New main or live with the old?

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Oct 19, 2011
181
Hunter 42 Passage San Diego, CA
As I work my way upgrading my '92 Passage I find new stuff to do every day. Our boat Gratitude sails wonderfully and is fast however I have a bit more weather helm that I would like in 15 to 18 knot breeze. So, I am thinking my original 1992 sails might be a bit stretched and the "pocket" has moved aft which of course would contribute to the helm. So now I am pondering new sails. I don't race but I do like to move and I like good performance. If I decide on new sails I will most likely remove the Dutchman system and go to a modified lazy jack kind of system. So, the advice I need is "same old sails or new"?

Of course in the back of my mind is that the main is apparently fine now but being 22 years old when I go cruising does the sail stand the chance of catastrophic failure....or is that thought just rationalization?

Thanks for your thoughts!!
 
Feb 10, 2004
4,138
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
FWIW, my sail-maker has told me that sails can last 12-15 years or more depending upon how they are used or abused. He said that he has seen racers wear out sails in 3 years and cruisers use sails over 15 years.

Why don't you take the sail to a trusted loft and ask their opinion? I realize that you need to gauge their answer against how badly they want to sell you a new sail, but at least it would be a starting point.

This winter I had my sails cleaned and re-conditioned by SailCare. They look great, but I haven't been out for a sail yet so I don't know if the will perform better than before or if they are just cleaner.
 
Oct 19, 2011
181
Hunter 42 Passage San Diego, CA
Thanks Rich,, I am going to meet the North Sails guy at the boat in a week or two and we will set the main so he can take a look in light breeze. we will go from there. Tell me, did Sail Care cost an arm and a leg or just your first born? Sandy
 
Feb 10, 2004
4,138
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Sandy,

Based upon my sail areas and figuring that I would probably need $200 or so of repairs of some sort, I had estimated my total cost to be about $1000 plus shipping. Sailcare's estimate was higher at about $1300. But I called them and decided with thumbs up or down on each repair line item. By eliminating the "nice to do and restore the sail to like perfectly new", I got the cost down to about $1000. They even suggested a less costly way of making repairs to my Dutchman disks that saved me close to $200.

They were very easy to work with and they were accommodating at every turn.

The sails were returned on time on my schedule and the initial inspection showed them to be very clean. Yes, there were a couple stubborn stains, but overall they looked great. I was expecting them to be fairly stiff, like a new sail, because they re-resin the sails, but they were just a bit stiffer from the condition that I sent them in.

My sails are original- like yours- and I just hope to get another 5-8 years out of them for cruising service. I don't race, but I expect to hold my own against other similar-sized boats. And I do take some pleasure in walking boats 5' longer than I. :)
 
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