We need a new mainsail for our 1990 Hunter Legend 35.5. Has anyone found a good value in new sails anywhere? Thanks.
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Start here!
Doug: Start here and get a base price for a sail. Then you can start shopping. You are going to find prices all over the board. The one thing that you want to keep in mind is you want everyone to quote on the same features, and the same material. Obviously there is more in the equation than this but that help keep things somewhat equal. When you start looking one guy will quote a specific material/weight. Then you will go too another loft and they will claim that this cloth is just as good....... The point is make them quote on the same brand and weight. Just a suggestion, do not go with all full battens. I did this but did not want it. My sailmaker kind of did her own thing. My preference was full battens at the top and partial battens at the bottom (this helps reduce the friction when raising the main). Good luck, please report your findings here so others will have a better idea when doing shopping.
Doug: Start here and get a base price for a sail. Then you can start shopping. You are going to find prices all over the board. The one thing that you want to keep in mind is you want everyone to quote on the same features, and the same material. Obviously there is more in the equation than this but that help keep things somewhat equal. When you start looking one guy will quote a specific material/weight. Then you will go too another loft and they will claim that this cloth is just as good....... The point is make them quote on the same brand and weight. Just a suggestion, do not go with all full battens. I did this but did not want it. My sailmaker kind of did her own thing. My preference was full battens at the top and partial battens at the bottom (this helps reduce the friction when raising the main). Good luck, please report your findings here so others will have a better idea when doing shopping.
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Mike Webster
New Mainsail
I just purchased new sails for my Vision 32. I did a lot of shopping around and finally bought from Mack Sails in Stewart, Florida. I liked the way they talked, they offered all of the adders from the other guys as standard equipment, and their prices were extremely competitive. After comparison with most of the big guys, I went here. I just received the main last weekend, and during the brief sail it looked very good. Should get the jib this week. Also purchased their Mack Pack, a sail cover/lazy jack system that stays on the boom and zips open from the top. Real slick. Check out their web site and give them a call.
I just purchased new sails for my Vision 32. I did a lot of shopping around and finally bought from Mack Sails in Stewart, Florida. I liked the way they talked, they offered all of the adders from the other guys as standard equipment, and their prices were extremely competitive. After comparison with most of the big guys, I went here. I just received the main last weekend, and during the brief sail it looked very good. Should get the jib this week. Also purchased their Mack Pack, a sail cover/lazy jack system that stays on the boom and zips open from the top. Real slick. Check out their web site and give them a call.
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Cap'n Brent
New Sails
I got some quotes from Hong Kong Sailmakers at Strictly Sail Miami back in February and they were the cheapest around. Good Luck, Cap'n Brent S/V Elena Lua 1990 Hunter 335
I got some quotes from Hong Kong Sailmakers at Strictly Sail Miami back in February and they were the cheapest around. Good Luck, Cap'n Brent S/V Elena Lua 1990 Hunter 335
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Bill O'Donovan
An alternative...
...is to get the sails recut by a professional sailmaker. I had that done for my 29.5 whose sails had 4,800 miles on them. Hayes Sails of Hayes VA did an outstanding job. The puffy blown-out bags are gone, I can point better, reef later, and sail faster (a little). All for only $800 for both the main and the jib.
...is to get the sails recut by a professional sailmaker. I had that done for my 29.5 whose sails had 4,800 miles on them. Hayes Sails of Hayes VA did an outstanding job. The puffy blown-out bags are gone, I can point better, reef later, and sail faster (a little). All for only $800 for both the main and the jib.
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Rich
Yes
I've a 35.5 Legend and live just a few miles north of you, on the Magothy. Four weeks ago I just put a new main on and am very happy with quality and price. I went through much the same investigative process as you. I sent email queries to about 7 sail makers. Got various prices. As mentioned earlier in this thread, a maker in Hong Kong had good value (the best price I could find.) However, I was concerned about service should the sail not quite fit (my Legend 35.5 has a pre-bend mast.) Bottom line is I found the best value near home. I went to Bacon's in Annapolis. I recommend you go there and speak with Steve. You can mention my name and boat. He'll probably remember. BTW- If you have a Dutchman system installed, you may want to rethink if you want the new sail modified to use it. Dutchman changed its system since mine was made and I'm having some problems getting the lines redone to work with the new main.
I've a 35.5 Legend and live just a few miles north of you, on the Magothy. Four weeks ago I just put a new main on and am very happy with quality and price. I went through much the same investigative process as you. I sent email queries to about 7 sail makers. Got various prices. As mentioned earlier in this thread, a maker in Hong Kong had good value (the best price I could find.) However, I was concerned about service should the sail not quite fit (my Legend 35.5 has a pre-bend mast.) Bottom line is I found the best value near home. I went to Bacon's in Annapolis. I recommend you go there and speak with Steve. You can mention my name and boat. He'll probably remember. BTW- If you have a Dutchman system installed, you may want to rethink if you want the new sail modified to use it. Dutchman changed its system since mine was made and I'm having some problems getting the lines redone to work with the new main.
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Greg
Airforce at Sailnet...
just received my new mainsail (H33) from them, haven't sailed it yet, but they were/are very easy to deal with will walk you through the process and are reasonably priced..I purchased the coastal main w/two full batts up top and two standards down bottom for $1200, talk to Lin Robson, super nice, extremely knowledgable. only problem I see for you is that it will be about 5 weeks.
just received my new mainsail (H33) from them, haven't sailed it yet, but they were/are very easy to deal with will walk you through the process and are reasonably priced..I purchased the coastal main w/two full batts up top and two standards down bottom for $1200, talk to Lin Robson, super nice, extremely knowledgable. only problem I see for you is that it will be about 5 weeks.
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Bob Howie
Cheap sails?
Ok, sure, the price of sails can go from one extreme to another, but my preference is to spend some of the money I SAVE on doing most of my own boat work myself on some things like NEW sails from a LOCAL loft! Sure, I might pay a bit more for the sails by using the local guy -- whom I've known, by the way, for more than 10 years -- but what I get for that tad more price is my hands around his throat in case something screws up! I also get a lot of very, very good service when I do have a problem...as I did recently installing a Strong sail track system I bought from him; works perfectly now. Shop around for stuff like winches, spars, rigging, radios, boat hooks and stuff like that, but consider using the local folk on "Big Ticket" items like sails. For example, a new Dacron mainsail for my 78h30 with all the tricks including full battens (which I prefer) runs about $2,000. That's ok with me. A new 135%, about $1,600; a new cruising spinnaker, about $1,300, BUT, my local guy -- because I'm a good customer -- got a deal on some spinnaker cloth and passed that savings on to me, so I got it for about $800. And, if I ever have a problem with the fit, it's just a couple of days away from a fix...not a week or two with shipping back and forth. Just my opinion tho...
Ok, sure, the price of sails can go from one extreme to another, but my preference is to spend some of the money I SAVE on doing most of my own boat work myself on some things like NEW sails from a LOCAL loft! Sure, I might pay a bit more for the sails by using the local guy -- whom I've known, by the way, for more than 10 years -- but what I get for that tad more price is my hands around his throat in case something screws up! I also get a lot of very, very good service when I do have a problem...as I did recently installing a Strong sail track system I bought from him; works perfectly now. Shop around for stuff like winches, spars, rigging, radios, boat hooks and stuff like that, but consider using the local folk on "Big Ticket" items like sails. For example, a new Dacron mainsail for my 78h30 with all the tricks including full battens (which I prefer) runs about $2,000. That's ok with me. A new 135%, about $1,600; a new cruising spinnaker, about $1,300, BUT, my local guy -- because I'm a good customer -- got a deal on some spinnaker cloth and passed that savings on to me, so I got it for about $800. And, if I ever have a problem with the fit, it's just a couple of days away from a fix...not a week or two with shipping back and forth. Just my opinion tho...
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Tim S.
New Sails
You Said it Bob. However, no matter how you look at it, Some people get their clothes at Kmart, while others will have a suit tailor made. Racers never go to the cheap offshore lofts if they want to win. When Shopping Ask, Where are these made? IN the USA or some Asian sweat shop. BTW-Airforce sails are made by China Sailmakers, in - you guessed it, China. I'm all for getting a bargain, but my local guy desrves to make a living too!
You Said it Bob. However, no matter how you look at it, Some people get their clothes at Kmart, while others will have a suit tailor made. Racers never go to the cheap offshore lofts if they want to win. When Shopping Ask, Where are these made? IN the USA or some Asian sweat shop. BTW-Airforce sails are made by China Sailmakers, in - you guessed it, China. I'm all for getting a bargain, but my local guy desrves to make a living too!
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Greg Sampson
I suppose you own a Harley too Tim...
because they are made in the US, fact is 50% of the parts are from the far east! And I suppose you have a union job where you are overpaid to do a menial task. There are enough people like you around to keep the "local" guys in business, I will continue to shop for a good deal on a quality product and if the local guy is close I go with him. I have been getting "porked" by marina's and the like for years, a little competition is good for all of us. That is the American way.
because they are made in the US, fact is 50% of the parts are from the far east! And I suppose you have a union job where you are overpaid to do a menial task. There are enough people like you around to keep the "local" guys in business, I will continue to shop for a good deal on a quality product and if the local guy is close I go with him. I have been getting "porked" by marina's and the like for years, a little competition is good for all of us. That is the American way.
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Doug T.
Greg
This is a boating forum, not a political forum. Let's skip the personal attacks and keep it civil, OK?
This is a boating forum, not a political forum. Let's skip the personal attacks and keep it civil, OK?
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Greg Sampson
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Tim S.
Greg
No Offense taken. After all you know what they say about opinions. Mine no exception. Hope your day improves. Cheers, Tim
No Offense taken. After all you know what they say about opinions. Mine no exception. Hope your day improves. Cheers, Tim
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