Kevlar Sails

[IndyEd]

I really thought hard about ordering a set of Kevlar sails (listed on Craigslist) and even contacted the seller about them, but I've decided to stay with Dacron for a number of reasons. Any input about what Sail Loft to get a new main from? Cost/quality/options?

Incidentally the Kevlar sails were listed on the Jacksonville, FL Craigslist for $1250. I have no connection with the seller.

Fair Winds,

Ed Combs, www.flwwp.com

 

[soling42]

Saw your post on WCTSS following the pics from our Cayo Costa weekend where we were neighbors and thought I'd share our recent experience. We just had Knighton sails in Sarasota build a new gennaker for our H260 that lives on a new carbon bow sprit and is furled from the cockpit on a Facnor continuous line furler.

Greg/Bob/Colin are good guys that build hi-perf sails and his loft does very nice work. I chose them based on a recommendation and was surprised by how affordable their top tier work was.

www.knightonsailmakers.com/

Our sail is a laminate that's tough as nails and pretty sharp too. I don't treat it with any special dignity and store it furled and folded in its bag. He'll do our main sail after next season too but that'd be flaked with the same care I'd give a new dacron sail. We asked them to put a giant frog graphic on the sail and it adds to the sails personality but it's not their expertise. A few early shots of the sail he built below.

Good luck in your search, Mike and Kelli

 

[MrUnix]

Sold the boat and the new owner didn't want them.

I find it hard to believe that someone could sell a sailboat and the buyer would refuse extra sails!!! More likely he kept them hidden away in his garage knowing he could get an extra grand by selling them separately :neutral:

Cheers,
Brad

 

[IndyEd]

Hello Mike

You have a great looking boat. If I hadn't just bought a new RF 110 Jib and if I wasn't afraid from both past experience (had a Rhumba one summer with their Mylar/Kevlar sail that had several crushed areas and one delaminated area due to heat) as well as the need to treat Kevlar gently and the realization that the RF jib does not have Sunbrella on it I might go for it. My jib lives on the RF and on the boat, which we tarp outside. The guy states in his Craigslist add that the buyer didn't want to pay extra for the sails. The right person could get them for $1000 but it won't be me. I'm probably going to go with KH for $525 for a main. Yes, it is made offshore, but a lot of sail lofts are importing now. Both my local bids were over $1000 for a similar sail. Taking our AI's out to Don Pedro Park this weekend to see how easily the Hunter would fit. Caladesi for family/couples either the weekend of the 8th or 15th is always a good time. Dockage is $22 with power and after 5 pm we have one of the top 10 beaches in the country to ourselves. Jose and Dimitri are in with their families, feel free to join us.

Ed, www.flwwp.com

 

[soling42]

Our gennaker is a Code Zero material with kevlar strand but it's a lot tougher than I can ever hurt with our level of abuse. Maybe your Rumba sail was a low quality material? Those sails in the craigslist ad seem over priced to me. I'm sure a local loft could do as well. Hate to see more work head overseas but you've gotta do what works for you.

Thanks for the invite to Caladesi but anymore I only trailer our 260 back to the shop to put it up for the Summer and re-lauch in October. Although Caladesi has been on my cruising list, it's a pretty good fetch from Sarasota. kelli and I tend to head south if we're doing a long weekend(Boca/Tween Water/Sanabel), and what a great weekend Cayo Costa ended up being eh?

We had a couple of AIs that we got from kellis' work at Economy Tackle down here. Just sold them last fall but they were fun. Take care and good luck in your travels.
Mike and Kelli