Sail wrinkles

CraigFlowers

CraigFlowers

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Nov 19, 2020
9
Catalina 25 #824 Clinton Lake, IL
I'm gathering quotes for new sails from several companies. Unfortunately there are no local sail lofts where I live. Precision Sails is in the fix. When I look at the client photos in the photo galleries on their website, I see a lot of wrinkles in the sails. I'm still learning sail trim but I don't think these wrinkles are due to trim. Are those kind of wrinkles natural in a newer sail? My sails are old and worn but they look as wrinkled as those in the photos.

-cf
Craig
Champaign, Illinois
 
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31seahorse

31seahorse

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Aug 2, 2005
1,155
Pearson 33-2 & Typhoon 18 Seneca Lake
Hello Craig, and welcome to SBO Forums.

If you are viewing new sails I think you are seeing folds in the new sailcloth. Crisp, new sails will show the folds from their trip inside a box. That is a good thing. People will argue until the Sea Cows come home about how one should handle sails when flaking them on the boom, dropping them into a Doyle Pack, or storing them in a sail bag. The wrinkles might also be a momentary thing due to the action of the boat (tack, jibe, luffing, etc.). As is often mentioned on this forum...."a picture is worth....". You get the idea. We can't see the wrinkles about which you are asking. There are plenty of skilled sail trim people on this forum who could tell you what the sails were saying if they saw a picture.
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,737
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
I guess you mean the gallery at Precision Sails Photo Gallery: Client Photos ? If so I agree with 31seahorse that fold creases are a lot of the wrinkles there. It’s hard to tell the real shape of some of those sails from the pictures taken - some of them are sitting becalmed, in funny state of trim, or from unusual angles. @DrJudyB has posted instructions for taking sail pictures a couple times if you search her posts. Look for pictures that match her recommendations to get a better idea of the real sail shape.
 
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CraigFlowers

CraigFlowers

.
Nov 19, 2020
9
Catalina 25 #824 Clinton Lake, IL
Yes Davidsailor26, those are the pictures I am referring to. My concern is that those wrinkles are a sign of poor manufacturing process. I did not expect a deployed sail, filled with wind, to show such wrinkles. Your point that they may not be properly filled and the poor angles of the pictures had not occurred to me. I appreciate the input.

BTW, I have read Dr. Judy’s post on picture taking to demonstrate sail shape. I even tried it a couple of times and have great appreciation for those who can take a good picture of their sails! It’s not easy.

-cf
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,392
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Welcome Craig to the forum. Congrats on the decision to get new sails.

Its a tough decision. Have you asked Precision about what to expect when the sails arrive? Will they be wrinkled as in the images? Will the wrinkles affect the usability of the sails.
What about the other companies? Do their images show wrinkles? Why?
 
Will Gilmore

Will Gilmore

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Oct 19, 2017
7,996
O'Day Mariner 19 Littleton, NH

This picture, for example, taken from the Precision gallery, is exactly as Davidasailor26 is saying, it is crispy new and set in very light winds. Note how the winds are not even strong enough to lift the weight of the battens. My guess is that's the first day that sail was set.

-Will (Dragonfly)
 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,650
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Most of the pics in that gallery show sails that are set without wrinkles. But a few depict sails with wrinkles. Maybe they weren't set right, or there was too little wind. Maybe the photographer isn't good at taking pics of sails. One boat at the dock has so much headstay sag I'd be afraid for the mast. Precision just make the sails. They can't control how the boat owner uses them. But if I were doing that photo gallery I would eliminate the pics of sails with wrinkles. Call it marketing but ...
 
CraigFlowers

CraigFlowers

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Nov 19, 2020
9
Catalina 25 #824 Clinton Lake, IL
Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. its very helpful. I just received my quote from Doyle which I have to review and I’m going to call Pineapple again. I suspect they are more inclined to take on local work as opposed to long distance but I‘ve learned so much from Kame’s website I feel it would be a shame if I didn’t at least try to get ahold of them.

-cf
Craig
 
31seahorse

31seahorse

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Aug 2, 2005
1,155
Pearson 33-2 & Typhoon 18 Seneca Lake
Is there any indication of the weight of the sailcloth used on any of the sail pictures? Are you getting quotes from various sailmakers who are also including information that indicates the weight of the sail material they are using? That would have an effect on the price of the new sail and probably its tendency to show wrinkles. Decisions, decisions....
 
CraigFlowers

CraigFlowers

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Nov 19, 2020
9
Catalina 25 #824 Clinton Lake, IL
Yes, 31seahorse. I am doing a lot of due diligence research in the background and conversing with the sailmakers as appropriate. That level of detail was likely not very evident in my “wrinkle” question. I did not want to bog down the topic with my whole process. You make good points.

Hunter216, although I have been reading this forum off and on for the last 18 months or so, I am not familiar with Dave. So, as of yet, no, I have not contacted him. Thank you for the lead.

-cf
Craig
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,392
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Dave is a great guy. Works in sales for SBO store site. Lots of knowledge and helpful in solving problems.
 
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CraigFlowers

CraigFlowers

.
Nov 19, 2020
9
Catalina 25 #824 Clinton Lake, IL
Ah, yes. SBO sells Doyle sails and I am already in conversation with the Midwest representative for Doyle. (I am located 150 miles south of Lake Michigan.) So with no offense to Dave, I will continue the conversation I am already involved in. It's good to know there is another Doyle resource.

-cf
Craig
 
Hunter216

Hunter216

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Sep 22, 2018
1,869
Hunter 216 Kingston
CraigFlowers said:
Ah, yes. SBO sells Doyle sails and I am already in conversation with the Midwest representative for Doyle. (I am located 150 miles south of Lake Michigan.) So with no offense to Dave, I will continue the conversation I am already involved in. It's good to know there is another Doyle resource.

-cf
Craig
Click to expand
The SBO site and this forum is supported by the sales of product. By all means shop around but bear in mind that this forum would not exist without the company that sponsors it. :)
 
Last edited:
Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,704
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Here are some photos of my new main sail from North Sail
56887A67-EC92-4C7C-A5D1-A39A80E4A552.jpeg87449CCB-79D9-4F41-824A-34FA9F3F8FF3.jpeg982C9019-8774-4953-A501-E66CABBA6E05.jpegB3252797-A7AE-45D2-BAC1-8840AC22EB15.jpeg

These (above) are from the day I installed it...


I installed it just to I could see if it fit, and then I hauled out for the winter...

Greg
 
Dave Groshong

Dave Groshong

SBO Staff
Staff member
Jan 25, 2007
1,867
Catalina 22 Seattle
Hunter216 said:
The SBO site and this forum is supported by the sales of product. By all means shop around but bear in mind that this forum would not exist without the company that sponsors it. :)
Click to expand
Thanks for the mention! The Forum is going on about 24 years now. We don't compete with Doyle lofts, so if he's already in contact with them, great!
 
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Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,704
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Dave (I assume the same Dave), set me up with a new halyard today...called to make sure I put it into the order form correctly (I had not).

I have to say, that was pretty great customer service.

And I shopped round a bit for a good price (have usually purchased from Cajun Ropes).

And we get to share the great resources in this forum!

What a deal :)


Cheers ,

Greg
 
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CraigFlowers

CraigFlowers

.
Nov 19, 2020
9
Catalina 25 #824 Clinton Lake, IL
Greg, thank you for sharing. Those look relatively wrinkle-free to me and I note you are in a slip and not under sail. The point being it appears to be low wind.

Captain Larry, sorry to hear that. Perhaps it is not due to age but rather the mileage.

-cf
Craig
 
Tally Ho

Tally Ho

.
Jan 7, 2011
5,704
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
CraigFlowers said:
Greg, thank you for sharing. Those look relatively wrinkle-free to me and I note you are in a slip and not under sail. The point being it appears to be low wind.

Captain Larry, sorry to hear that. Perhaps it is not due to age but rather the mileage.

-cf
Craig
Click to expand
I think the 3rd photo may have been under sail ...the tell tales are streaming back nicely...the “twilight” ones were at the slip for sure.

Greg
 
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