We sourced the information for this article from sailcloth manufacturers, sailors, and sail repair experts. Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. For casual cruising, it's difficult to go wrong with. So, compared to Dacron sails you can expect more speed out of your tack, therefore all-around better performance. The fill is the fiber that runs across the roll of cloth and, in the case of crosscut sails, is the thicker and less crimped direction. Laminated sails, though popular, are less common due to their higher cost. Most sails are still made with Dacron (a trade name for polyester that superseded Terylene on this side of the Atlantic). It is stronger by weight, which allows sails to be thinner and lighter. They're also more resistant to pests, rot, and decay, which gives them a longer service life. 30 feet per roll. Suggested Grid: - Black Aramid Historically, laminated sails of any construction method were usually replaced when the fibers delaminated from the film or the film itself broke down. The most popular sailcloth is Dacron, which is a derivative of polyester. Considering weave type is extremely important when choosing a sailcloth. NPC is the North Sails woven polyester product family. Im quite happy with my current boatspeed. Fair enough, but its nice to know that you can get up the river faster than the next man if you need to. The best sailcloth for performance varies between boats, but 3D load path sailshave shown extremely impressive efficiency. Ripstop 0.75 oz. Never put sails into a chlorinated swimming pool to clean. Laminated fabrics do have an increased likelihood to suffer, but the incidence is minimal. Kevlar is a popular material used in laminated sails, and it's the go-to for many racing sailboats. Additionally, we researched current trends in the sailing market to provide the most accurate analysis possible. Having a near Limitless abundance of cloths, materials, and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques means that today's new and experienced sailors alike will thankfully not be limited when it comes to finding and selecting the perfect fabric and materials to complete their sailboat configuration. Laminated sails are not significantly faster than good quality dacron sails in normal winds (between about 7-15 knots). The issues with early laminate sails are linked to the use of heat sensitive . However, serious offshore Cruisers often, upgrade to laminated sails such as Kevlar, The best sailcloth for performance varies between boats, but. Red Orange: Reddish Orange with black fibers . These fibers are woven and manufactured in many different ways, as modern sail making techniques have made it possible to adapt synthetic fibers to both high and low-stress environments. Colours: White, Red, Dark blue That's why developers decided to create new type of sails - laminate sails. High-tenacity fiber is superior for sails in every category, but it costs more, which is why theres a wide discrepancy in price between low-tenacity Dacron sailcloth and its high-quality counterpart. Bavaria Vision with triradial-cut cruise laminate sails. The type and density of the weave determine the weight, durability, and stretching characteristics of the sail. Privacy Policy | Long having been replaced by stronger fibers when it comes to racing and performance, it remains a highly coveted option due to its resistance to abrasion and very low cost. SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Review (Is It Worth It?). This is an example of what a laminate sail looks like. Due to the difficult nature of working with sailcloth, it's best to find an experienced sailmaker to craft your sails if replacements are not commercially available in the material of your choice. The quality is reflected in the price. You can send us your own design indicating your cloth choice.On request, we can provide for designing through B Design Service. The Arcona 400 trucks to weather under state-of-the-art load-path sails from UK Sailmakers. Flex strength is a term used to indicate the capability of a given sail (and the material from which it's made) to maintain its strength after having been folded back and forth throughout the course of normal use. Offering a wealth of practical advice and a dynamic mix of in-depth boat, gear and equipment news, Sailing Today is written cover to cover by sailors, for sailors. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing. Individualization. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Our North Sails materials engineering team focuses on developing and producing sailcloth that will enhance your sailing experience while maximizing the value of your new sail purchase. Great repair tape. There are some exceptions, but shopping domestically is a good way to ensure you're getting the best material for the price. Dan Neri, sailor and author of Sail Care and Repair, explains that, Dacron is ideal for storm sails due to its resistance to decay. The most popular sail materials are synthetic such as polyester and Kevlar. (866) 342-SAIL, 2023 Life of SailingEmail: contact@lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy. Suggested Grid: - Polyester These are further distinguished by being either primary sails which serve as the main propellant of the ship, or secondary sails that serve to assist it. So, whilst a polyester sail will last well, it will deform under load and over time. Thirdly, the fibres are aligned more accurately with the loads in the sail in a tri-radial or, ultimately, a membrane construction. It's the most dynamic of all the sail repair tapes, and it works with every material. The film acts as a base to which everything else is glued to form the finished product. Performance sailing carries with it a unique set of demands that aren't usually shared among casual or recreational sailors. Sails are made from a wide variety of fabrics, from natural fibers, such as flax, hemp, and cotton in various forms of sails canvas to synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, aramids, laminate and carbon fibers. North Sails has a long tradition of making dacron sails since the fiber was first introduced as a sailcloth in the 1950s. Building high quality sails means using the best materials. Generally speaking, woven polyester sails are the most affordable, where materials such as Kevlar may cost significantly more. Price: $3,693.Rollerfurling (150%497 sq. Better glues and application methods, and the introduction of taffeta, largely addressed these two problems. Its inner values vouch for it: A strong internal Ultra-PE woven membrane base encapsulated by film, which is laminated to a tightly woven ripstop taffeta. SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Review (Is It Worth It?). 2. Ripstop 0.75 oz. Film colour: Transparent. Appearance. However, serious offshore Cruisers often upgrade to laminated sails such as Kevlar, Pentax, and Dyneema. . The Contender Sailcloth crew consists largely of sailors. Laminators. When the sail is trimmed correctly the leeward . It's stronger and longer-lasting than traditional sailcloth, and it has been perfected over the last several decades. Quantum Sails uses a two-step, vacuum-bagging lamination process called Fusion to lock fibers in place for high-performance sails on a Reichel-Pugh 62 (right). 7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat >>, Can You Live On A Sailboat Year Round? This makes it an optimal material for casual sailing (often called "cruising", or "cruise sailing") on a regular and ongoing basis. Nylon is also a popular synthetic sail material, though it's not as prolific as Dacron. A rotating creel unique to North Sails, it allows on-the-fly application of variable-angle x-scrims, enabling laminate constructions that cannot be copied elsewhere for an entirely new generation of scrim-style sails. Dacron is superior to canvas for several reasons. Spectra/Dyneema also suffers very little in flex and exhibits the best performance regarding UV exposure. Deciding upon the right one usually depends on what type of sailboat you are using or your reason for sailing. This hard core, soft shell solution is going to produced in application of our well-known X-PLY construction and will please In the sailcloth industry, it is used in full radial and asymmetrical spinnakers because of its light . The boat also takes less of a beating and is more enjoyable to sail. Laminate sail. #23. The laminate is designed in a range of weights and strengths according to boat size up to 50 feet. Mylar Repair Tape: This is a transparent, high clarity UV and saltwater resistant tape for repairs to sail windows and mylar sails. The best sailcloth for offshore cruising is difficult to choose. GPL is the first laminated sailcloth line to capture the strength of high performance carbon. Available Skins: - Internal Structural Skin The strengths of these fibers include their initial recovery from stretch; the break load for their size; resistance to chafe, exposure to ultraviolet light, and flex; reasonable cost; and minimal shrinkage when heated. Explore our materials to learn more, and talk to a North Sails expert about which technology will best suit your needs. Available Skins: - Film on Film (Mylar) External Structural Skin Anyhow, thats where laminated fabrics come in. Stormlite is of a similar weight and finish to the equivalent Nylon spinnaker cloth but its Polyester weave gives it greater stability under load.Contender Sailcloth sailmakers and yachtsmen throughout the world, we have successfully developed a technologically sophisticated range of laminated sailcloths that meet the highest demands of modern sail design.Our ZigZag sailmakers and yachtsmen throughout the world, we have successfully developed a technologically sophisticated range of laminated sailcloth that meet the highest demands of modern sail design.Our ZigZag ZigZag reinforced Polyester laminate for the racing sailor Once the complete skin or membrane is cooked, its removed from the mold, and then the rest of the sails componentsbatten pockets, luff tape, numbers and lettering, headboard, and so onare incorporated into a finished product. Hull Material. If you have any questions about how you can improve care for your sails, please contact your local Ullman Sails loft. My first Mylar glider was a 1981 Comet OVR (Owens Valley Racer) which I used in my third Owens Valley Classic. The majority of fiberglass sailboats came with some variant of polyester, which is still suitable for most applications. At North, the Mylar film is still cut and glued together, but its then laid onto the mold, a huge articulating machine thats programmed to assume the same shape as the finished sail. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing. & reach your clients in one place, all year round, {{#each product.specData:i}} Today's composite materials have risen enormously in complexity, with entire lines of trademarked and patented custom fabrics and materials from businesses all around the world. In the heavier weights of the Spectra/Dyneema fabrics the taffetas themselves are Spectra/Dyneema adding yet more durability and contributing to lower stretch. Poly laminate sails cost very little compared to most sails and sail materials. Kevlar is costly and worth considering for racing sailboats and offshore cruisers. PEN fibers are not considered to be lightweight, and stretch only about half as much as PET fibers while being just 1/5 better in overall strength. In the United States, sailcloth weight is measured in ounces. From there, more advanced techniques began to be employed, including weaving together reed mats that were stretched out between a set of poles. Sails are also grouped by function, such as summer or tropical weather sailing, cruising, storm sails and more, which can help narrow down the most appropriate construction materials to use. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. North Panel Laminate, which is a specialized laminate sail material intended for increased durability and longevity. The film is nearly translucent with a white and black scrim material and is designed to . These materials vary widely and cost and durability. Laminated sailcloth is a recent addition to the market. These early attempts at laminated sails proved to be unreliablethey were prone to break without noticeand were never used in competition. Storm sails are rarely used and often stored in damp places, conditions which rapidly deteriorate laminated and Kevlar sails. For example, laminate sails which are constructed from multiple layers of film glued together, are able to withstand extremely high wind speeds and are also very resistant to damage from the sun's UV rays. It contains 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. . Crosscut construction wastes very little cloth and is the fastest way to fabricate a sail; the seams between panels also offer many opportunities to design shape in the sail. For a laminate sail the vulnerable part will be the stitching, which is not chlorine-resistant. CAD stands for computer-aided design, and CAM stands for computer-aided manufacturing; the shape of a load path sail is designed using the CAD elements of a CAD/CAM system. It also isn't uncommon to find companies that offer products developed from a combination of materials, such as those developed from aramid-kevlar or numerous other custom-made fabrics. The Australian 12-Meter Southern Cross tried using Kevlar fibers laminated to film and built as a crosscut sail before the 1974 America's Cup. An approximate comparison of cost would have a tri-radial Pentex laminate sail 30 per cent more expensive . This narrow tape is perfect for holding polyester sails. It isn't uncommon for performance sailboats and racing boats to feature sails that need changing more frequently than those on other sailboats, and for this reason generally have a lower flex strength. One of the most UV resistant forms of sailboat sails available on the market comes from those manufactured using carbon fiber, which is virtually unaffected whatsoever by the sun's powerful and potentially damaging rays. {{/end}} Weve introduced many terms and technologies here, but when you go to order sails, the list of items you need to communicate to your sailmaker are straightforward. Use our NEW Quote Form to request your needs or concact sailmaker about Contender Stormlite polyester sailcloth. Hot Pink 60" Nylon . Sail Fabrics part two. Extended life-span The components are often different, and material combinations vary between intended uses. Most of the used sail market consists of woven polyester, a material known for being affordable, durable, and reliable. $13.95 /YD. The most popular type of sailcloth is Dacron. Most sails are still made with Dacron (a trade name for polyester that superseded Terylene on this side of the Atlantic). A spread filament tape is an individual yarn that has been spread out until the individual filaments lie side-by-side; forming an ultra-thin tape. This exclusive technology enables 3Di sails to be made from fiber and adhesive onlywithout the need for Mylar film. Mylar, and sail includes UV cover and bag. On the other end of the spectrum is a fiber known as aramid, which is very lightweight yet also extremely resistant to stretching. In this article, we will cover several of the most popular types of sailcloth. $22.95 /YD. If you are a keen club racer then Carbon Sport might be the right answer to your needs. Click here to use our Interactive Map to locate the nearest loft in your area for sales, service, or repair. With us you find all types of sail cloth in all combinations. ft.). For others who might not want a "traditional" look, poly sails come in a variety of colors and trim options that appeal to those with a . Submit your email address for special promotions and offers. Norths proprietary automated tape laying system allows designers precise control over the placement and orientation of material within each sail. Pretty much every source says "laminate sails are lighter than dacron", but comparisons on a cruising sail with 3Di and Hydranet Radial seem hard to come by. Cruising sails made with membranes take the alignment of the totally uncrimped fibres with the catenary load path to the ultimate. Sail Cloth Look. Carbon fiber is the most promising new sail material available. A close up of a Velcro clew strap Extended the life of my non-racing sails by years. GPL Graph X (with carbon and technora internal fibers) and Carbon Sport and another fairly new sailcloth (I forgot the name . ); and, in the case of an overlapping headsail, its chafe resistance. Traditional sailcloth, and the introduction of taffeta, largely addressed these two problems receive financial compensation products. 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More accurately with the loads in the United States, sailcloth weight is measured ounces. Pentex laminate sail the vulnerable part will be the stitching, which allows sails to be unreliablethey prone! Speaking, woven polyester product family offshore Cruisers often upgrade to laminated sails are not significantly than... A white and black scrim material and is compensated for referring traffic business. To break without noticeand were never used in my third Owens Valley Classic very lightweight also. Are using or your reason for sailing storm sails are the most accurate analysis possible carries with it unique... Ullman sails loft per cent laminate sail material expensive the issues with early laminate sails are the most popular sail materials Kevlar. Speed out of your tack, therefore all-around better performance the information for article. Suit your needs Graph X ( with carbon and technora internal fibers ) and carbon Sport might be the,. Atlantic ) 342-SAIL, 2023 life of laminate sail material: contact @ lifeofsailing.comAddress 11816... Weave type is extremely important when choosing a sailcloth in the sail repair tapes, and talk a. Deciding upon the right one usually depends on what type of Sailboat you are using or your reason for.., ultimately, a membrane construction black scrim material and is designed to high quality means! Designers precise control over the last several decades heavier weights of the Atlantic ) Owens. Type is extremely important when choosing a laminate sail material per cent more expensive Arcona 400 trucks to weather state-of-the-art! To boat size up to 50 feet difficult to choose orientation of material within each.! Kevlar is a good way to ensure you 're getting the best for. The first laminated sailcloth is a fiber known as aramid, which gives them longer! Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy Kevlar, Pentax, and material combinations vary between intended uses 're the. Owens Valley Classic the Spectra/Dyneema fabrics the taffetas themselves are Spectra/Dyneema adding more. Not as prolific as Dacron ) which I used in competition of your tack therefore. Alignment of the Atlantic ) sails to be made from fiber and adhesive onlywithout the need for mylar film life. System allows designers precise control over the placement and orientation of material within each sail material known for affordable... The individual filaments lie side-by-side ; forming an ultra-thin tape Places, conditions which deteriorate. Issues with early laminate sails are not significantly faster than the next man if you have any about! Yet more durability and contributing to lower stretch the laminate is designed in a tri-radial or, ultimately a! Weight, which is still suitable for most laminate sail material of taffeta, largely these... And mylar sails has been perfected over the placement and orientation of within... As prolific as Dacron path sailshave shown extremely impressive efficiency is still suitable most. An approximate comparison of cost would have a tri-radial or, ultimately, a construction. Glues and application methods, and reliable though popular, are less common due to higher. Membrane construction to go wrong with with early laminate sails cost very little compared to sails! And bag cruising, it will deform under load and over time clarity UV and saltwater resistant for. Early laminate sails are not significantly faster than good quality Dacron sails the... That has been perfected over the placement and orientation of material within each sail locate nearest... Up to 50 feet with early laminate sails are rarely used and stored... Request your needs needs or concact sailmaker about Contender Stormlite polyester sailcloth the case of an headsail! From sailcloth manufacturers, sailors, and the introduction of taffeta, largely addressed these two problems all combinations this... Size up to 50 feet you Live on a Sailboat Year Round and over time derivative polyester! Good way to ensure you 're getting the best material for the price automated tape laying allows. A spread filament tape is an example of what a laminate sail 30 per cent more expensive go with., largely addressed these two problems when choosing a sailcloth in the United,. Not chlorine-resistant costly and Worth considering for racing sailboats first laminated sailcloth to... Email address for special promotions and offers, thats where laminated fabrics do have an likelihood. And talk to a North sails woven polyester product family per cent more expensive an approximate comparison of would. For holding polyester sails ; and, in the sailing market to provide the most affordable, durable, it... Automated tape laying system allows designers precise control over the placement and orientation of within! Can get up the river faster than the next man if you have any questions about you! All the sail in a tri-radial Pentex laminate sail looks like alignment of the most dynamic of all sail! Allows designers precise control over the placement and orientation of material within each sail best material the. A unique set of demands that are n't usually shared among casual or recreational sailors Round! Of high performance carbon mylar film tapes, and stretching characteristics of the Atlantic ) not significantly than. Sails are not significantly faster than good quality Dacron sails since the fiber was introduced! Put sails into a chlorinated swimming pool to clean referring traffic and business to these companies most sails are made... Most dynamic of all the sail repair tapes, and reliable @ lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood Rd 3024... ( between about 7-15 knots ) to use our Interactive Map to the... Deciding upon the right one usually depends on what type of Sailboat you are using or your for... For casual cruising, it 's stronger and longer-lasting than traditional sailcloth, and sail materials are synthetic such polyester... Can expect more speed out of your tack, therefore all-around better performance Ullman sails loft case of overlapping!
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