I am looking at sail replacement on my 272. The sails are original and tired, does anyone have recommendations for new options on sails?
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Bob
Hi Don, I haven't had to buy new sails for this boat, but I did for my last one. I bought them from Lee Sails in NY. They are mail-order and all sails are made offshore (Hong Kong). A new main with 2 reefs. standard battens, 6.5 Dacron, AND new Sunbrella sail cover was $565.00. A 150 was the same price. When my sails arrived, the fit was perfect and I was totally satisfied. If you aren't into fashion sails with BIG names and equally BIG prices, then this is the place. They also do racing sails for slightly more. It's amazing the kind of savings a sailmaker can pass on to the customer when they don't spend million$$$$$ a year on advertising. Lee Sails 112 E Woodside Ave Patchogue, NY 11772 (631) 654-8008 http://www.long-island.com/Patchogue/LeeSailsNE.html Good luck in your search. Cheers, Bob
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Doyle
Don - You can order new Doyle sails at a very competative price right through this website. They may be a bit more expensive than Lee or some of the other off-shore lofts, but the sails are excellent. I had a new Doyle full-batten main built for my boat last summer and I am very please with the quality. Its a far cry from the factory loft gennoa. Justin - O'day Onwers' Web
Don - You can order new Doyle sails at a very competative price right through this website. They may be a bit more expensive than Lee or some of the other off-shore lofts, but the sails are excellent. I had a new Doyle full-batten main built for my boat last summer and I am very please with the quality. Its a far cry from the factory loft gennoa. Justin - O'day Onwers' Web
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Thomas Ehmke
Sails already,Don?
Hi Don, Tom Ehmke here. We corresponded about the 272 earlier this year while you were still considering the purchase. I want to ask you a couple of questions about your current set of sails before you decide to buy now. Have you had the sails looked over at a local saillmaker's loft? If they aren't badly blown out, sometimes they can be resewn to last a couple of CRUISING seasons. If you are RACING the boat, forget that idea. You will want maximum performance at all times. A lot of what you decide will depend on your pocket book and the plans you have for other upgrades on the boat. If sails are all you want do this year, there are lots of lofts that are accessable on the net and you can shop them for comparisons. I just checked www.thesailwarehouse.com for you and a full battened main and 144% jenny would cost about $1450 using 6oz. dacron. There are other considerations though. For example, the sail warehouse quotes three product tiers, standard/oem, coastal, and offshore/hp. Each of those tiers has upgrades which cost more. I would strongly suggest that you go to a local sailmaker and discuss how you think you will use the boat with him. He will make recommendations about battens, reinforcing, reef points, cloth weight and type,etc. and you will gain a bit of knowledge about what goes into sail construction. He will quote you a price based upon your agreed upon specs because you've told him how you intend to use the boat. Then comparison shop if you want, but by discussing your intentions and weighing all the options, you will undoubtedly make a better-informed choice. I am partial to using a local sailmaker because over the years we've developed a relationship. He knows me, and I'm in the loft 4-5 times a year for canvas work, sail cleaning, rigging information, and just good old bullshitting with someone who knows me and my boat. It's a great feeling to drop in on him during these cold winter winter months and generate a little "wind" right there at the service desk in the loft. If a local loft has been around for a long time, it says a great deal about the quality of the work, customer satisfaction, and, of course, price. He wouldn't be in business if he couldn't compete. Let me know what you do... and have a great sailing season. Tom
Hi Don, Tom Ehmke here. We corresponded about the 272 earlier this year while you were still considering the purchase. I want to ask you a couple of questions about your current set of sails before you decide to buy now. Have you had the sails looked over at a local saillmaker's loft? If they aren't badly blown out, sometimes they can be resewn to last a couple of CRUISING seasons. If you are RACING the boat, forget that idea. You will want maximum performance at all times. A lot of what you decide will depend on your pocket book and the plans you have for other upgrades on the boat. If sails are all you want do this year, there are lots of lofts that are accessable on the net and you can shop them for comparisons. I just checked www.thesailwarehouse.com for you and a full battened main and 144% jenny would cost about $1450 using 6oz. dacron. There are other considerations though. For example, the sail warehouse quotes three product tiers, standard/oem, coastal, and offshore/hp. Each of those tiers has upgrades which cost more. I would strongly suggest that you go to a local sailmaker and discuss how you think you will use the boat with him. He will make recommendations about battens, reinforcing, reef points, cloth weight and type,etc. and you will gain a bit of knowledge about what goes into sail construction. He will quote you a price based upon your agreed upon specs because you've told him how you intend to use the boat. Then comparison shop if you want, but by discussing your intentions and weighing all the options, you will undoubtedly make a better-informed choice. I am partial to using a local sailmaker because over the years we've developed a relationship. He knows me, and I'm in the loft 4-5 times a year for canvas work, sail cleaning, rigging information, and just good old bullshitting with someone who knows me and my boat. It's a great feeling to drop in on him during these cold winter winter months and generate a little "wind" right there at the service desk in the loft. If a local loft has been around for a long time, it says a great deal about the quality of the work, customer satisfaction, and, of course, price. He wouldn't be in business if he couldn't compete. Let me know what you do... and have a great sailing season. Tom
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Russ Marcks
Alot of research
I recently bought sails for my 78 25' O'day. I planned on new sails almost from the day I bought it, but waited awhile to buy. I did alot of research, about two years worth, and settled on Mack Sails. Check out www.macksails.com. Everyone who responds to this will tell you their sails are GREAT. Of course, just about any sail will be great if made by a reputable manufacturer. This is especially true if they're replacing completely blown out sails. As they say, there is no better performance increase than new sails. Obviously then, the selection comes down to construction, service, longevity, cloth, and of course price. For me, longevity is the biggest issue since even when I upgrade, I will keep my 25 for the day I decide to downgrade as we all do. As far as longevity is concerned, that's why I selected Mack Sails. Perhaps just a good marketing job, I was convinced, after spending several sessions on the phone with them, that their jib & Genoa would in fact maintain shape far longer than others. For info on cloth, check out www.sailcloth.com. Also, check out as many websites as possible and talk to the sailmakers. I would actually ask them why I should buy there sails vs. XYZ since XYZ sails seemed to have better price/construction/cloth or whatever. Tend to get alot of information that way. Practical Sailor also did a review on lofts a year or two ago if you can find that article. I can send to you if you want. Russ Marcks
I recently bought sails for my 78 25' O'day. I planned on new sails almost from the day I bought it, but waited awhile to buy. I did alot of research, about two years worth, and settled on Mack Sails. Check out www.macksails.com. Everyone who responds to this will tell you their sails are GREAT. Of course, just about any sail will be great if made by a reputable manufacturer. This is especially true if they're replacing completely blown out sails. As they say, there is no better performance increase than new sails. Obviously then, the selection comes down to construction, service, longevity, cloth, and of course price. For me, longevity is the biggest issue since even when I upgrade, I will keep my 25 for the day I decide to downgrade as we all do. As far as longevity is concerned, that's why I selected Mack Sails. Perhaps just a good marketing job, I was convinced, after spending several sessions on the phone with them, that their jib & Genoa would in fact maintain shape far longer than others. For info on cloth, check out www.sailcloth.com. Also, check out as many websites as possible and talk to the sailmakers. I would actually ask them why I should buy there sails vs. XYZ since XYZ sails seemed to have better price/construction/cloth or whatever. Tend to get alot of information that way. Practical Sailor also did a review on lofts a year or two ago if you can find that article. I can send to you if you want. Russ Marcks
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Russ Marcks
P.S.
Challenge Sailcloth http://www.sailcloth.co.uk/ cruising direct http://cd.northsails.com/ Doyle Sails http://www.doylesails.com/welcome.htm Neil Pryde Sails http://neilprydesails.com/ Quantum Sails http://www.quantumsails.com/ Sobstad Sails http://www.sobstad.com/ Windjammer http://fox.nstn.ca/~windjamm/#sails North Sails http://na.northsails.com/ There are many others, but these are the ones I looked at. Couldn't find a site for Dimension Sailcloth, but the Bainbridge and Challenge sites, along with the Mack site should tell you what you need to know about cloth. RKM
Challenge Sailcloth http://www.sailcloth.co.uk/ cruising direct http://cd.northsails.com/ Doyle Sails http://www.doylesails.com/welcome.htm Neil Pryde Sails http://neilprydesails.com/ Quantum Sails http://www.quantumsails.com/ Sobstad Sails http://www.sobstad.com/ Windjammer http://fox.nstn.ca/~windjamm/#sails North Sails http://na.northsails.com/ There are many others, but these are the ones I looked at. Couldn't find a site for Dimension Sailcloth, but the Bainbridge and Challenge sites, along with the Mack site should tell you what you need to know about cloth. RKM
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Shawn Carroll
i am looking at new mains too
I am currently looking to replace my main. I am interested in thoughts toward full batten main and any other "upgrades" over the oem main.
I am currently looking to replace my main. I am interested in thoughts toward full batten main and any other "upgrades" over the oem main.
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Thomas Ehmke
Shawn-new sails
Shawn, I replaced the OEM Neil Pryde sails on my '86 272 in the Spring of 1997. I now sail with a 155% Genoa and a full battened main with a mild roach. Absolutely no complaints. The jenny is on a CDI roller furler and I can reef it to maintain relatively good sail shape. My main goal when reducing sail is to keep the boat sailing upright. This is my first mate's comfort zone...period. I do not race (formally), so control is much more important to me than speed, especially in higher winds. I have two reef points in the main, but have never used the second set...yet. Talk to a sailmaker and describe how you intend to sail. Together you can build the sails you will need for the way you sail the boat. Tom
Shawn, I replaced the OEM Neil Pryde sails on my '86 272 in the Spring of 1997. I now sail with a 155% Genoa and a full battened main with a mild roach. Absolutely no complaints. The jenny is on a CDI roller furler and I can reef it to maintain relatively good sail shape. My main goal when reducing sail is to keep the boat sailing upright. This is my first mate's comfort zone...period. I do not race (formally), so control is much more important to me than speed, especially in higher winds. I have two reef points in the main, but have never used the second set...yet. Talk to a sailmaker and describe how you intend to sail. Together you can build the sails you will need for the way you sail the boat. Tom
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