I am looking to get a new main.. Full batten seems nice, but have heard that there could be problems with jamming on mast and also more sail wear. . Looking for comments, ball park price and sail maker recommendations.
- Status
h34 Main
I had a sail made for my 1983 h34 2 years ago. I wanted full battens and two reef points. I considered the local sail makers expensive - almost as high as the sails sold on this site. Got quotes at the winter boat shows that were better. Ended up with and overseas loft that made the sail to my order with battens for $1,200 delivered to me. (no fancy bat-cars but works well) It's triple stitched and made from US made sail cloth. Found their ad in Cruising World magazine 1-(800)700-SAIL. They are called LOW COST SAILS. I also had a cruising chute made by the same outfit and am happy with both. Delivery took about 4 weeks and I did it all with charge card, phone and fax. If I had it to do again I'd skip the full battens. I do limited club racing and the new main did not change the vessel performance very much. Barry s/v "PER DIEM too"
I had a sail made for my 1983 h34 2 years ago. I wanted full battens and two reef points. I considered the local sail makers expensive - almost as high as the sails sold on this site. Got quotes at the winter boat shows that were better. Ended up with and overseas loft that made the sail to my order with battens for $1,200 delivered to me. (no fancy bat-cars but works well) It's triple stitched and made from US made sail cloth. Found their ad in Cruising World magazine 1-(800)700-SAIL. They are called LOW COST SAILS. I also had a cruising chute made by the same outfit and am happy with both. Delivery took about 4 weeks and I did it all with charge card, phone and fax. If I had it to do again I'd skip the full battens. I do limited club racing and the new main did not change the vessel performance very much. Barry s/v "PER DIEM too"
Money is the issue regardless
Our new main should be here in a week. We are getting the Batmain (top two battens are full lowers are standard)from UK sailmakers in BC canada. We are getting a mylar laminate with kevlar tapes (the UK tapedrive series). We are paying closer to 3,000 than 1,000 but ours will not absorb water, will not blow out (with kevlar tapes)and will reduce weight aloft and heel as well as point higher and transfer broad reach wind into more forward motion due to greater ability to keep shape. It will also have a floating foot (attached only at tack and clew). Yes, we are spending more, but 5-6 seasons from now it will have the same shape and performance we will gain from putting it on next month. Costs more upfront but we dont have to worry about the typical decrease in performance season after season until it is so blown out and heel causing that we need to break down and start over again with another dacron sail with limited performance. In my book that spells long term savings and more fun sailing. Good luck!
Our new main should be here in a week. We are getting the Batmain (top two battens are full lowers are standard)from UK sailmakers in BC canada. We are getting a mylar laminate with kevlar tapes (the UK tapedrive series). We are paying closer to 3,000 than 1,000 but ours will not absorb water, will not blow out (with kevlar tapes)and will reduce weight aloft and heel as well as point higher and transfer broad reach wind into more forward motion due to greater ability to keep shape. It will also have a floating foot (attached only at tack and clew). Yes, we are spending more, but 5-6 seasons from now it will have the same shape and performance we will gain from putting it on next month. Costs more upfront but we dont have to worry about the typical decrease in performance season after season until it is so blown out and heel causing that we need to break down and start over again with another dacron sail with limited performance. In my book that spells long term savings and more fun sailing. Good luck!
Heard of LAM sails Hong Kong , Teijin cloth?
I am still looking for a cruising Main. Any more comments on full versus partial batten. Anyone heard of LAM sails? FarEast Sails is selling their product over the internet. Material is by Teijin of Japan. I am a cruiser who races the Hunter 34 once a year and need a new set of sails. Barry O. has suggested an Asia source as well. Any comments on that one? Jim Chock full O Nuts
I am still looking for a cruising Main. Any more comments on full versus partial batten. Anyone heard of LAM sails? FarEast Sails is selling their product over the internet. Material is by Teijin of Japan. I am a cruiser who races the Hunter 34 once a year and need a new set of sails. Barry O. has suggested an Asia source as well. Any comments on that one? Jim Chock full O Nuts
Sails
I have also been researching main sails for 34. You might want to check out Cruising Direct. They operate under North Sails. I have talked with them in the past and are very impressed. They use the same loft to cut the sails as North except they cut out the middle man and you take all the measurements. They do have a guide book how to do this, so it is not that bad. Very reasonable price for what you get. My advice, if you want to race and get the right sail, call a sailmaker who will get on your boat and make corrections after the sail has been made. For people who do a one or two races go with Cruising Direct. Good price. Good quality. Be careful of off shore lofts, quality is not always there, plus if it doenst fit right who pays the phone bill to call them.
I have also been researching main sails for 34. You might want to check out Cruising Direct. They operate under North Sails. I have talked with them in the past and are very impressed. They use the same loft to cut the sails as North except they cut out the middle man and you take all the measurements. They do have a guide book how to do this, so it is not that bad. Very reasonable price for what you get. My advice, if you want to race and get the right sail, call a sailmaker who will get on your boat and make corrections after the sail has been made. For people who do a one or two races go with Cruising Direct. Good price. Good quality. Be careful of off shore lofts, quality is not always there, plus if it doenst fit right who pays the phone bill to call them.
Cruising Direct Experience
I searched for a new 155 genny and finally settled on Cruising Direct. They were VERY easy to deal with. I am not known for my technical skills
and had to call them several times for simple questions and they were very helpfull in completely explaining what I had to do. the sail arrived, was easy to install, and I have used it now for two seasons. It is a great sail! And the price was the lowest of all the lofts (5) I contacted. They even sent a followup note asking if I had any problems after the delivery.
I searched for a new 155 genny and finally settled on Cruising Direct. They were VERY easy to deal with. I am not known for my technical skills
and had to call them several times for simple questions and they were very helpfull in completely explaining what I had to do. the sail arrived, was easy to install, and I have used it now for two seasons. It is a great sail! And the price was the lowest of all the lofts (5) I contacted. They even sent a followup note asking if I had any problems after the delivery.- Status