I am adding a cover to my furling 135% headsail. Some say go with a darker sunbrella for better protection from the sun. Others say go with the UV Dacron b/c the reduced weight will be best for light air days. What do you think? Any experience?
Sunbrella VS UV Dacron
- Thread starter Kadima
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Went through this too
That is exactly the trade off. I went with UV Dacron for weight and shape and am very satisfied with the choice recommended by my sailmaker. Having said that, the sun cover had to be replaced in the third year for nearly $500 whereas the old sail's Sunbrella cover went for seven years with only one $200 stitch job. So, I have ordered a genoa sock for the jib which might be a whole other alternative for you. See the link to the McGregor site where this is advertised. Mine is being custom made through the same source, via this site. Rick D.
That is exactly the trade off. I went with UV Dacron for weight and shape and am very satisfied with the choice recommended by my sailmaker. Having said that, the sun cover had to be replaced in the third year for nearly $500 whereas the old sail's Sunbrella cover went for seven years with only one $200 stitch job. So, I have ordered a genoa sock for the jib which might be a whole other alternative for you. See the link to the McGregor site where this is advertised. Mine is being custom made through the same source, via this site. Rick D.
I have a 150 genoa
with blue Sunbrella and a 120 with Dacron. While the Sunbrella is heavier and more expensive, it seems to be holding up a bit better than the sail with the Dacron (although that sail gets far less use). While some complain that the Sunbrella is heavy and will negatively impact light air performance, I have never really noticed that happening. I think having light air sheets may be more important. I am also curious about the headsail sock mentioned by Rick below. While I think it may be a good alternative, if you have a spare headsail halyard, I would have some doubts about how well those plastic zippers will hold up to UVs over time. If the zipper deteriorates, like most eventually do, you have to replace a really loooooooong zipper. Everything about boats is a tradeoff...
with blue Sunbrella and a 120 with Dacron. While the Sunbrella is heavier and more expensive, it seems to be holding up a bit better than the sail with the Dacron (although that sail gets far less use). While some complain that the Sunbrella is heavy and will negatively impact light air performance, I have never really noticed that happening. I think having light air sheets may be more important. I am also curious about the headsail sock mentioned by Rick below. While I think it may be a good alternative, if you have a spare headsail halyard, I would have some doubts about how well those plastic zippers will hold up to UVs over time. If the zipper deteriorates, like most eventually do, you have to replace a really loooooooong zipper. Everything about boats is a tradeoff...
Loooong zipper
Proper way to do the loong zipper is under a flap. The zipper is not exposed to UV. The zigzag tension line should be pull tight to avoid the sock from chafing the sail. The sock is more work to pull up and take down but i found that it keeps better shape for light weight sail in light air.
Proper way to do the loong zipper is under a flap. The zipper is not exposed to UV. The zigzag tension line should be pull tight to avoid the sock from chafing the sail. The sock is more work to pull up and take down but i found that it keeps better shape for light weight sail in light air.
My choice would be a factor of the wind.
If you are in an area that always has at least a fair wind, go with sunbellla. If you are in an area that calm winds occur very frequently, use the UV dacron or the PVC as sacrificial UV protection. Hope that was a help. r.w.landau
If you are in an area that always has at least a fair wind, go with sunbellla. If you are in an area that calm winds occur very frequently, use the UV dacron or the PVC as sacrificial UV protection. Hope that was a help. r.w.landau
I had sunbrella
added to my 125 genoa. The sail never recovered in light air conditions. The shape is horrible and I have a new genoa being made with the dacron. We have winds from 5 kts to 40 kts to deal with and since my genoa is the power sail on my boat, I really need it in light air.
added to my 125 genoa. The sail never recovered in light air conditions. The shape is horrible and I have a new genoa being made with the dacron. We have winds from 5 kts to 40 kts to deal with and since my genoa is the power sail on my boat, I really need it in light air.
If you are just 'cruising' go with the Sunbrella......
dark sunbrella will be the longest lasting. If you are racing or are into 'performance sailing', go with dacron Insignia cloth ... adhesive backed, very light weight, easy to replace. Insignia cloth for me will last about 10 years before needing to be replaced.
dark sunbrella will be the longest lasting. If you are racing or are into 'performance sailing', go with dacron Insignia cloth ... adhesive backed, very light weight, easy to replace. Insignia cloth for me will last about 10 years before needing to be replaced.
I just went with the Dacron UV cover
I ordered a new Genoa this winter and went with the Dacron UV cover. My old Genoa has a sunbrella cover: It was too heavy in light winds. All the owners I talked with who had gone the Dacron route were happy. I's say the advice about your local wind conditions is probably the best to follow; if you get good winds all season long go with the sunbrella. Regarding longevity of the two materials. The Sunbrella on my old Genoa was in pretty good shape but the weight of the material had caused the sailcloth to weaken just in front of the sunbrella (I am talking the leech, not the foot); looks like when the sail was slack in light winds the heavier sunbrella must of created a "hinge" like pivoting motion that creased the dacron sail cloth justin front of the sunbrella. Eventually one day while sailing in strong winds I got a 15 foot vertical tear right up that weakened area.
I ordered a new Genoa this winter and went with the Dacron UV cover. My old Genoa has a sunbrella cover: It was too heavy in light winds. All the owners I talked with who had gone the Dacron route were happy. I's say the advice about your local wind conditions is probably the best to follow; if you get good winds all season long go with the sunbrella. Regarding longevity of the two materials. The Sunbrella on my old Genoa was in pretty good shape but the weight of the material had caused the sailcloth to weaken just in front of the sunbrella (I am talking the leech, not the foot); looks like when the sail was slack in light winds the heavier sunbrella must of created a "hinge" like pivoting motion that creased the dacron sail cloth justin front of the sunbrella. Eventually one day while sailing in strong winds I got a 15 foot vertical tear right up that weakened area.
I bought some Odysey III at the suggestion of
Oreana and it is looking pretty good. I plan on making a cover for my pop top. I put a swatch in the sun with half of it covered with a rock for 3 weeks. Looked at it the other day and there is absolutely no fading. Seems to have a nice waterproof backing to it as well. It was a fraction of the price of Sunbrella. Its a little thinner than Sunbrella but just as tough. Frank
Oreana and it is looking pretty good. I plan on making a cover for my pop top. I put a swatch in the sun with half of it covered with a rock for 3 weeks. Looked at it the other day and there is absolutely no fading. Seems to have a nice waterproof backing to it as well. It was a fraction of the price of Sunbrella. Its a little thinner than Sunbrella but just as tough. Frank
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