Kevlar/Mylar Mainsail

[Sony2000]

I'm hopfull of finding a used mainsail in Mylar of Kevlar, with a 30-32' luff, and a 9' foot.

[sastanley]

Sony, On the East Coast, Bacon's in Annapolis is the place to go.

The only problem with a used laminate sails is that they are usually pretty trashed & sometimes not even fit for a dropcloth..but not always.

One piece of advice might be to use sailboatdata.com to find a couple of popular boats with nearly identical rig dimensions so you can maybe do some digging and research availability of sails that way. It is a lot easier to say to most people, 'I am looking for a kevlar main that is similar in size to a Melges 24', than give dimensions.

I know in smaller boats like the Lightning, the top sailors buy a new set of sails for a big regatta, and then sell them to us club racers with 10-15 races on them & they are still in almost new shape. I am sure they do similar in other classes.


edit - incidentally, here is the P & E for a J/24, so we are getting close: (The Melges has a 12' boom.)
P: 28.00' / 8.53m
E: 9.75' / 2.97m

here is another close one - an Olson 25:
P: 28.00' / 8.53m
E: 10.00' / 3.05m

Closer still - Catalina 27 Tall Rig:
P: 29.70' / 9.05m
E: 9.70' / 2.96m

[JOHN COOKSON]

There is also Mindey's (spelling?) on the west coast. They have a good selection of used sails.
CAUTION: Used sails are sold by their fully stretched working dimensions.
THE STORY:
A comedy of errors.
I needed a new jib so the crew and I got the old on the jib on the dock, got the tape measure out and measured it. The only jib I could find on line was 3" too long in the hoist. I bought it anyway thinking I would have take it to the sail maker and have the hoist shortened. When I received the sail I ran it up with the halyard winch and the hoist was just perfect! I finally figured out what was going on: The stretched hoist on the old and new jib were the same!

TRUE GRIT

[sastanley]

John, also on older sails, if they have a bolt rope of some sort, those like to shrink as they age, requiring more tension to stretch them out again..

[systemek]

There is also Mindey's (spelling?) on the west coast. They have a good selection of used sails.
CAUTION: Used sails are sold by their fully stretched working dimensions.
THE STORY:
A comedy of errors.
I needed a new jib so the crew and I got the old on the jib on the dock, got the tape measure out and measured it. The only jib I could find on line was 3" too long in the hoist. I bought it anyway thinking I would have take it to the sail maker and have the hoist shortened. When I received the sail I ran it up with the halyard winch and the hoist was just perfect! I finally figured out what was going on: The stretched hoist on the old and new jib were the same!

TRUE GRIT

I think you mean, Minney's Yacht Surplus
Inventory can be viewed online at http://www.minneysyachtsurplus.com/

[sastanley]

By the way Sony..if you don't mind me asking, why are you specifying a laminate sail? At that aspect ratio, a nice stiff cross-cut dacron will hold its shape just as well for probably longer if there is enough resin in the cloth and it is rolled after use.

Much cheaper to construct cross-cut sails than tri-radial laminates too. The labor for a small tri-radial is not much of a difference compared to a larger sail with all the panels that have to be sewn together.

Full disclosure..I used to work in a loft way way back. I am no expert at anything, but I have a little knowledge to back up my opinions.

In the end, you gotta be happy with your purchase, I am just trying to get more background out of you regarding why you want a laminate sail.

[dvd]

Also Sony the laminate sails are usually designed for fairly heavy air and although they always look great are not so good in lighter air. So unless you consistently sail in about 18 mph and higher I would recommend a white sail.

dvd

[smosher]

Laminate sails are difficult to get rid of the mildew between the layers

Steve

[Dave Neptune]

Minnies swap meet

Guys, Minnies is having their anual swap meet this weekend sunday starting at O-dark thirty in the wee hours.

The deals are gone soon so if you looking for a bargain go early. There will be probably at least 30+ booths.

I will be working the Corsair Yacht Clubs booth so drop by if your there and say howdy.

Dave Neptune

[Sony2000]

Thanks for the great replies. Where I"m at is my large gennie is Kevlar, the hull is burgandy, and my main is white Dacron, unused, with a big T27 in the middle. It will look odd on a C&C 29. So I have a Tanzer 27 owner wishing to buy the T27 main, and if I switch to a liminate main the boat, as a whole, will look more like a package. Buying directly from the owners, costs less and lowers the risk for me. I can use the mains of C&C 27s Mk lll or lV, because my 29 is one of the first made and has a trunk cabin. Over 6' inside. On the C&Cs most of the power for racing is from the genoa, compared to the mainsail. This is a long shot, but you never know.

[TomG]

Guys, Minnies is having their anual swap meet this weekend sunday starting at O-dark thirty in the wee hours.

The deals are gone soon so if you looking for a bargain go early. There will be probably at least 30+ booths.

I will be working the Corsair Yacht Clubs booth so drop by if your there and say howdy.

Dave Neptune

Dave, I've got a long LAX layover tomorrow so I'm toying with the idea of renting a car and driving down to Minney's. I'll look for you at the Corsiar booth! I owe you several beverages for all your help over the last year and half. I hope I can repay you.

[systemek]

Guys, Minnies is having their anual swap meet this weekend sunday starting at O-dark thirty in the wee hours.

The deals are gone soon so if you looking for a bargain go early. There will be probably at least 30+ booths.

I will be working the Corsair Yacht Clubs booth so drop by if your there and say howdy.

Dave Neptune

Thanks for the heads up on this. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it this time around, which is too bad as we are in the market for new sails.......cheers!

[Dave Neptune]

Tume check

Tom, we won't be set up until sunday in the wee hours.

Minnies may still be a good stop even if it is tomorrow for your lay-over. Or is the lay-over for the weekend. If so I may take you up on the beer. Remember to "SAVE THE ALES" from extended shelf life whenever possible.

I've run across many A-4 parts at the anual swap meet and I may look for a H/X, not a misprint Hanley & Shawn .

Dave Neptune

[sastanley]

I've run across many A-4 parts at the anual swap meet and I may look for a H/X, not a misprint Hanley & Shawn .

Dave Neptune

- holy cow!

Any luck?

[brucewayne]

I suggest you to visit fareastsails.com; they provide best quality mainsail which are made up of premium sailcloth produced by Challenge, Contender, and Bainbridge. So check it out!