I've got 2500 miles on the sails of my 29.5, and I'm wondering if the main has stretched to the point of replacement. Nothing too visible except that the leech sags down a good 6 inches more than it used to, and my jury-rigged cunningham can pull the sail down a good 3 inches at the mast. Otherwise it looks okay but seems to have lost 1 full knot of power. So: (1) Should I just live with the cunningham even though it creates a luff at the foot? (2) Has any sailmaker successfully executed a "tummy tuck" on the main to take out stretch? (3) Or should I go for a new main? (4) If so, where? Thanks.
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Try HOW or Hunter Marine for sails..
..of discontinued boats' sails. I bought this way a full UK sails set for my 29,5 a year ago, for half the price of a new main alone. If going for a regular price-new maid sail- , I would go for a partial fully battened main, namely upper 2 fully battened,and lower 2 partial ones.It will help handeling and raising the sail . My mainsail is fine , with some more millage on it, except the luff rope has streched and has to be replaced ,to get the flat uncreased sail .I was told it's a common occurance after a time.And always make sure you don't tighten the haylards ( on both sails) more than needed ; that is a sure way to shorten their lives .
..of discontinued boats' sails. I bought this way a full UK sails set for my 29,5 a year ago, for half the price of a new main alone. If going for a regular price-new maid sail- , I would go for a partial fully battened main, namely upper 2 fully battened,and lower 2 partial ones.It will help handeling and raising the sail . My mainsail is fine , with some more millage on it, except the luff rope has streched and has to be replaced ,to get the flat uncreased sail .I was told it's a common occurance after a time.And always make sure you don't tighten the haylards ( on both sails) more than needed ; that is a sure way to shorten their lives .
Can be recut
I just bought a new main to replace the 23 year old original on my h27 from Doyle. The results were great! The sailmaker visited my boat to see the sails, and help me decide what to do. This is a basic service of a good loft. He did say that he often recuts/refurbishes sails for $150 to $250. In my case, this wasn't the right answer. The new main is great - easily more than 1 kt of drive in moderate winds, and a good 5 degrees less heel.
I just bought a new main to replace the 23 year old original on my h27 from Doyle. The results were great! The sailmaker visited my boat to see the sails, and help me decide what to do. This is a basic service of a good loft. He did say that he often recuts/refurbishes sails for $150 to $250. In my case, this wasn't the right answer. The new main is great - easily more than 1 kt of drive in moderate winds, and a good 5 degrees less heel.
almost new 29.5 main
Whitney's Marine in Orange Park, FL has an almost new 29.5 main, asking $450. Has a Dutchman system installed in it, which needs a little adjustment to work properly.
Whitney's Marine in Orange Park, FL has an almost new 29.5 main, asking $450. Has a Dutchman system installed in it, which needs a little adjustment to work properly.
I just replaced mine
I just replace my main and it made a big difference. My main was so blown that the boom hung a foot lower aft. I dont have a cunningham so I used a flatening reef to help some what. Also my wore out main caused a lot of excessive heel. I believe that you can have your sails recut but it wont be the same as a new one. There are some excellent articles on sail replacement at by Airforce Sails at sailnet.com. This is not a plug. I'm not suggesting you buy Airforce but they supply great information.
I just replace my main and it made a big difference. My main was so blown that the boom hung a foot lower aft. I dont have a cunningham so I used a flatening reef to help some what. Also my wore out main caused a lot of excessive heel. I believe that you can have your sails recut but it wont be the same as a new one. There are some excellent articles on sail replacement at by Airforce Sails at sailnet.com. This is not a plug. I'm not suggesting you buy Airforce but they supply great information.
2,500 miles doesn't sound like much for sail life
I sailed my Hunter Legend 37.5 16,000 miles before replacing both main and Genoa. The old sail material was so weak that the repaired seams would tear apart after a couple of daysails. 2,500 miles does not sound like you got your money's worth out of those sails.
I sailed my Hunter Legend 37.5 16,000 miles before replacing both main and Genoa. The old sail material was so weak that the repaired seams would tear apart after a couple of daysails. 2,500 miles does not sound like you got your money's worth out of those sails.
Depends
OEM sails will usually not last nearly as long as custom sails. If your sails were made in Hong Kong, there's a chance that 2,500 miles is about all the useful life you're going to get out of them. The UK main that came with my 410, a Hong Kong Special, had to be recut twice in the first two years I owned the boat. It has 3,600 nm on it now (minus whatever motoring I've done during the past two years) and the draft has moved aft noticably, which is what produces undue heel. I'll be lucky to get one more year out of it before I bite the bullet and have a real sail built. If a $150-200 recut can give you one more year out of the sail, is that worth it? Depends on what the new sail is going to cost you.
OEM sails will usually not last nearly as long as custom sails. If your sails were made in Hong Kong, there's a chance that 2,500 miles is about all the useful life you're going to get out of them. The UK main that came with my 410, a Hong Kong Special, had to be recut twice in the first two years I owned the boat. It has 3,600 nm on it now (minus whatever motoring I've done during the past two years) and the draft has moved aft noticably, which is what produces undue heel. I'll be lucky to get one more year out of it before I bite the bullet and have a real sail built. If a $150-200 recut can give you one more year out of the sail, is that worth it? Depends on what the new sail is going to cost you.
Taking Care
I got thirteen good years of hard west coast sailing out of my Johnson Sails (original in 1980) They are a structurally sound back up today...but remember that what wears your sails worst is not the miles but the sun and the flogging. I always wonder if those boats at anchor WITHOUT their sailcovers on realize the price they are paying.And keep and eye on your leeches so they don' flutter. It is easy to overlook the hidden top part of the jib leech. Pay attention to your sheet leeds and use your leech line when appropriate.
I got thirteen good years of hard west coast sailing out of my Johnson Sails (original in 1980) They are a structurally sound back up today...but remember that what wears your sails worst is not the miles but the sun and the flogging. I always wonder if those boats at anchor WITHOUT their sailcovers on realize the price they are paying.And keep and eye on your leeches so they don' flutter. It is easy to overlook the hidden top part of the jib leech. Pay attention to your sheet leeds and use your leech line when appropriate.
You could have your sail reconditioned
I purchased a 88 Legend 37 that had the original main. The sail was OK but not great. As you can expect it was a little dirty and not very stiff but it was usable. I probably could have gone through this season without replacing but would definately needed to replace next season. What I did was to send the sail to a company called Sail Care and they washed and re-resined the sail. They also put on new leathers and did some re-stitching. The sail came back looking like a new sail. I did buy a new jib and comparing the stiffness of each, it was almost impossible to determined which was the new sail. The people at Sale Care said the re-resining would last 3 to 4 years when it could be done again. The cost was $.85 cents a square foot. You decide where you would rather spend your money! I know I made the correct decision.
I purchased a 88 Legend 37 that had the original main. The sail was OK but not great. As you can expect it was a little dirty and not very stiff but it was usable. I probably could have gone through this season without replacing but would definately needed to replace next season. What I did was to send the sail to a company called Sail Care and they washed and re-resined the sail. They also put on new leathers and did some re-stitching. The sail came back looking like a new sail. I did buy a new jib and comparing the stiffness of each, it was almost impossible to determined which was the new sail. The people at Sale Care said the re-resining would last 3 to 4 years when it could be done again. The cost was $.85 cents a square foot. You decide where you would rather spend your money! I know I made the correct decision.
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