Time for new sails?

Calif. Ted · Jun 27, 2011

Jared, in the past such work has been about $600 to get a headsail cleaned, repaired/restiched and a new "Sunband" or sacrificial layer. The exposed part when furled is 2 layers, 1 layer is sail, the other is the one exposed and is either a piece of white dacron sailcloth (life~3 years) or a piece of colored Sunbrella fabric about 6 years if the thread lasts.

Joe Diver · Jun 27, 2011

Try Sail Care?

I've heard lots of good things about them...seem to be reasonably priced. I'm going to send them my sails at some point.

LuzSD · Jun 27, 2011

Jared, we had the same thing propel us into getting a new headsail a couple years ago.
I'll start off telling you that our friends just had their headsail restitched and it is just fine, don't know what the cost was but I doubt it was terrible. If they chose not to get an upgraded sail in the next couple years, I am sure the stitchinng will last for quite a few years of heavy use. I wouldn't hesitate if this is the way you need to go.

We ended up going with Northsails also and got a really good price for the Norlam sail we ended up with (our opinion.) Out of curiosity, what were you quoted? We have been really happy with our new one, and could have gone alot cheaper with a couple other options.

BobM · Jun 27, 2011

Sailcare

Joe Diver said:
Try Sail Care?

I've heard lots of good things about them...seem to be reasonably priced. I'm going to send them my sails at some point.

Not only that but they do repairs cheap and re-resin the sail too. My friend had his full battened main done for his Freedom 28 and was quite happy.

Aside from that, where is the damage? I had a horizontal tear in the sun cover on my genoa and my Wife stitched it up in a jiffy using a standard Kenmore machine and the correct thread V92 we got from sailrite. It wouldn't penetrate the leach itself though, as was it too thick for the machine. Is your damage in the luff (forward) or leach (aft) of the sail?

As far as the pinholes go, better at least apply some sail tape for now until you can get it repaired.

Crisp? You wouldn't believe how crisp my five year old North main is compared to a fifteen year old CDI 130! You have to fight to flake / fold it.

Calif. Ted · Jun 27, 2011

Have you priced a Doyle sail from the loft on this site?

higgs · Jun 27, 2011

If you have a sail that is from '85 you can be assured it is time to replace it. I would steer clear of a re-resin job. What good does it do if the sail is already stretched out and mis-shaped?

Steve Dion · Jun 27, 2011

SBO.com has Main & Jibs starting under $1,500 EACH.

http://shop.hunterowners.com/detail-sails.htm?cart=1309232564373315&bid=1564&next=2

Ray Bowles · Jun 27, 2011

Maine Sail wrote an articule about the firm he uses to buy sails from and I think it is well worth your time to visit that piece.
I have bought new sails from both Doyle and Ullman. I was very happy with the quality, service and price from each. North builds very fine products and makes them available in many ranges of quality and price.
It all depends your wallet and how you sail. Visit Musings with Maine Sail. I think it will go along way towards answering your question.
Ray

SchwarckT · Jun 28, 2011

Jared1048 said:
My head sail is starting to lose its stitching on the leech of the sail where its out in the elements while furled up. One spot its started to tear a little. If I had to guess I'd say its 10+ years old. The main is in a little better shape but has some pin holes in it toward the mast head. The main still feels crisp though. I'm 99% sure its the original sail that came with the boat in 85.

I got a quote from North Sails and it’s a going to be a small investment to get new sails. I just bought the boat so am strapped for cash but what are your experiences with getting them re-stitched? How much does it cost and how much life did it add? Decent used sails hard to find?

Any recommended sail lofts in the Pacific Northwest?

Cheers,
-Jared

After having had old sails reconditioned, I decided that it's a better deal to spend the money on new sails.

higgs · Jun 28, 2011

The Sail Warehouse may be a good source for some used sails.

Sanfelice · Jun 28, 2011

You don't mention the primary use of your boat. It would appear that it is primarily day sailing or cruising since the sails are 10 years old. I have used Sail Care and they do make an old sail look like new. The key word here is "look". If the sail is 10 years old it most likely has lost its shape and has more defects than you might initially see. IMO,Sail Care is good for newer sails to keep them more stable over the years.

The quotes you received from North are for some pretty high tech sails which for, your intended purposes, seem like overkill. I would suggest that you look at the sail loft on this site to get a good idea what a sail would cost for your boat. I can't comment on theses sails from personal experience but the reviews have been very good. My last sails were purchased from Mack sails in Stuart Florida which I have been very pleased with. North also has a divison called Cruising Direct which provides sails for the purpose as mentoned in its name if you want a sail made ( more correctly contractd through North) by North. Do some homework and get price quotes from a variety of lofts. Often, if you buy a head sail and main as a package, you can get a better deal. Also boat shows are a place to cut a deal.

WayneH · Jun 28, 2011

My genoa suncover came unravelled recently. The local sail loft quoted us $800 to come down to the boat, remove the sail, repair it and reinstall it. The wife and I took it down ourselves and dropped it off with them. $93 and a week later, the suncover had been resewn to the genoa and we re-installed it.

The loft said the sail itself was in good condition and the suncover had just come undone and did not need replacing.

RichH · Jun 28, 2011

Restitching a sail is an easy and cost effective remedy.

If the suncover fabric has been burned by UV and is 'falling apart' then its best to simply replace the entire 'cover'. Sunbrella is the most UV stable cover material but weighs a lot; lightweight 'insignia cloth' is not as heavy but only lasts 5-6 years. Sunbrella is now offering a 'lighter weight' fabric especially made for sail 'sun covers'.
When 'restitiching' a sun cover consider to spend the extra $$$ and use Goretex "Tenara" PTFE thread - totally stable vs. UV, unlike polyester thread which is very vulnerable to UV. If cost is a factor then choose a 'dark' (black, navy) polyester thread as it withstands UV degradation much better than 'white' thread.

Joe Diver · Jun 28, 2011

Jared1048 said:
Sail prices for a new genny were as follows (Mains had similar prices)
7oz 4800 Dacron - $3,245
#1 NorDac All Purpose - $3,563
Nordac Radian #1 All Purpose - $4,085
3DL (race) - $5416

Holy Cow!!! What, are those some kind of high tech racing sails?

I know there will be a jump in price between my 25' and your 31' boat, but a new main for mine is $800 and genny's range from $600 to $1500 depending on size....and that is from Catalina rather than a loft....so, probably not hight tech racing sails, but my little weekend camper slug doesn't need them anyway.

thinwater · Jun 28, 2011

+1 to replacing the sun cover. Sunbrella this time.

Many sails have a thin white cover, which is a poor choise for cruisers; it doesn't last like Sunbrella.

Though you must not be too familiar with sails, the rip is almost certainly just in the cover. Does it apear to go clear through?

A new cover is not cheap, but it is common. Typically some other repairs are done a the same time.

Steve Dion · Jun 28, 2011

Joe Diver:

The difference is square footage. The more sq. ft you have the more the sail will cost. Smaller boat - smaller sail. Larger boat - larger sail.

Yes there is a price to pay for having a larger boat.

Joe · Jun 28, 2011

Steve Dion said:
Joe Diver:

..................

Yes there is a price to pay for having a larger boat.

Yep..... you'd have to work the term "exponential" into this discussion. heh, heh.

PaulK · Jun 28, 2011

Before spending money on an old sail that you have to know has pretty much had it, check out prices for used sails. We found someone who had gotten a new suit just before a hurricane destroyed his boat. He was happy to sell for less than half what he paid. We got a great deal. There are a lot of H31's around, and probably lots of sails less than 5 years old that don't need repairs that you could pick up for next to nothing.