I was down at my boat this morning & got to thinking, I only ask this because, I have a full-roach mainsail made of this material. It is now coming up on it's 15th. birthday & is holding up better than I.
I've had over 2 different boats, Dacron material mains & I must say, I hate this
material for a mainsail.
Polyant Square is a rip-stop material & tough as nails. There are very little aging stretch lines that you would normally see in sailboats especially, if you notice that their boom is lower than perpendicular under sail & the material is something like Dacron. This suggests that their main was raised with a tightly snugged mainsheet/vang.
This is why I always set my boom's topping lift @ 15° higher up from perpendicular after dousing. When I raise my main, my boom vang line is first slackened & when fully raised, that's when I slacken my topping lift. I find that this lessens vertical stretches parallel to the angle of the leach.
This boom routine has served me well for 30 years now & along with the Polyant material, my next main will ALSO be made of this. Also If having a sail made, be sure to demand the higher quality UV resistant thread material. If they can't give you the manufactures' name right away, LOOK elsewhere.
I just thought to pass this on...........
I've had over 2 different boats, Dacron material mains & I must say, I hate this
material for a mainsail.
Polyant Square is a rip-stop material & tough as nails. There are very little aging stretch lines that you would normally see in sailboats especially, if you notice that their boom is lower than perpendicular under sail & the material is something like Dacron. This suggests that their main was raised with a tightly snugged mainsheet/vang.
This is why I always set my boom's topping lift @ 15° higher up from perpendicular after dousing. When I raise my main, my boom vang line is first slackened & when fully raised, that's when I slacken my topping lift. I find that this lessens vertical stretches parallel to the angle of the leach.
This boom routine has served me well for 30 years now & along with the Polyant material, my next main will ALSO be made of this. Also If having a sail made, be sure to demand the higher quality UV resistant thread material. If they can't give you the manufactures' name right away, LOOK elsewhere.
I just thought to pass this on...........