roller furling & new sails

[Mike]

Looking for new or near new sails (main & headsail). Looking on the web I found sails from $95 to $1700. I know my dimensions and want at least one reef point. I am also looking for a roller furling. I understand I need thicker material and UV protection for the 150% or 180% genoa I use on it. My Questions; Has anyone had good luck with an online source? Are sails that cost below a certain amount junk or what? And last but not least, does someone know of a good book or magazine that would tell me what to look for when buying a sail, ie. double stitching, tape thickness etc?

 

[Steve Dion]

Buyer beware!

Mike:When you are purchasing used sails, you really can only rely on the integrity of the owner or the place that sells them to you.There is a lot of difference in a new sail, so what can we expect out of an old one. If you are purchasing them thru a reputable loft that sells and repairs used sails, they can usually give you some idea of what you are getting.When you purchase a new sail the difference is the same "weight" cloth can be several hundred dollars. This is why it is imperative that when you get a quote you know exactly what each loft is quoting on.If they insist that one cloth is better than the other have them quote on both cloths and you can make your own educated decision.If you shop around and talk to different sailmakers they will give you their opinions and you should be able to make some very educated decisions on what you should really look for.

 

[David Foster]

At least try a local sailmaker or two

A good one will inspect your sails on our boat, loisten to your needs, and recommend the best strategy for buying, reconditioning, etcetera. This is a no charge service before the sale. Our local Doyle loft then met the comparable prices I had from on-line, and other local lofts.There are trustworthy online lofts, but I find having my own local sailmaker is worth whatever premium I might pay. And now I am free to stop in any time to ask anything about the sails, or how to best use them in our local conditions.I also believe that new is very well worth it! Flying new sails with the right shape delivered a revolution in the performance of our '77 h27. DavidLady Lillie