how does one define a "blown out" sail?

[Stu Jackson]

New sails for ANYONE

Here's "The Deal" when anyone asks the basic question of "Where should I get my sails from?":

1. Website lofts are usually, but not always, less expensive.

2. Local lofts are usually, but not always, more expensive, but for a good reason: the sail maker can come to your boat and measure and be there, literally, for you if you have questions or need adjustments (which NO online source is going to do for you).

3. It's ONLY LUCK when folks respond with good sail loft experiences, since not everyone reads this forum every day. So the recommendation for XYZ sails from one respondent might be available one day, but if you asked this same question last week or next week on this or any other boating forum, a different skipper would answer with a different loft with which he just had a good experience. That's simple reality. You could do a search on this forum for "new sails" and find hundreds of posts. Really. Give it a try and see.

4. Catalina Yachts has their own in-house sail maker, I believe it is Ullman, they do very good work, too, and know Catalinas.

Good luck. On this one, as far as a price YOU are willing to live with, you have to do your own homework, since there are dozens of different sail makers out there. Google searches are your friend.

*********************************************************************

New Sails

I wish you luck on your quest. Every time someone asks about "What new sails should I get?" on this and every other boating forum known to man, pretty much the same responses occur:

1. folks will tell you their success with the sails they bought - which may or may not apply to you. I have experienced the same when asking my friends verbally. Same boat, two different friends with new mainsails, both used the same vendor, one hated it, one was very happy. Go figure.

2. It's a subjective issue, like anchors & guns: there is no right answer.

3. There are all sorts of opportunities, and Google is your friend. Google used sails, you'll find places like Sail Warehouse Store and others, but you get the idea).

4. As one regular respondent wrote here sometime ago, there's no substitute for you to do your own homework and research, since, like I said in #2: Your boat, your choice. Too many variables.

5. Are you aware of the C30 association website and the C30 Yahoo group? They may help you get more specific to your boat.

6. Finally, with ALL sails: you can pay less for a mail-in loft or you can pay more for a local loft with someone who will come to your boat and measure it, and make adjustments if necessary after the sale. If you think your "stock" boat can use stock sails, then do so, and consider the Ullman loft by Catalina Yachts, they've been making good C30 sails for many many years.

Good luck.

PS sorry for the references to C30s, but I've written this so often, I simply kept it and paste it in whenever this recurring questions pops up.

 

[RussC]

Here's "The Deal" when anyone asks the basic question of "Where should I get my sails from?":

1. Website lofts are usually, but not always, less expensive.

2. Local lofts are usually, but not always, more expensive, but for a good reason: the sail maker can come to your boat and measure and be there, literally, for you if you have questions or need adjustments (which NO online source is going to do for you).

3. It's ONLY LUCK when folks respond with good sail loft experiences, since not everyone reads this forum every day. So the recommendation for XYZ sails from one respondent might be available one day, but if you asked this same question last week or next week on this or any other boating forum, a different skipper would answer with a different loft with which he just had a good experience. That's simple reality. You could do a search on this forum for "new sails" and find hundreds of posts. Really. Give it a try and see.

4. Catalina Yachts has their own in-house sail maker, I believe it is Ullman, they do very good work, too, and know Catalinas.

Good luck. On this one, as far as a price YOU are willing to live with, you have to do your own homework, since there are dozens of different sail makers out there. Google searches are your friend.

*********************************************************************

New Sails

I wish you luck on your quest. Every time someone asks about "What new sails should I get?" on this and every other boating forum known to man, pretty much the same responses occur:

1. folks will tell you their success with the sails they bought - which may or may not apply to you. I have experienced the same when asking my friends verbally. Same boat, two different friends with new mainsails, both used the same vendor, one hated it, one was very happy. Go figure.

2. It's a subjective issue, like anchors & guns: there is no right answer.

3. There are all sorts of opportunities, and Google is your friend. Google used sails, you'll find places like Sail Warehouse Store and others, but you get the idea).

4. As one regular respondent wrote here sometime ago, there's no substitute for you to do your own homework and research, since, like I said in #2: Your boat, your choice. Too many variables.

5. Are you aware of the C30 association website and the C30 Yahoo group? They may help you get more specific to your boat.

6. Finally, with ALL sails: you can pay less for a mail-in loft or you can pay more for a local loft with someone who will come to your boat and measure it, and make adjustments if necessary after the sale. If you think your "stock" boat can use stock sails, then do so, and consider the Ullman loft by Catalina Yachts, they've been making good C30 sails for many many years.

Good luck.

PS sorry for the references to C30s, but I've written this so often, I simply kept it and paste it in whenever this recurring questions pops up.

If there was such a thing as a "local loft" then choosing a supplier would be a moot point, but I don't live in an area that has such a thing. Oregon isn't known as a big sailing hotspot . I'm trying to do my research by talking to suppliers and, more importantly, past users of similar sails. I'm not having much luck with either. I did contact Dave at Sailboatowners.com and spoke with him a bit the other day. I'm awaiting some information he's getting for me on those sails. So other than talking to suppliers and previous purchasers, I'm not sure what more research you refer to. Google can tell you where to get things, but I prefer personal input to get that warm fuzzy feeling about how good the quality might be.

Russ

 

[Stu Jackson]

sail purchase choices

Russ, please understand that that was written for a majority of sailors who frequent this board and other boating forums and who just happen to live in places with local lofts, IF that is an option. There is quite an active boating population, too, in Portland, still in Oregon, but I don't know about local lofts there either (although I travel through that fine city a few times a year).

For a boat of your size, the kind of tradeoffs most of us deal with with choosing sails involves quite a lot of money. I'm not saying yours may not be comparatively large, to you. But for your boat size, unless there is something special about it or how you sail it, there just aren't that many differences.

For example: even for boats as "short" as 30 feet, many sailmakers offer three grades of material/thickness/detailing: daysailor, cruising and ocean. I don't think you'd have those issues.

Good luck & happy hunting.

 

[Joe]

You can call any loft around the country..... tell them the boat you have... and ask for a quote. Sails for your type boat are restricted by "one design" racing limitations... so the dimensions are pretty much set in stone. The difference is what you spend on quality of cloth and extras... such as draft stripes, mast attachments etc. It is rare to see reef points on a 14 footer. There are race quality and daysail quality sails.. get quotes for both.

So just tell the loft rep you talk to what you are looking for and go with his recommendation.... after getting a few quotes and comments... ask others on this forum whom they prefer.... I don't see how we can help you any more than that.

 

[Joe A]

I got my rolly tasker sails from nationalsail.com in Florida. Good price good sails.

 

[RussC]

Thanks Joe A. I appreciate the positive input. I'll check them out.

Russ

 

[RussC]

Whewwww. My ear needs a rest after spending much of the day talking to sail makers and sail users. I actually wish I could go with the sailboatowners sails, and support this great forum, but I'm really leaning towards the Ullman offshore sails as sold by Catalina Direct. The Ullman is more expensive, for sure, but for several reasons I'm thinking they might be worth it.
Question: many lofts "stock" sails for the 14.2 are made from 3.9oz cloth, main and Jib. The Ullman sails are 5.5oz on the main and 4.5oz on the jib. In my inexperienced mind the heavier sail seems like a good thing, but is it really? what would be the down side, if any? make the boat fall over easier?

Russ

 

[Joe]

Did you try these guys.... they specialize in small boat sails. http://www.slosailandcanvas.com/catalina-capri-14-2/ Note that they produce race and day sailing quality sails. According to them 4oz is minimum weight for race legal sails.

 

[Joe A]

This doesn't apply to you but may help others. I bought the heaviest dacron 150% roller furling genoa and I regret it. I think it was 6 oz. Now when I raise and lower my mast I have a "giant anaconda" to contend with. I can manage it by myself but I wish I went lighter.

 

[scotmcpherson]

Russ,
Heavy sails are for when you certain you are sailing in heavy weather. Under conditions that _most_ people like to sail, you want somewhere between light and working sails.

Light sails are easier to manage, and they will catch air when there is little to catch, where as a heavy sail will act more like cardboard if the wind isn't blowing.

Some serious ocean cruisers carry two or three full sets of sails in their wardrobe so they have the right tool for any condition.

 

[RussC]

Thanks for the input guys. I would have replied sooner, but I had a major computer meltdown last week .
We also went for what may be our last chance to sail this season on Friday. without a computer for weather guidance we decided it looked good based on looking out the window (pretty much the same as our weatherman does anyway). upon arrival it was 3-5 so we set sail with a goal of making the far end of the lake ~6 miles mostly downwind. we arrived there at about 1:00 , had a relaxed bite to eat, and decided to head back. almost immediately I realized there was a blue front coming through and it started getting rowdy. we were down in a narrow canyon at that point and the trees started howling up on the surrounding hillsides. plowing into the wind was no fun in that canyon, and I got a lot of tacking practice as the sail slapped back and forth so hard I'm surprised it didn't blow apart. the velocity wasn't really that strong, but the turbulence was pretty incredable. the gunnels got a good washing a couple times, but fortunatly the sails stayed dry and intact. I was REALLY wishing I had the new sails at that point. once we got out of the (~1 mile) canyon the turbulence wasn't as violent, but it still kept me on my toes for much of the next 5 miles of more open water. I'm not sure yet just what I learned, but I'm pretty sure it was educational non the less .
I've ordered the Ullman off-shore sail set, for March delivery (worth a discount that way). I had what must be at least 5oz sails on my previous boat, and liked them a lot, so hopefully I'll also like these on the 14.2 .

Thanks again,
Russ