New to sailing, new boat owner, Bristol 40. Needs a genoa. How do I go about finding the right one? Has a rolling furler.
Newbie with a sail question
- Thread starter scuba201
- Start date
There’s a sail loft right here at sailboatowners - Sail Loft
Also, for used sails, you could try Bacon Sails -https://baconsails.com/bacon/select_sailboat_API.php
Also, for used sails, you could try Bacon Sails -https://baconsails.com/bacon/select_sailboat_API.php
Congrats on the nice classy first boat.
I do not use online sailmakers. I prefer to have my sailmaker do the measurements, make the sail, bend it on for the first time, and then sail his new sail, looking for any problems. It costs more, but an expensive sail isn't something I'll risk having poorly cut and try to repair long distance. Call a couple of the local sailmakers and have them come to the boat and see which appeals to you.
Alternatively, there are places that sell used sails, but as a newbie this might not be a great idea as you have no idea what to look out for in a used sail.
I do not use online sailmakers. I prefer to have my sailmaker do the measurements, make the sail, bend it on for the first time, and then sail his new sail, looking for any problems. It costs more, but an expensive sail isn't something I'll risk having poorly cut and try to repair long distance. Call a couple of the local sailmakers and have them come to the boat and see which appeals to you.
Alternatively, there are places that sell used sails, but as a newbie this might not be a great idea as you have no idea what to look out for in a used sail.
Congrats on the boat buy. I agree with Capta on using local loft for measurements. I see you are in galveston. Lots of sailmakers and reps both big and small just up the road in Kemah such as North, Kolius, Quantum on the larger supplier side and a few smaller local shops, Banks, Shore. Do a sailmaker search on Google. They will travel to ur boat in Galveston and take measurements. Just need to let them know what your looking for such as racing sail or cruising, overall size (150, 130, 110, etc). Material preferences. Good luck and hope to see u on the water.
Your boat may be a good example of why not to buy online. A sailmaker will account for displacement of your boat, local sailing conditions and give you a sail that has enough curve in the sail to develop power enough to make the boat go. An off the shelf sail may be cut for racing or a lighter displacement boat and have a more flat shape to allow the boat to point better. The only problem is that your boat won't point anyway and all it will do with a flat sail is go nowhere. You should go with a cruising dacron of medium weight cloth if you are going to be coastal cruising. Corner patches and chafe guards will be way more important than high tech sail cloth - don't waste money on that. Have you decided on a 150% (#1), 135% (#2) or 100% (#3) yet? That's something else a sailmaker can advise you about.
I respectfully disagree with several of the previous posters' opinions. If you are willing to measure your own boat, you can save $1000 if you buy a sail from a well known, online sailmaker.
I ran an “online loft” for many years, prior to taking semi-retirement this year. 99.9% of the sails we made were custom built to measure, with the measurements taken by the owner. I PERSONALLY provided consultation to every customer. I didn't go sailing with my customers nor did I hand deliver and fit them myself. And of course, I didn't charge extra for two extra half-days of my time.
I was available to answer questions by phone to customers who were fitting their new sails, even on weekends.
None of the sails were from inventory kept on the shelf, and all were custom designed by somebody with decades of experience. We never sent a sail that was cut for racing to a cruiser. Every sail was custom designed to match the customers sailing profile, and every customer got to ask as many questions as they needed before deciding which sailcloth to use - whether it was low tech entry level dacron, super high quality dacron or cruising laminates or race laminates. .
I had thousands of satisified customers over the years (and, unfortunately, three or four customers from hell who weren't happy). We delivered sails to customers all over North America. Many of our customers were repeat customers If there was a problem, we fixed it, either at a local loft or by having the owner ship the sail back to us.
I rarely delivered sails outside North America, because it is too hard to find a reputable local loft if and when something needed to be adjusted after it was delivered.
Judy B
Retired online loft owner.
Last edited:
Dr. J, I didn't mean to demean all online lofts - although I did - which I am sorry for. I was trying to say that the service of a loft is different from an off the shelf sail from a warehouse. You've defended your business and your service to customers quite well. But I think we agree that a customized sail for the user's situation is best.
In any service business there are always a few customers from Hell and it becomes part of business to weed them out before getting involved with them.
In any service business there are always a few customers from Hell and it becomes part of business to weed them out before getting involved with them.
So you are suggesting a fist time boat owner who seems to have almost no sailing experience should measure and order a new sail from a stranger online? After all, he's never even seen a jib hanked on his boat and has no idea if his foil is stock or some cobbled together rig.
I don't see that as good advice.
... are you suggesting that he bought an old Bristol 40 without having hired a professional to do a thorough survey?
Last edited:
New owner/sailor with a 40' Bristol, what's your budget ? New sail is probably $3000, but start with the furler, what kind and how old ? No sense getting a sail made for a POS furler that you may have to replace, check both upper and lower swivels for free operation. They are ball bearings and should spin freely, about $450 each, half cost of whole new one. The furler brand determines luff tape size, mine uses a #6.
check out the online sail loft, right here on this website. They sell custom built basic cruising sails designed and built by Doyle
SAilboatowners.com Sail Loft
SAilboatowners.com Sail Loft
Last edited:
Thanks guys and gals, I haven't even seen the boat in person yet. It is in Ft. Laud and I am in Texas. Flying over in a couple of weeks.
I am still getting my head around a 40 foot boat for a new sailor!
I just bought a new main sail for my O’Day 322. Checked the internet (including. SBO), and a a few local lofts. As it turned out, sales guy from North Sails was in my marina the day after I sent an inquiry to measure a neighbors boat, and he measured mine too. I figured i would at least get good measurements if I went somewhere else. As an aside, his measurements were identical to the SBO measurements and the O’Day 322 specs.
i also wanted to go with full battens, a loose foot and a Tides Marine Sailtrack.
I think I got a good deal from North Sail, and ordered from them. There was some piece of mind that my $3,000 investment was going to fit and be appropriate for my boat. Probably could have saved some $$ if I went with an Internet outfit, but like I said.....piece of mind. And all of the slides were from Tides to go with my new sail track.
Track installed easy enough (despite having to cut open my mast gate). Battens showed up UPS freight today and sail showed up last week. Too windy to try and fit it tonight...maybe tomorrow.
have fun with the new boat!
Greg
I just bought a new main sail for my O’Day 322. Checked the internet (including. SBO), and a a few local lofts. As it turned out, sales guy from North Sails was in my marina the day after I sent an inquiry to measure a neighbors boat, and he measured mine too. I figured i would at least get good measurements if I went somewhere else. As an aside, his measurements were identical to the SBO measurements and the O’Day 322 specs.
i also wanted to go with full battens, a loose foot and a Tides Marine Sailtrack.
I think I got a good deal from North Sail, and ordered from them. There was some piece of mind that my $3,000 investment was going to fit and be appropriate for my boat. Probably could have saved some $$ if I went with an Internet outfit, but like I said.....piece of mind. And all of the slides were from Tides to go with my new sail track.
Track installed easy enough (despite having to cut open my mast gate). Battens showed up UPS freight today and sail showed up last week. Too windy to try and fit it tonight...maybe tomorrow.
have fun with the new boat!
Greg
Last edited:
