some sail luck

[Marc Bergmueller]

I just got back from dropping off my torn jib at Cambridge Canvas and Sail Loft. I took it there for them to measure and order me a new sail. I owner said this isn't too bad and I can patch it for $300. Mind you, this sail has a 8 foot rip in it but it is along the seam and has little fraying.
Finally some good news.

 

[Don Guillette]

Marc: I had a similiar experience a few years ago. I really felt my mainsail was shot and I wanted a new one but the wife didn't -- if it was a new dress or shoes it would be a different story. My first mistake was taking her with me to the sailmaker in Torrance, CA. My wife's a local Long Beach gal and turns out she went to school with the sailmaker. After they had "old home week" he takes a look at my sail and tells her (not me) it has some more years left in it and he can do a "nip & tuck" and repair the worn spots for about $250 - $300 and make it look like new. Obviously, I didn't get a new sail. Actually, the sail came back looking pretty nice.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Honest sailmakers will do that for you all the time. Until his untimely death last year, your local loft did only repairs (had a separate "new" sail loft attached, and Rui did wonderful work to keep my rags in riches.