical waffle on the one quote which makes it sound better, but I was wondering if that is the case?

Option A

Option B
 
Hi, I brought a Sadler 26 with a Kemp mast so its old but in good condition from the rigging report/survey and I have it based in the Solent.
As I am new to sailing it mostly consists of weekend sailing or the odd long weekend away when I get time of work. Both sail makers are in the Solent area and seem to be well regarded but I don’t have any technical knowledge of what they are proposing, so I was hoping someone with more knowledge could point me in the right direction when it comes to the two proposals.
 
Congratulations on setting up a poll, but I don't see enough information to allow me to vote. The top specification looks pretty standard for a boat of 26-32 ft, for which it should be adequate. It is possible that the triradial would give better performance if that is what is required, but I don't feel in position to compare the cloths. Generally, sailmakers will give a choice of cloths and I have always discussed the choices with them before choosing, when factors such as durability are important. I prefer to deal with a maker nearby, but there are those who have been satisfied by shopping around further afield.
I missed your second post. I think you would be satisfied by any sail from a reputable maker. I think that personal recommendation is often the best guide here. I should add that durability is highly dependent on how the sail is used and cared for, as much as by the materials the sail is made of. Avoidance of UV and flogging are priorities here.
 
Choosing a new sail depends on lots of factors. The decision is far wider than just the 2 choices you have mentioned.

1. How long do you expect to keep your boat. If you expect 10 years plus, then you will require a different quality than if you only expect to keep it for 3 years.
2. What sort of boat and what age is it.
3. Where are you located.

This is the minimum information before any real advice should be given.

My general advice would be to find a local sailmaker who can visit and discuss what he would suggest. The sailmaker who worked on your sail probably did not do the cleaning, so was unlikely to have inspected your sail - hence why you had a problem. It sounds as if the sail is quite old.

There are always a number of sailmakers that are regularly recommended on this forum, plus a few who should be avoided.
These are companies you should approach.
On the South Coast. Kemp Sails Kemp Sails – Everything you expect from a sailmaker – and a little bit more… and Sanders Sails Sanders Sails | Sailmaking, Sailmakers, Yacht, Marine Upholstery, Dinghies, Boat, Design | Lymington, South Coast, Hampshire, UK.
On the East Coast (where I am based). Jeckells Home - Jeckells The Sailmakers and Wilkinson Sails Wilkinson Sails | Faversham

This list could easily have others added.

Whilst writing this you have added you have a Sadler 26 and Solent based, then definitely chat with Kemp and Sanders.
 
Concerto said:
Choosing a new sail depends on lots of factors. The decision is far wider than just the 2 choices you have mentioned.

1. How long do you expect to keep your boat. If you expect 10 years plus, then you will require a different quality than if you only expect to keep it for 3 years.
2. What sort of boat and what age is it.
3. Where are you located.

This is the minimum information before any real advice should be given.

My general advice would be to find a local sailmaker who can visit and discuss what he would suggest. The sailmaker who worked on your sail probably did not do the cleaning, so was unlikely to have inspected your sail - hence why you had a problem. It sounds as if the sail is quite old.

There are always a number of sailmakers that are regularly recommended on this forum, plus a few who should be avoided.
These are companies you should approach.
On the South Coast. Kemp Sails Kemp Sails – Everything you expect from a sailmaker – and a little bit more… and Sanders Sails Sanders Sails | Sailmaking, Sailmakers, Yacht, Marine Upholstery, Dinghies, Boat, Design | Lymington, South Coast, Hampshire, UK.
On the East Coast (where I am based). Jeckells Home - Jeckells The Sailmakers and Wilkinson Sails Wilkinson Sails | Faversham

This list could easily have others added.

Whilst writing this you have added you have a Sadler 26 and Solent based, then definitely chat with Kemp and Sanders.
Click to expand...
Hi concerto,
Regarding questions

1. How long do you expect to keep your boat. If you expect 10 years plus, then you will require a different quality than if you only expect to keep it for 3 years.
3-5 year. As I am new to sailing I chose a starter boat to gain experience on and decide what sort of sailing I wish to pursue.

2. What sort of boat and what age is it.
1986 Sadler 26 deep fin keel.

3. Where are you located.
Solent, the boat is moored in Gosport.

Thank you, as both sailmakers are in Solent area and as Kemps is in Gosport where the boat is moored it never occurred for me to ask them to inspect the boat. I am worried abot ordering something that isn’t quite right for my boat. Is there any question I should ask the sailmaker or would they walk me through it?
 
David_Goode said:
Hi concerto,
Regarding questions

1. How long do you expect to keep your boat. If you expect 10 years plus, then you will require a different quality than if you only expect to keep it for 3 years.
3-5 year. As I am new to sailing I chose a starter boat to gain experience on and decide what sort of sailing I wish to pursue.

2. What sort of boat and what age is it.
1986 Sadler 26 deep fin keel.

3. Where are you located.
Solent, the boat is moored in Gosport.

Thank you, as both sailmakers are in Solent area and as Kemps is in Gosport where the boat is moored it never occurred for me to ask them to inspect the boat. I am worried abot ordering something that isn’t quite right for my boat. Is there any question I should ask the sailmaker or would they walk me through it?
Click to expand...
I would suggest a Dacron sail with a cross cut, not radial. Standard battens, 3 reef points, loose foot, Sadler emblem, sail number, camber line and leech tell tales. This is very basic design.

If you contact Kemps, have a word with my friend Owen Parker. He knows me well and he knows Concerto. He made my last sails, but to a much higher specification.
 
As already suggested the first spec is top of "standard" cruising sail spec and very similar to the mainsail that Kemps have just made for me. As Concerto says - give them a call Owain Peters (not Parker) is the designer but he is based in Poole, However the office in Gosport are equally competent to discuss your requirements and measure your boat. You will get a lot out of this sort of approach as it will help you understand how the sails are designed and made and how to get the best out of them.

There are of course other equally competent sailmakers but I have always found it easy to work with Kemps over the 35 years or so I have ben buying sails from them.
 
Portland Premium is Kemps name for C Breeze from Dimension-Polyant. Both our main and genoa are made from this by Kemps in Gosport and I would be happy to recommend having a chat with them. Couple of links about this material:

Sanders Sails

a) Standard quality: Dimension Polyant C-Breeze Dacron.

Dart Sails

"From experience we believe C-Breeze is probably the highest quality entry level woven Dacron on the market but others are worth considering too"

No experience of the Pro Radial, but I don't think you need a radial sail, cross cut will be more than suitable.
 
Hopefully , will be seen on the correct subject response this time …..
my recent experience with Kemps hasn’t been great with after sales on our in mast furling main , only 18 months old . We bit the bullet and had a new main by Crusader Sails , which have a wonderful shape and furls beautifully. A cheaper option than taking Kemps to court for “not fit for purpose “ in our view.
 
bitbaltic said:
Can’t vote as I dunno which if either is the option for Sanders.

The correct answer is Sanders.
Click to expand...
Agree. Not the cheapest but worth the extra.
Personally, I would never buy a non-fully battened main again. It's not just the performance but also the ease of dropping it on cars into the lazy bag. Sliders stick and involve a trip to the mast, however many litres of silicon you use.
 
Last edited:
Make sure you understand the ramifications of 'loose footed'. Depending on boom and stackpack (or not) fitting the sail may involve extra fittings to the boom or modifications to the stackpack.
 
Quiddle said:
Agree. Not the cheapest but worth the extra.
Personally, I would never buy a non-fully battened main again. It's not just the performance but also the ease of dropping it on cars into the lazy bag. Sliders stick and involve a trip to the mast, however many litres of silicon you use.
Click to expand...
If the OP was planning to keep the boat for the longer term, then I would agree with you that a fully battened main is far better. However he has already stated he is looking at more of a budget sail and only xpects to kep it about 3 year, so I would recommend saving the extra expense of full length battens towards his next boat.
 
If cost is an issue I wonder if a secondhand main in short term is another option worth considering?
I suppose the other aspect worth considering are the batten cars for any new sail . As it’s a 26foot boat I guess the sail area is much like a centaur so a smallish main so maybe full length battens are an overkill as well . I assume there is no Sadlers owners club where pearls of wisdom might reside?
 
Although a couple of boats ago I had a Sadler 26 for 14 years also still a member of Sadler Association to keep in touch with friends. So I know the boat well.

Cross cut with the C Breeze from DP is decent cloth and even if only keeping the boat 5 years I would definately go with fully battened, so much easier to use.

Last year had Sanders make a genoa, FB main and covers for my latest boat and can't speak highly enough about them, friendly, knowedgeable, excellent quality product and deliver on time.

I know they've equipped Sadler 26's recently so they will know the boat well.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

P
Bringing my new boat from Netherlands to Ireland next year
2
Replies
33
Views
1K
xyachtdave
xyachtdave
J
Which Goose Neck ?
Replies
0
Views
129
JCPPH
J

Share this page

Top