Has anyone had any experience with either Hong Kong Sails or Fareast Sails. I am looking for both positive or negative response (s). The price they offer is profoundly better than anything around here (including Hood, Doyle, Cruising Direct, North, Harding and about 7 other Vendors). The sail cloth is just a little heavier weight than the local makers, and they are triple stitched. They only give a year guarantee which is about the same for the local ones except FX (5 years on a tri-radial Main) and Air Force Sails. The offshore sails cost is about $550.00 less for just the Main. They have a local agent in Georgia. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I am leaning towards the local vendor, at least that way if its not made right I have somebody to yell at face-to-face.
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Lee Sails - Hong Kong
Hi Bob, A few years ago, I purchased a main and furling jib directly from Lee Sails in Hong Kong. I live and sail the waters of Okinawa, Japan so, like you, I was looking for a "better deal" on new sails. My experience with Lee in Hong Kong was absolutely great! At the time, Helen Fong was the manager of the Lee loft there. I was lucky enough to sail from Okinawa to Hong Kong as crew on a friends boat (10 day passage)and I personally picked up my sails. Lee made sure I was well taken care of and even had their truck deliver my sails to the airport and ensure they were checked in with the airlines. Needless to say the sail passage through the Taiwan straight and seeing Hong Kong was an adventure to remember. Lee made me a 3 reef cruising sail with full battens and batt cars using 9oz. dacron. The quality of the workmanship was in my opinion tops. I paid around $1,400.00 for the set and that included $100.00 extra weight charged by the airlines. The sails are 6 years old and still looking good and performing well for a heavy 38 foot cruising boat. So..........I would highly recommend you contact a US Lee representative (there use to be one on the east coast)and work out some cost estimates. Otherwise, I would not hesitate to use any other sail maker in Hong Kong but I do think a US representative would be the way to go in your case. Good luck and happy sailing.
Hi Bob, A few years ago, I purchased a main and furling jib directly from Lee Sails in Hong Kong. I live and sail the waters of Okinawa, Japan so, like you, I was looking for a "better deal" on new sails. My experience with Lee in Hong Kong was absolutely great! At the time, Helen Fong was the manager of the Lee loft there. I was lucky enough to sail from Okinawa to Hong Kong as crew on a friends boat (10 day passage)and I personally picked up my sails. Lee made sure I was well taken care of and even had their truck deliver my sails to the airport and ensure they were checked in with the airlines. Needless to say the sail passage through the Taiwan straight and seeing Hong Kong was an adventure to remember. Lee made me a 3 reef cruising sail with full battens and batt cars using 9oz. dacron. The quality of the workmanship was in my opinion tops. I paid around $1,400.00 for the set and that included $100.00 extra weight charged by the airlines. The sails are 6 years old and still looking good and performing well for a heavy 38 foot cruising boat. So..........I would highly recommend you contact a US Lee representative (there use to be one on the east coast)and work out some cost estimates. Otherwise, I would not hesitate to use any other sail maker in Hong Kong but I do think a US representative would be the way to go in your case. Good luck and happy sailing.
More on Lee.
Some years ago I wanted a new North jib to go with the new main. But I checked with Helen at Lee sails, always via e-mail. She was very knowledgeable and the price was half. Still I wasn't sure they knew what a "yankee" was so I sent it to them. The new yankee is a work of art. They made it about 15% larger than the original. It tacks around the mid-stay without problems. I highly recommend them.
Some years ago I wanted a new North jib to go with the new main. But I checked with Helen at Lee sails, always via e-mail. She was very knowledgeable and the price was half. Still I wasn't sure they knew what a "yankee" was so I sent it to them. The new yankee is a work of art. They made it about 15% larger than the original. It tacks around the mid-stay without problems. I highly recommend them.
Cost to make
has to be pretty low for them. I have a friend in China who says one can get dinner for less then a $1 and can live nicely off $10 a day. I know Hong Kong is different, but seems it would be easy to farm out the work for cheaper labor there. I think I'm going to have to sail there someday.
has to be pretty low for them. I have a friend in China who says one can get dinner for less then a $1 and can live nicely off $10 a day. I know Hong Kong is different, but seems it would be easy to farm out the work for cheaper labor there. I think I'm going to have to sail there someday.
Hey Kemah
If you need any boat maintenance or repairs in Kemah, contact my old friend Ben Miller of BM Boat Works. He is in the yellow pages. Ben and I sailed together here in Okinawa until he decided to return to the states. He is an expert and knows his stuff.
If you need any boat maintenance or repairs in Kemah, contact my old friend Ben Miller of BM Boat Works. He is in the yellow pages. Ben and I sailed together here in Okinawa until he decided to return to the states. He is an expert and knows his stuff.
Lee in Hong Kong - Continued
Hong Kong(HK)was a British colony until 1997 when HK reverted back to China. The British influence is still very strong there. The factory where Lee makes their sails is located inside mainland China. Once the sail orders are completed, they are trucked to HK to Lee's sail loft. According to Helen Fong at the time, the factory is a 3 story building and the workers lived on the third floor. She indicated they worked, ate and slept within the confines of the factory. I have traveled to China several times within the past few years and I can say for sure that captialism is on the rise but.....the majority of the population is way way behind the economic curve. A wage earner does not make that much but then everything in China related to basic living is cheap. I have bought sails and replacement ports from HK/China (see New Found Metals Matrix Ports @ www.newfoundmetals.com)and the quality of materials, price and workmanship has been outstanding. On another note, a friend talked me into buying a main sail for my 1978 HC33 by Quantum. It has 2 reef points, partial battens,loose foot, 6.5 oz. dacron, and seems to be very well built. Quantum makes their sails in South Africa (isn't anything made in the United States any more?) and it cost me just a little over $1,700.00.
Hong Kong(HK)was a British colony until 1997 when HK reverted back to China. The British influence is still very strong there. The factory where Lee makes their sails is located inside mainland China. Once the sail orders are completed, they are trucked to HK to Lee's sail loft. According to Helen Fong at the time, the factory is a 3 story building and the workers lived on the third floor. She indicated they worked, ate and slept within the confines of the factory. I have traveled to China several times within the past few years and I can say for sure that captialism is on the rise but.....the majority of the population is way way behind the economic curve. A wage earner does not make that much but then everything in China related to basic living is cheap. I have bought sails and replacement ports from HK/China (see New Found Metals Matrix Ports @ www.newfoundmetals.com)and the quality of materials, price and workmanship has been outstanding. On another note, a friend talked me into buying a main sail for my 1978 HC33 by Quantum. It has 2 reef points, partial battens,loose foot, 6.5 oz. dacron, and seems to be very well built. Quantum makes their sails in South Africa (isn't anything made in the United States any more?) and it cost me just a little over $1,700.00.
Do not get the WEIGHT of the cloth confused.
I am no sail expert, but I can tell you that not all cloth is equal. Do not get the weight of the cloth confused with the quality. There is inexpensive 7 oz. cloth and expensive 7 oz. cloth. Talk to a local sailmaker and have them explain the difference between the different qualities of cloth. When you get a quote, demand that the quote is for a specific cloth. You may not be able a comparision on North cloth, but the majority of them are readily available. You want to be sure that they are also using quality thread and hardware. There are a lot of factors that go into making sail.
I am no sail expert, but I can tell you that not all cloth is equal. Do not get the weight of the cloth confused with the quality. There is inexpensive 7 oz. cloth and expensive 7 oz. cloth. Talk to a local sailmaker and have them explain the difference between the different qualities of cloth. When you get a quote, demand that the quote is for a specific cloth. You may not be able a comparision on North cloth, but the majority of them are readily available. You want to be sure that they are also using quality thread and hardware. There are a lot of factors that go into making sail.
Lots of trust involved.
Steve is right of course. I worried about the quality of the cloth. Lee sent me samples and the manufacturer's information. It was made in the same place as my North main. Still you have to trust that they use the same cloth as the sample. It is the reason that we ask other sailors for their experiences.
Steve is right of course. I worried about the quality of the cloth. Lee sent me samples and the manufacturer's information. It was made in the same place as my North main. Still you have to trust that they use the same cloth as the sample. It is the reason that we ask other sailors for their experiences.
Value of a local sailmaker
We prefer a local sailmaker, who can and does give us advice based on the actual set of our sails on the boat before, during, and after buying a sail. And he will answer any questions on tuning and set-up through the life of the sail. I value these services over the years as a minimum at several hundred dollars per sail. David Lady Lillie
We prefer a local sailmaker, who can and does give us advice based on the actual set of our sails on the boat before, during, and after buying a sail. And he will answer any questions on tuning and set-up through the life of the sail. I value these services over the years as a minimum at several hundred dollars per sail. David Lady Lillie
on Lee Sails
I also got a new Lee Sails Main last Spring. the construction of the Sail is excellent, and the price as well. Also, if you get the sail off-season or order it at an Expo, they'll give an additional 10% off. As far as negatives, their people in the states did not impress me. I had a guy come to take measurements and he sort of eye-balled the measurements and kept trying to defer to me about the proper size. I think he didn't want to take responsibility if the measurements were off. He mistook the foot for the luff, so the slugs and slides were mixed up. He took care of it, but I suspect that a local sail company would be more professional and precise about the measurements. Good luck.
I also got a new Lee Sails Main last Spring. the construction of the Sail is excellent, and the price as well. Also, if you get the sail off-season or order it at an Expo, they'll give an additional 10% off. As far as negatives, their people in the states did not impress me. I had a guy come to take measurements and he sort of eye-balled the measurements and kept trying to defer to me about the proper size. I think he didn't want to take responsibility if the measurements were off. He mistook the foot for the luff, so the slugs and slides were mixed up. He took care of it, but I suspect that a local sail company would be more professional and precise about the measurements. Good luck.
tape-measure
I should be more clear, when I said "eye-ball" I didn't mean that he didn't use a tape-measure. He just didn't seem to take all the measurements or be as concerned with precision as other sailmakers.
I should be more clear, when I said "eye-ball" I didn't mean that he didn't use a tape-measure. He just didn't seem to take all the measurements or be as concerned with precision as other sailmakers.
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