A while ago there was a post about FX sails, can't seem to find that post now, but curious as to what was learned about them, Good bad? any other experiences? appreciate it! ken
FX sails revisited
- Thread starter kendall
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I just dealt with Bill
I just ordered two sails from FX. Bill James seems to be a nice, knowledgable sailmaker who answered all my questions, did not steer me into buying the BEST sails but allowed me to make my onw decisions. The cost were the best prices I have found and they if there is a problem with the sails when put them up, he will fix the problem I purchased a new Dacron Mainsail and a pentex 155% genny
I just ordered two sails from FX. Bill James seems to be a nice, knowledgable sailmaker who answered all my questions, did not steer me into buying the BEST sails but allowed me to make my onw decisions. The cost were the best prices I have found and they if there is a problem with the sails when put them up, he will fix the problem I purchased a new Dacron Mainsail and a pentex 155% genny
thoughts?
when are you expecting to recieve them? I'd realy like hearing your opinion after you get them, planning ordering in a few weeks, and doing some serious digging. I'm looking at a new main, and was hoping to find people who had them, I'm debating with myself about going with the inshore or offshore versions, there's not that great of a price difference, (about $160.difference for Pearson Triton masthead with 2 reefs) seems double tape and triple stitching is the difference,both I have the means to do cheaper, but they come with a 5 year warrenty as opposed to a 3 year for the inshore, both have the same weight cloth. Also, a related question, if you have an adjustable gooseneck with a downhaul, is a cunningham needed? Most of my sailing has been done in smaller boats, all with sliding goosenecks, and the first time I saw at a cunningham I remember thinking I did that with the down haul, but that boat had a rigid boom mount. Thanks Ken
when are you expecting to recieve them? I'd realy like hearing your opinion after you get them, planning ordering in a few weeks, and doing some serious digging. I'm looking at a new main, and was hoping to find people who had them, I'm debating with myself about going with the inshore or offshore versions, there's not that great of a price difference, (about $160.difference for Pearson Triton masthead with 2 reefs) seems double tape and triple stitching is the difference,both I have the means to do cheaper, but they come with a 5 year warrenty as opposed to a 3 year for the inshore, both have the same weight cloth. Also, a related question, if you have an adjustable gooseneck with a downhaul, is a cunningham needed? Most of my sailing has been done in smaller boats, all with sliding goosenecks, and the first time I saw at a cunningham I remember thinking I did that with the down haul, but that boat had a rigid boom mount. Thanks Ken
Happy repeat FX customer
Hi Kendall, I purchased both a cross cut inshore main (2003) and a cross cut roller furling 150 (2004) from Air Force back when Bill James was with them, and have since purchased an asymmetric reacher (2005) from FX Sails. After about 250 trips on the main and 200 on the genoa, I'm well pleased. Both have retained their shape well and show little wear, even after frequent trips reefed in 20-30 kt apparent, gusting much higher. The asymmetric is new to me so I'm still learning to fly it well, but construction quality is excellent. I'm please enough with the asymmetric that I just ordered a set of light air / club racing sails from FX Sails: a radial pentex big-roach main (loose foot, two full upper battens) and a radial pentex 153% genoa (no foam luff, no UV cover). I'll add a third reef to the existing main, and use that main and the current heavy 150 for fall/winter/spring. Bill's been great to work with. Materials are on par with what the higher end lofts use... even the dacron in the "inshore" sails is a grade above the 4800 used in Cruising Direct's sails. A friend with another Chrysler 26 on another lake purchased an inshore main from FX Sails and has been very pleased so far. I will be more than happy to post feedback on the new sails once I receive and have an opportunity to use them, but I do not hesitate to recommend FX Sails. Fair Winds, Jeff s/v Windward 1978 Chrysler 26 #481 http://windward.lizards.net http://chryslersailing.lizards.net
Hi Kendall, I purchased both a cross cut inshore main (2003) and a cross cut roller furling 150 (2004) from Air Force back when Bill James was with them, and have since purchased an asymmetric reacher (2005) from FX Sails. After about 250 trips on the main and 200 on the genoa, I'm well pleased. Both have retained their shape well and show little wear, even after frequent trips reefed in 20-30 kt apparent, gusting much higher. The asymmetric is new to me so I'm still learning to fly it well, but construction quality is excellent. I'm please enough with the asymmetric that I just ordered a set of light air / club racing sails from FX Sails: a radial pentex big-roach main (loose foot, two full upper battens) and a radial pentex 153% genoa (no foam luff, no UV cover). I'll add a third reef to the existing main, and use that main and the current heavy 150 for fall/winter/spring. Bill's been great to work with. Materials are on par with what the higher end lofts use... even the dacron in the "inshore" sails is a grade above the 4800 used in Cruising Direct's sails. A friend with another Chrysler 26 on another lake purchased an inshore main from FX Sails and has been very pleased so far. I will be more than happy to post feedback on the new sails once I receive and have an opportunity to use them, but I do not hesitate to recommend FX Sails. Fair Winds, Jeff s/v Windward 1978 Chrysler 26 #481 http://windward.lizards.net http://chryslersailing.lizards.net
Thank you,
Tried responding here a few times, but for some reason won't take my message regardless of the computer or os I use, hopefully this one takes! Apreciate the response, and from what you and Mike say, I think I'll be ordering in a couple weeks, sounds like a good place to order from. Thanks again. Ken
Tried responding here a few times, but for some reason won't take my message regardless of the computer or os I use, hopefully this one takes! Apreciate the response, and from what you and Mike say, I think I'll be ordering in a couple weeks, sounds like a good place to order from. Thanks again. Ken
Kendall: The answer to your related question is NO
The Cunningham is a device to get around the sail area rating rules (black bands at both the top and the bottom of the sail) and still be able to adjust the luff tension to move the draft position. If you are not racing and have a vertically adjustable gooseneck, use the boom downhaul to tension the luff instead of the cunningham. A Cunningham is appropriate for a boat with a fixed boom or for one with an adjustable gooseneck that races. Steve Alchemist C-320
The Cunningham is a device to get around the sail area rating rules (black bands at both the top and the bottom of the sail) and still be able to adjust the luff tension to move the draft position. If you are not racing and have a vertically adjustable gooseneck, use the boom downhaul to tension the luff instead of the cunningham. A Cunningham is appropriate for a boat with a fixed boom or for one with an adjustable gooseneck that races. Steve Alchemist C-320
don't wait too long....
wher I ordered my sails Bill was saying that now it takes about 5 weeks to get the sails made as it is the slower part of the year BUT that in a few weeks the time to make the sails will go up to 7 then 8 weeks as we get closer to spring...FYI Mike C O'28 "da Capo"
wher I ordered my sails Bill was saying that now it takes about 5 weeks to get the sails made as it is the slower part of the year BUT that in a few weeks the time to make the sails will go up to 7 then 8 weeks as we get closer to spring...FYI Mike C O'28 "da Capo"
cunningham and wait
Thanks Steve, for the info on the cunningham, I'd been wondering about that, mine has roughly a 16 inch track for the gooseneck, never measured and haven't realy looked at it since I went through and inspected and cleaned everything up on the mast when I got it, and I'm not realy racing yet, just want to spend a season or two getting to know the boat, then I'll worry about going faster! so I'll hold off on the cunningham. I'm a born tightwad, and can't see spending money on something I'm not likely to use Thanks again. Mike, I'll take that advice to heart! last year I was going to order a big lofts sails, was quoted $1200. with a 4 week delivery, a week later I called to verify and order, and they said they were getting rushed and it may take as long as 2 months to get, that's when I figured I'd hold off and work on the boat instead! Ken.
Thanks Steve, for the info on the cunningham, I'd been wondering about that, mine has roughly a 16 inch track for the gooseneck, never measured and haven't realy looked at it since I went through and inspected and cleaned everything up on the mast when I got it, and I'm not realy racing yet, just want to spend a season or two getting to know the boat, then I'll worry about going faster! so I'll hold off on the cunningham. I'm a born tightwad, and can't see spending money on something I'm not likely to use Thanks again. Mike, I'll take that advice to heart! last year I was going to order a big lofts sails, was quoted $1200. with a 4 week delivery, a week later I called to verify and order, and they said they were getting rushed and it may take as long as 2 months to get, that's when I figured I'd hold off and work on the boat instead! Ken.
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