New Mainsail H380

[charliegrau]

Well, I'm tired of wrestling w/my baggy roller furling main. It wrinkles, it jams, and it wears me out. So I'm gonna bite the bullet and get a new sail w/professional installation and rig tuning. Anyone have any real good, or real bad luck with a particular loft or brand of sail? I'm in the lower Cheseapeake, so I willl try and stay close to home for this.
-charlie

 

[seadaddler]

Mack

I have heard from others they have had good experience with mack sails,what brand of sail do you have and is it your factory installed sail and what year.
Nick

 

[Greg Reardon]

I've had a very good experience with Doyle. They stand behind their work and make it right.

 

[uncledom]

I would suggest talking to locals that race. You want a sail loft that makes sails on premise from material they have selected for your particular needs. Your original sail was most likely a Doyle that streched at the foot creating those baggy cresent shaped wrinkles that bind in the slot. Do not buy another one of those. I wound up going with "Paneled Tri-Radial Pentex/Technora with Tedlar UV cover (Optic gray)". It is over kill for my cruiser and I liked the jib so much I had a matching main made. There are better materials for the slot abrasion the furling main faces but it will only last a few more years and I really liked the look of this. This sail should have ten years of real and useful life. It is wonderful and I can actually flatten it out because it doesn't stretch at the foot, something I could never do with the factory Doyle. Buy local from someone with a reputation, it's worth the money.

 

[charliegrau]

Re: Mack

I have a UK sail and I believe it is original equipment - 1999. The boat had not had much use before I bought it in 2010. I noticed that although it is a 380, the sail is marked 'H376". I suspect both boats had the same rig, and mine just got a sail that was still in inventory when the boat was built...but it is possible that the PO put a used sail on it. At this point it doesn't matter. I am pretty sure I need a new sail. I'm taking it to the local North sails loft Fri a.m. to have it looked at.
-charlie

 

[Viktor Eysselein]

I had the same problem with my Doyle sail after 4 years. I bought a Mack sail - works fantastic! Send in your old sail so you get the right measurements.
Good luck!
Viktor

 

[charliegrau]

Update: I talked to quite a few sailmakers, got several quotes and settled on Ullman Sails in Deltaville, Va. Several people recommended them to me. Their price quote beat everyone elses by as much $1100.00 for cross cut dacron sails with all the features I needed (foam luff, sunbrella u/v protection, etc.) They will come down and measure the boat and build the sails on site in their loft. I went the whole "monty" and ordered main and jib.

 

[Viktor Eysselein]

it helped me a lot to send the old sail to the sailmaker - then there is no mistake with the size! Mack Sails has a great description of the Dacron needed for best endurance and minimal stretch!

Good luck!

Viktor