Does any one have any experiance with a company called Sail Care located in PA? I have attached a link to their site. They were at the boat show in Annapolis and looked interesting!
Sail care
- Thread starter TomStJohn
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We snet our sails to sail care last fall and were very happy with the cleaning and the way they came back to us. The sails were clean and crisp, any sewing that was needed was done. I can not say enough good thiongs about our experiance with them.
beware
I used them as a vedor for my business a few years ago and had to drop them due to many unsatisfied customers. The end product was fine but the reliability was not. Waaay too many missed deadlines and promises.
I used them as a vedor for my business a few years ago and had to drop them due to many unsatisfied customers. The end product was fine but the reliability was not. Waaay too many missed deadlines and promises.
I agree with John. I've used them a number of times for cleaning and repairs. Service was excellent and the cost was very reasonable.
In all fairness
Maybe the have gotten their act together now. We dropped them back in about 2000 ... Like I said, good product but consistantly late on deliveies. anyone else?
Maybe the have gotten their act together now. We dropped them back in about 2000 ... Like I said, good product but consistantly late on deliveies. anyone else?
2004 Experience
I liked the work they did. They were restructuring back then and I had to followup with them, they were a bit lame on the phone but worked the sail OK. My sail shrunk. Many people say the process doesn't do this, but mine, and many others, did. It's a mainsail for a Catalina 34. Shrunk about 4 inches in the foot and 6 inches in the luff. OK with me, but maybe not others. Use the forum archives to learn more, this has been discussed many times in the past. Stu
I liked the work they did. They were restructuring back then and I had to followup with them, they were a bit lame on the phone but worked the sail OK. My sail shrunk. Many people say the process doesn't do this, but mine, and many others, did. It's a mainsail for a Catalina 34. Shrunk about 4 inches in the foot and 6 inches in the luff. OK with me, but maybe not others. Use the forum archives to learn more, this has been discussed many times in the past. Stu
Great work - but get it in early before the rush
Great work - good price but get the sails in before year end and avoid the rush.
Great work - good price but get the sails in before year end and avoid the rush.
Jim,
Jim, I have a great problem with the internet. The reason is people can give one name, "JIM" and then bad mouth a business. Show some guts and give us a real name and business, then maybe I would take your comments into consideration. r.w.landau
Jim, I have a great problem with the internet. The reason is people can give one name, "JIM" and then bad mouth a business. Show some guts and give us a real name and business, then maybe I would take your comments into consideration. r.w.landau
That's the internet rw
Actually rw, I respectfully disagree with you about the idea that people will be more "honest" on the internet if they give their full name and location. There is nothing to stop you, me, jim or anyone else from making up a "full" name and location out of whole cloth. I think there is just as much to be said for the notion that complete anonimity allows for complete honesty. Given the overall tone of jim's posting, his allowance that maybe Sail Care now has their act together and his active solicitation of more opinions lead me to give his posting as much creedance as I give anything over the internet.
Actually rw, I respectfully disagree with you about the idea that people will be more "honest" on the internet if they give their full name and location. There is nothing to stop you, me, jim or anyone else from making up a "full" name and location out of whole cloth. I think there is just as much to be said for the notion that complete anonimity allows for complete honesty. Given the overall tone of jim's posting, his allowance that maybe Sail Care now has their act together and his active solicitation of more opinions lead me to give his posting as much creedance as I give anything over the internet.
Good job, very happy
We've used Sail Care twice, and have been very happy with them. Both times, we had the sails cleaned, & re-laminated. They also patched a small hole (pencil size) in one sail, and fixed some loose stitching. Like others have mentioned, they can be a bit slow at times, so send your sails in as early as possible. Jim Mowrey Hunter 280
We've used Sail Care twice, and have been very happy with them. Both times, we had the sails cleaned, & re-laminated. They also patched a small hole (pencil size) in one sail, and fixed some loose stitching. Like others have mentioned, they can be a bit slow at times, so send your sails in as early as possible. Jim Mowrey Hunter 280
Mike,
Mike, My point is that the people that I listen to on this site post their name in an acountable way that their advice, right or wrong is back by their name. Let's see, Phil Herring, Fred Ficarra, Stu Jackson, etc. They have all built their credibility on this site with thier real name and the history of their fruitful advice. With only posting Mike or Jim, there is no credibility because there is no memorable history of Mike or jim advice. r.w.landau
Mike, My point is that the people that I listen to on this site post their name in an acountable way that their advice, right or wrong is back by their name. Let's see, Phil Herring, Fred Ficarra, Stu Jackson, etc. They have all built their credibility on this site with thier real name and the history of their fruitful advice. With only posting Mike or Jim, there is no credibility because there is no memorable history of Mike or jim advice. r.w.landau
No one does what Sail Care does. Sail Care developed a process (The LaMauney process) to reresin the sails after cleaning. They first inspect the sails and look for weak areas or areas in need of repair. They repair those then clean and reresin the sail. This gives the sail a crispness. Most new sail material is filled with resin during the finishing process before the sails are made. The Sail Care process refurbishes some of the new feel to the sail. There are problems, like the occasional shrunken bolt rope. Sail Care is a first class operation and they do get extremely busy times. They do put them out first come first served. They also offer sail repair, telltails, and they are currently venturing into hardware. r.w.landau
But...
Something they cannot control is the overall condition of the sail - if you send them a blown-out main, you will get back a clean, crisp, blown-out main. In other words, it is unreasonable to expect the sail to come back with a better "shape" than when you sent it in. I sent them two sails in '03 and they told me 10 weeks turnaround. With a race coming up, I really needed them to make that deadline, and though they had some problems at the plant, they went out of their way to finish up the order and ship it to me quick so I'd have them in time. They did a beautiful job cleaning sails nothing else would touch.
Something they cannot control is the overall condition of the sail - if you send them a blown-out main, you will get back a clean, crisp, blown-out main. In other words, it is unreasonable to expect the sail to come back with a better "shape" than when you sent it in. I sent them two sails in '03 and they told me 10 weeks turnaround. With a race coming up, I really needed them to make that deadline, and though they had some problems at the plant, they went out of their way to finish up the order and ship it to me quick so I'd have them in time. They did a beautiful job cleaning sails nothing else would touch.
I used Sail Care for the sails on my Lido 14 with good results. The sails came back clean and looking almost like new, BUT, they still are not NEW sails. If you just cruise, this might be a really good alternative to all new sails, but if you race your boat, I can't see any edge gained just by having clean sails that no longer have the best shape. If your sails are old, ask them for a quote on re-stitching the panels, or even taking in an inch or so in the areas that have stretched a bit, and THEN have them cleaned. Catch my wake.....
to RW
RW, I am not trying to hide behind anonymity. My cpmpany is the Sail Warehouse. I iusually dont post by companty name because I post here as a sailor not as buisness. I do not want to be seen as advertising. That said, the problem I had with Sail Care was my being put into the position of responding to unhappy customers that were quoted a delivery time and then the sails were late. I didn't want my company associated with poor service. Over the years they are not the only vendor I have dropped for that reason. Once agin, in fairness that was a while back ans maybe they have improved now. Looks like this thread generated some good helpful advice. How's that?
RW, I am not trying to hide behind anonymity. My cpmpany is the Sail Warehouse. I iusually dont post by companty name because I post here as a sailor not as buisness. I do not want to be seen as advertising. That said, the problem I had with Sail Care was my being put into the position of responding to unhappy customers that were quoted a delivery time and then the sails were late. I didn't want my company associated with poor service. Over the years they are not the only vendor I have dropped for that reason. Once agin, in fairness that was a while back ans maybe they have improved now. Looks like this thread generated some good helpful advice. How's that?
Sent my head sails (fairly old) to them a few years ago and am very satisfied. It cost a bit, but much less than replacements and both sails have performed well since. I intend to send another next year. They provided a quick estimate, fixed a number of small problems, cleaned and processed the sails in the time frame and at the cost they said it would be after identifying the repairs needed. FYI, the final cost was about a third more than the original estimate for cleaning and processing only. It was worth it.
RW
By the way, I neglected to validate you point as well. I have been on the receiving end of exactly what you described in your original reply so I do agree with your point of view.
By the way, I neglected to validate you point as well. I have been on the receiving end of exactly what you described in your original reply so I do agree with your point of view.
Jim, Your reputation
I am glad you are concerned with your reputation and I did not know you were Sail Warehouse. I think your reputation is in tack. You are marketing a product. It is fair and reasonable. You offer many options and have a set price list. Your stock sails have appealed to me because of the open price list with easy options. I really don't want to fill in all the forms to get a quote. You may want to expand your Custom Sails. The custom ad in your catalog is easily overlooked to search for prices. best wishes, r.w.landau
I am glad you are concerned with your reputation and I did not know you were Sail Warehouse. I think your reputation is in tack. You are marketing a product. It is fair and reasonable. You offer many options and have a set price list. Your stock sails have appealed to me because of the open price list with easy options. I really don't want to fill in all the forms to get a quote. You may want to expand your Custom Sails. The custom ad in your catalog is easily overlooked to search for prices. best wishes, r.w.landau
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