Has anyone dealt with or purchased sails from South East Asian Sails out of Thailand?
Wondering about the workmanship as the price is great.
Wondering about the workmanship as the price is great.
Looking at new sails
- Thread starter Biggin
- Start date
I have no experience with them.
However, I do have experience buying new sails. In my opinion, you need your sailmaker (or knowledgeable representative) to come to your boat and make direct measurements. They also will discuss how you sail and what you specifically need your sails to do. They then will select fabric and design according to what you want. They then also come to your boat to fit them and make sure everything is as expected. I used a local sailmaker and frankly, his prices were excellent, as are the sails he made. My new sails are designed specifically for my boat and how I sail.
dj
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,770
Your Hunter is a well-recognized class of boat. I would expect that most sail makers have access to the generic size of sail. That being said, you will get a generic-designed sail. This may meet all of your needs, and the price may be affordable.
For not much more money, a local sail loft can bring value to your experience. I chose North Sail in my area. I have a knowledgeable professional come out to the boat and measure the rig. This meant that when the sails are fitted, the draft will be in the optimal location. The sail slugs will fit the track on my mast. The sailcloth on the genoa will provide a chafe guard at the height of my radar and the spreaders.
These may be little things, but they all help to maintain my sails in optimal condition. If, when hoisted, the sails had not fit properly, they would have been taken back to the loft for adjustment. Poor fit happens.
If something happens and you need a repair, you have a local resource to access.
There are boat owners who order sails by mail. Good luck.
For not much more money, a local sail loft can bring value to your experience. I chose North Sail in my area. I have a knowledgeable professional come out to the boat and measure the rig. This meant that when the sails are fitted, the draft will be in the optimal location. The sail slugs will fit the track on my mast. The sailcloth on the genoa will provide a chafe guard at the height of my radar and the spreaders.
These may be little things, but they all help to maintain my sails in optimal condition. If, when hoisted, the sails had not fit properly, they would have been taken back to the loft for adjustment. Poor fit happens.
If something happens and you need a repair, you have a local resource to access.
There are boat owners who order sails by mail. Good luck.
I believe that Rolly Tasker has a factory in Thailand (Sam Holmes Sailing youtube). I've purchased 2 sails from them and they were a huge upgrade to what we were using (though I sail a Catalina 22). I watched the youtube video that Sam made while he was touring the factory, and from my (admittedly low knowledge level) it looked like they could make just about anything you'd like.
Has anyone dealt with or purchased sails from South East Asian Sails out of Thailand?
No. but three years ago i purchased a furling 110% genoa and a mainsail for a 24 foot sloop from Far East Sails in Hong Kong.
My experience was 100% positive in every aspect and if I were up for sails again I would head straight for them
However, that is me and you are you.
In purchasing sails I had two main concerns: price and availability.
My boat is almost 50 years old and I don't race.
I regularly sail in winds up to 25 knots so wanted tough cruising sails that could take a beating.
I am in Japan and over the years almost every sailmaker here has closed down so purchasing offshore is the norm.
Only a couple of lofts have Internet sites in Japanese , so most sailors here head for them (North and UK sails I think).
When I mentioned Far East Sails to my fellow sailors here, no one had heard of them and everyone was extremely suspicious.
No one could believe that I would end up with decent sails at the quoted price. (Around $1300 for main and Genny)
I measured the sails and the mast and spars 3 times..
The sails are made to the purchaser's measurements exactly, so you own any mistakes.
That made me very nervous and careful.
There is a clear measurement sheet and a questionnaire on sailing style and general sail usage.
I sent photos of the goosenck, boom outer end fittings, mast track feed-in and foresail foil track and feed-in..
Also photos of parts of the old sails.
All communication was clear straightforward and within 30 minutes due to my location.
Sails quality and fit.
Mainsail.
The fit is perfect. I had it made with two reefs . Both slightly deeper than the old sail.
They will make fully battened sails, but don't ship battens. You can either use your old ones or purchase new ones locally.
I had short battens fitted and a couple of red draft strips.
All fitting and sewing are faultless.
The sail raises, sets, lowers and reefs perfectly.
Furling 110% genoa.
Very basic with telltales but no window.
Furls and unfurls smoothly with no wrinkles.
It has two foam strips sewn into the leach and the sail reefs really well with a pretty good shape.
Again, all fitting and sewing are faultless.
I would Imagine that South East Asian Sails out of Thailand supply the same quality sails.
Now for you I see one big problem with ordering sails from off shore.
That is tariffs.
This is what AI just told me.
AI Overview
As of November 2025, there are no specific, independent tariffs exclusively targeting "Chinese sails" as a distinct product category. Instead,
sails are subject to broader, fluctuating U.S. tariffs on most Chinese imports, which currently stand at a general rate of around 47%.
Note the word "fluctuating"
I suggest you contact the guys in Thailand and Far East Sails in Hong Kong directly and get a quote and sort out the tariff question if you can
Gary
Far East Sails Expert Sailmakers | Sails & Sailing Accessories | Far East Sails, Custom Designed Sails
No. but three years ago i purchased a furling 110% genoa and a mainsail for a 24 foot sloop from Far East Sails in Hong Kong.
My experience was 100% positive in every aspect and if I were up for sails again I would head straight for them
However, that is me and you are you.
In purchasing sails I had two main concerns: price and availability.
My boat is almost 50 years old and I don't race.
I regularly sail in winds up to 25 knots so wanted tough cruising sails that could take a beating.
I am in Japan and over the years almost every sailmaker here has closed down so purchasing offshore is the norm.
Only a couple of lofts have Internet sites in Japanese , so most sailors here head for them (North and UK sails I think).
When I mentioned Far East Sails to my fellow sailors here, no one had heard of them and everyone was extremely suspicious.
No one could believe that I would end up with decent sails at the quoted price. (Around $1300 for main and Genny)
I measured the sails and the mast and spars 3 times..
The sails are made to the purchaser's measurements exactly, so you own any mistakes.
That made me very nervous and careful.
There is a clear measurement sheet and a questionnaire on sailing style and general sail usage.
I sent photos of the goosenck, boom outer end fittings, mast track feed-in and foresail foil track and feed-in..
Also photos of parts of the old sails.
All communication was clear straightforward and within 30 minutes due to my location.
Sails quality and fit.
Mainsail.
The fit is perfect. I had it made with two reefs . Both slightly deeper than the old sail.
They will make fully battened sails, but don't ship battens. You can either use your old ones or purchase new ones locally.
I had short battens fitted and a couple of red draft strips.
All fitting and sewing are faultless.
The sail raises, sets, lowers and reefs perfectly.
Furling 110% genoa.
Very basic with telltales but no window.
Furls and unfurls smoothly with no wrinkles.
It has two foam strips sewn into the leach and the sail reefs really well with a pretty good shape.
Again, all fitting and sewing are faultless.
I would Imagine that South East Asian Sails out of Thailand supply the same quality sails.
Now for you I see one big problem with ordering sails from off shore.
That is tariffs.
This is what AI just told me.
AI Overview
As of November 2025, there are no specific, independent tariffs exclusively targeting "Chinese sails" as a distinct product category. Instead,
sails are subject to broader, fluctuating U.S. tariffs on most Chinese imports, which currently stand at a general rate of around 47%.
Note the word "fluctuating"
I suggest you contact the guys in Thailand and Far East Sails in Hong Kong directly and get a quote and sort out the tariff question if you can
Gary
Far East Sails Expert Sailmakers | Sails & Sailing Accessories | Far East Sails, Custom Designed Sails
Last edited:
Aisling flies seven sails under full sail and we are under sail about as many days as not in any given year. And, all of our sails have to be custom made every time. There's no getting around that. But, you're a bit better off with your Hunter. You don't need someone to visit or measure your boat unless you make changes to the standing rigging. When those measurements are done once, you don't need to repeat them, as long as you write them down and you are really clear about what each measurement is.
I was holed up for the season in Nuku Hiva and needed three new sails. Talked to a guy there who admitted that he wasn't up to the job, mostly because I was way at the end of the line for work he needed to get done over the next few months. But, he also told me that I was much better off getting it done when I reached Hong Kong - cheaper and better material options. He gave me the name of a guy. But, he did me one better.
He sent his son out to take and write down all of the measurements anyone would ever need. Now, when I need new sails, I can call ahead and answer any question they might have. They were so detailed, the shipwright who has her right now said he could have rebuilt all of the spars with just those numbers and sketches.
To get around to your question, I almost always buy my sails in Hong Kong or Thailand but I also pick them up myself and look them in the eye. I don't know what it would be like to mail-order. But one thing I've learned is that there are good and poor craftsmen in just about every corner of the world. Nothing much could be said for or against an entire country that would be fair.
Since sails aren't made by machines in a factory, every sail is unique. I once bought a mainsail from a maker in Thailand. I asked to see some other work he had done. He showed me some work and most of it was pretty poor and used cheap materials. But, he said something, "I do this work because I have to stay cheap. I can make great sails. You only need me to make one great sail." I took to him and, lacking many good options anyway, gave him a shot. Best sail I've ever owned.
I was holed up for the season in Nuku Hiva and needed three new sails. Talked to a guy there who admitted that he wasn't up to the job, mostly because I was way at the end of the line for work he needed to get done over the next few months. But, he also told me that I was much better off getting it done when I reached Hong Kong - cheaper and better material options. He gave me the name of a guy. But, he did me one better.
He sent his son out to take and write down all of the measurements anyone would ever need. Now, when I need new sails, I can call ahead and answer any question they might have. They were so detailed, the shipwright who has her right now said he could have rebuilt all of the spars with just those numbers and sketches.
To get around to your question, I almost always buy my sails in Hong Kong or Thailand but I also pick them up myself and look them in the eye. I don't know what it would be like to mail-order. But one thing I've learned is that there are good and poor craftsmen in just about every corner of the world. Nothing much could be said for or against an entire country that would be fair.
Since sails aren't made by machines in a factory, every sail is unique. I once bought a mainsail from a maker in Thailand. I asked to see some other work he had done. He showed me some work and most of it was pretty poor and used cheap materials. But, he said something, "I do this work because I have to stay cheap. I can make great sails. You only need me to make one great sail." I took to him and, lacking many good options anyway, gave him a shot. Best sail I've ever owned.