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From: Robert Gainer (no email)
Date: Tue Aug 10 2004 - 19:07:14 EDT
Bryan,
Thanks for the heads up on this. One of the most important things to me in
the choice of sailcloth is the hand. If it’s hard to handle and stiff, it’s
hard to reef when its cold out and you hands are wet and soft. I really hate
it when I tear off a fingernail or two. I can do sail repair and I try not
to cruise to windward so the shape and thread life is not that important to
me. It’s the life span and ease of handling that count. At one time Hood had
a very soft cloth for cruising sails, it was great to work with.
All the best,
Robert Gainer
>From: Bryan Genez <>
>Reply-To:
>To: <>
>Subject: Re: [world-cruising] tan sails ??? how to ?
>Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 18:56:27 -0400
>
>Robert Gainer wrote:
>
> > Is Kevlar and spectra a good choice for cruising sails now? I have only
>used
> > them on the racing boats. I always had the impression that they were
>somewhat
> > delicate and didn’t stand up to the rigors of offshore work.
>
>Depends on who you ask.
>
>Most sailmakers extol the benefits of high-tech sails for cruising. You'll
>see their ads in cruising magazines.
>
>Most of the folks I know who have spent the extra money for high-tech sails
>are happy with their purchase.
>
>Generally, high-tech sails do not stretch as much as dacron. They retain
>their shape, which makes them perform better for a longer time. But all
>laminate sails have one major problem...mildew. Every needle hole allows
>moisture and mildew penetration. Eventually, the laminate fails. When it
>fails, it's usually catastrophic, and not repairable.
>
>Dacron sails most often fail along seams, and can be repaired, at least
>long
>enough to make port and get another sail made.
>
>Bottom line: high-tech sails cost more, will out-perform Dacron for a
>longer
>period, but will probably fail at an earlier age than Dacron.
>
>Dacron sails cost less, will not perform as well, and will last somewhat
>longer than high-tech.
>
>FWIW: I know Spectra is commonly used in high-tech cruising sails. I am
>not
>aware of Kevlar or Carbon in cruising applications.
>
>--
>Best,
>
>Bryan Genez (KB3HMZ)
>"Capella" Valiant 40 #158
>Annapolis, MD
>
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