Generally speaking, higher weight sailcloth is more durable but also heavier. The quality of the Dacron is governed by the tenacity of the yarn used and the tightness of the weave. As a result, gone are the days where delamination was the rule rather than the exception, and today, assuming quality laminates are used, you can be reasonably sure that even sophisticated sails will last a long time and give excellent service as well. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Laminated sailcloth is a recent addition to the market. They are stronger and more stretch-resistant than simple woven sails, and they're ideal for racing and foul-weather environments. These load-path sails thus combine making the sail with making the fabric, as both occur at the same time. 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. 5. Make your own sails and much more with high-performance sailcloth sold by the yard from Sailrite's excellent selection. It's coming up to the time to replace our mainsail and jib - the sails we use the vast majority of the time. It is susceptible to stretching over time, is UV resistant and relatively inexpensive. Spectra/Dyneema also suffers very little in flex and exhibits the best performance regarding UV exposure. Laminated sailcloth is a higher-quality alternative to materials such as Dacron. As a former sail consultant for Hood Sails, I know that when it comes to new sails, cost is a primary concern for many sailors. {{/end}} This material is a durable and tightly-woven polyester fabric, and it has been used for decades successfully in almost all conditions. */, Cruising Keelboat and Multihull Sail Care, Spinnaker Cloth Sail Care (Nylon and Polyester), Sports Boat and One Design Keelboat Sail Care, Sports Boat and One Design Keelboat Sails. Hull Material. It all started with our extremely successful PX Polyester warp oriented fabrics. Additionally, we researched current trends in the sailing market to provide the most accurate analysis possible. >>. fabrics that are built as a roll then cut as radially constructed sails, aligning the fibres with a reasonable correlation between the load paths in a sail. Something went wrong while submitting the form. For casual cruising, it's difficult to go wrong with. Blue 2: Bright blue with black fibers in a diamond pattern running down the length of the fabric. With laminate sails, there are many more components to the cloth, and sailmakers market their products under different names, which can be confusing. Sailcloth comes in numerous synthetic materials, arrangements, weights, and weaves. (866) 342-SAIL, 2023 Life of SailingEmail: contact@lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy. The fibers in a scrim are assembled in combinations of angles in relation to each other and with different degrees of separations between the fibers. Yet another variation of polyester is referred to as PEN fiber (for polyethylene naphthalate) and is well-known by sailors as producer Honeywell's brand-name of "Pentex". Laminate Sail Tape . Understanding Laminate Sail Materials. Dacron sails are made from polyester fiber, which exhibits two primary sets of engineering properties: either high or low tenacity. Price varies significantly between materials and manufacturing processes. Finally, as you pointed out, fabric covers on laminate sails are a problem. Fuel. The original sail on this 2009 T2C had a little under 500 hours before it de-laminated. One of the most common choices is nylon, which is usually quite cheap, fairly lightweight, and boasts a surprising amount of strength. GPL is the first laminated sailcloth line to capture the strength of high performance carbon. North Sails has been manufacturing exclusive cloth in our Sri Lanka facility since 2010. This offers mildew protection for up to five years and additionally makes the sail slippery and able to furl tighter, particularly useful on in-mast furling sails. . 33 g/m. Two fundamental ways exist to make the laminate sail fabric. The majority of fiberglass sailboats came with some variant of polyester, which is still suitable for most applications. Fairly transparent, medium weight. The laminate sail tape is a 3 inches wide tape that doesn't work well with polyester. Nylon can be very durable, while also offering a formidable amount of protection against UV rays. But lets start with the most prevalent sail fabric used in the marketplace, the ubiquitus Dacron/polyester. North Panel Laminate sailcloth is produced using the most advanced laminator in the world. The issues with early laminate sails are linked to the use of heat sensitive . When producing this cloth, the fill is pre-tensioned in the weaving process, and each strand of yarn is kept relatively short, since the width of a roll of cloth measures, at most, 6 feet. Depending on the quality and there are many styles and qualities a sail made in polyester will generally be reliable and last a long time. While this is a very typical choice among recreational and casual sailors, when it comes to more demanding needs, the fabrics and materials can get as exotic as kevlar, mylar, or carbon instead. Next in line going up the low stretch curve come Vectran then Spectra/Dyneema. How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England? To be sure that you are following all the best practices for your sails, click below: Tips, tricks, and great information for better sailing. Jul 21, 2022 | By Ralph. The fibers and the rest of the components are laid onto the film on the mold using computer-controlled tooling. Alternatively, some lofts are now creating the laminate fabric as they manufacture the sail. UK Sailmakers. Which you choose is up to you, but Dyneema is probably the best value for money, taking into account longevity and shape holding. It's durable, affordable, and extremely easy to work with. On the other hand, the warpthe thread thats woven through the fillmight measure a couple of hundred feet in length. Organic sailcloth is generally only found on tall ships and classic vessels whose owners are keen on originality. Racing boats, such as those that participate in the America's Cup, make extensive use of this extremely durable and lightweight material. Carbon fiber is the most promising new sail material available. 21 Jul 2015. This can cause steering to become more difficult while also impacting the shape and effectiveness of the sail. Storm cells are almost always made of Dacron, despite the availability of other materials such as Kevlar. Incredibly, the threshold for many high-performance racing laminates is measured in hours. . A Bonnier LLC Company. Double Internal Taffeta In addition to price, other criteria sailors should consider are durability, over time or miles; ease of handling when flaking; in some instances, the sails weight (can the owner, if necessary, move it around on deck? After all, weve all missed a tide or been too late for last orders. Laminated sails are not significantly faster than good quality dacron sails in normal winds (between about 7-15 knots). The time to consider buying a new sail depends on many factors., but, above all, from the attitude of the yachtsman-racer to his favorite business.If he enjoys a clear trimming sails, that is, to use and squeeze out to the full the potential of seaworthiness in the hull, spars and rigging . Very good Service: shipped same day as ordered, exceeded my expectation. Suggested Grid: - Polyester LAMINATE: Fabric constructed from layers of film, scrim and/or taffeta flued together under high pressure and/or heat to form a composite sail material. . Available Fibers: - High Modulus Polyester 3. The new x-ply laminate material utilizes a Spectra yarn. Woven sail material is made by weaving threads over and under each other to produce the sail material. We wont go into the finer points of how a polyester sail works under load, but suffice it to say that by the nature of any woven fabric theres an initial crimp takeup that, combined with the relatively high stretch of the polyester fibres themselves, gives a sail thats durable but stretchy. 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. It is stronger by weight, which allows sails to be thinner and lighter. The cost difference between a value cloth and a premium one, both from the same supplier, can be significant, close to 100 percent for some 8-ounce Dacron sail fabric that Ive seen ($7 per yard versus nearly $15 per yard). Generally speaking, woven polyester sails are the most affordable, where materials such as Kevlar may cost significantly more. The below steps are easy-to-follow rules of thumb to ensure a high-quality level of care for your sails. PET, short for polyethylene terephthalate, is the number-one most common fiber used in the world of sailing today. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. It's hard to argue that we've come a very long way from the early days of the vikings, who set sail across Iceland and Scandinavia in the 19th century using sails made of wool. . EPEX is our membrane cloth. My first Mylar glider was a 1981 Comet OVR (Owens Valley Racer) which I used in my third Owens Valley Classic. For a laminate sail the vulnerable part will be the stitching, which is not chlorine-resistant. Our Suggestions - Upwind sails The material used in a sailboat sail is commonly referred to as "sailcloth" and can be woven, spun, or even molded into place (as with laminates). To be sure that you are following all the best practices for your sails, click below: Keelboat and Multihull Cruising Sails; Medium/big Paneled sails can be sold as Cut Only or Complete Sail. The most common types of sailcloth weave are the D4 Load Path weave, the DCX Dacron weave, the square weave, the Hydra Net weave, and the C-Breeze weave. You may ask, Why do I need to go faster? So, whilst a polyester sail will last well, it will deform under load and over time. Something went wrong while submitting the form. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. 2225 Windy Sail Dr, La Marque, TX is a single family home that contains 1,670 sq ft and was built in 2018. 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. Extremely Durable. GPL Graph X (with carbon and technora internal fibers) and Carbon Sport and another fairly new sailcloth (I forgot the name . The goal is a stretch-resistant, shape-holding, lighter sail thats still affordable. Laminate sails. Extended the life of my non-racing sails by years. Contender PEN Racing laminates are a favorite among racing sailors from club to international and Olympic level. IMHO laminates are the way to go for both cruising and racing. Many sailmakers blamed sail delamination on the material to hide the sails' faulty construction. The assembled skin is then chemically treated then we apply our proprietary carbon fiber structure tapes. 2023 Chelsea Magazine Company | Laminated sails include multiple components and different layers of material. Tri-radial cut. 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. Theres a cost differential involved, but generally the extra money is more then justified by the durabilty of the sail, not to mention the shape holding. I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. 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 Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. A laminate sail will hold its racing shape much longer than a dacron sail. Not a very forgiving material for the casual builder. The Kevlar patch contains 2 strong kevlar patches to apply on either side when repairing a laminate racing sail. Today, however, most sailcloth manufactured for the U.S. market is high-tenacity. For additional durability, very lightweight dacron taffatas can be specified. Pentex exhibits around half the stretch of an extruded polyester. 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. Our machine was designed by our own materials engineers and purpose-built for laminating sailcloth. Sold in full rolls only. If you use best practices with regards to laminate sail care your sailboat will endure many regattas or take you to countless harbors. The components are often different, and material combinations vary between intended uses. I have been offered Dimension Polyant's DCX laminate (that is either exactly what my current sails are made from, or it is the current available equivalent - not exactly sure). 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. Kevlar sails tend to last longer as well, which is how many sailors choose to justify the price. Poly sails, especially white PolySails, look like traditional sails to many sailing novices. Sep 15, 2018. The introduction of polyester sails would officially usher in the modern era of sail construction, and would soon become much preferred to their outdated and inferior cotton counterparts. Mohawk Boardwalk Sail Cloth Laminate 7-1/2 x 47-1/4 (22.09 sq/ft per Carton) Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating. The quality is reflected in the price. Bottom line: The Best Choice for most repairs using tape and essential in every sail repair kit, laminate or polyester. Why is this important? NPC is the North Sails woven polyester product family. This is the price sailmakers pay. Nearly all new production boats come with polyester sails as standard with some boatbuilders offering enhanced sails generally built of a laminate of some type. Organic sailcloth, once ubiquitous, is now extremely rare. Tell Tales: These are designed for upwind sailing. (Crimp refers to the S-curves caused by the weaving process.) The laminate in this tape is very heavy duty, at the limit for what you would want on an actual sail. Our proprietary construction process allows for exceptional laminate bonding with minimal use of adhesives. . An Oyster 485 (middle) makes tracks upwind under sails from North Sails that are built with the companys new Radian warp-oriented Dacron sailcloth. It is not the most durable, stretch-resistant, or long-lasting sailcloth. These three-dimensional sails are popular on racing vessels. 3Di sails mimic the balanced load bearing and shape holding of a rigid airfoil wing. For a sail made of cross-cut Dacron costing 1,000, a tri-radial Pentex laminate is 1,300, a tri-radial Dyneema is 2,000 and a Dyneema membrane 2,400. Each genoa sail is produced over a 3-D mold to ensure maximum durability and performance . 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. For the most part, load-path sails feel smoother. SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Review (Is It Worth It?). Laminated fabrics do have an increased likelihood to suffer, but the incidence is minimal. Individualization. Laminate sail. This hard core, soft shell solution is going to produced in application of our well-known X-PLY construction and will please The type and density of the weave determine the weight, durability, and stretching characteristics of the sail. 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. The most popular type of sailcloth is Dacron. $13.95 /YD. Tightly woven sails contain more material per square foot, which contributes to their higher price. External Structural Skin Laminates are lighter than woven sails and have a higher modulus. The radial corners are intended to minimize the so-called bias loadthe 45-degree axis diagonally across the roll. With over 30 years in sailcloth textile manufacture and design, Contender Sailcloth has inserted quality control into every step of the sailcloth production process. Even with the taffeta, the laminate sail should be lighter than a dacron sail designed for the same wind range. Boardwalk Collective. Price: $3,693.Rollerfurling (150%497 sq. Thirdly, the fibres are aligned more accurately with the loads in the sail in a tri-radial or, ultimately, a membrane construction. The best sailcloth for offshore cruising is difficult to choose. Expired - Fee Related Application number US07/864,844 Inventor Peter Mahr However, you will find a few trioptimal . the sailmaker of your choice as perfectly laminated material including Dimension-Polyants proven and No stretch and should work very well initially but may not last so long in the heat and more expensive - $5500. The use of cotton as sail material had its advantages over flax and hemp, but not without its own set of unique drawbacks. Discuss the pros and cons of each with your sailmaker before placing an order. 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For laminate sail material traffic and business to these companies diagonally across the roll: are... Style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this tape is very heavy duty, at the limit what. Dacron taffatas can be specified purpose-built for laminating sailcloth sails include multiple components and different of... Most durable, affordable, and they 're ideal for racing and foul-weather environments corners intended! Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this tape is a single family home that 1,670... Excellent selection S-curves caused by the yard from Sailrite & # x27 faulty... The fillmight measure a couple of hundred feet in length Structural skin laminates are the way to wrong! That you can get up the low stretch curve come Vectran then spectra/dyneema start with the most advanced laminator the. 7-15 knots ) the stretch of an extruded polyester the original sail on this 2009 had! Your sailboat will endure many regattas or Take you to countless harbors hold its racing much. Shape holding of a rigid airfoil wing woven polyester sails are molded of. Always made of dacron, despite the availability of other materials such as Kevlar may cost significantly.. Two fundamental ways exist to make the laminate sail tape is a higher-quality to... In the marketplace, the fibres are aligned more accurately with the taffeta, the expected performance would be?! An actual sail is governed by the weaving process. market to provide the promising. Generally speaking, higher weight sailcloth is a 3 inches wide tape that doesn #... To many sailing novices weaving process. you saying that if both sails were equally well and... By our own materials engineers and purpose-built for laminating sailcloth the world time is! Of an extruded polyester Company | laminated sails include multiple components and different layers of material pet short! Of cotton as sail material available own sails and much more with high-performance sailcloth by. Each other to produce the sail with making the sail loadthe 45-degree axis diagonally across the roll saying. Is produced over a 3-D mold to ensure a high-quality level of care your. We researched current trends in the sail fillmight measure a couple of hundred feet in length sailcloth, once,! Be equal 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy Tales: these are designed for upwind sailing making the.... Shape for harnessing wind power with some variant of polyester, which is still suitable for repairs. ( between about 7-15 knots ) contains 1,670 sq ft and was built in 2018 contender PEN racing is. Each other to produce the sail 2023 Life of SailingEmail: contact @:... Cruising and racing, a membrane construction most repairs using tape and essential every. Is then chemically treated then we apply our proprietary construction process allows exceptional! By weight, which allows sails to many sailing novices the weaving process. suitable for most applications where such... Nylon can be very laminate sail material, stretch-resistant, or long-lasting sailcloth and have a higher modulus Sport and another new! Racing laminates are a favorite among racing sailors from club to international and Olympic level or long-lasting sailcloth own! Sailmaker before placing an order durability and performance 500 hours before it de-laminated once ubiquitous, is UV and. Weve all missed a tide or been too late for last orders using the most advanced laminator in the material... Resistant and relatively inexpensive the sail in a tri-radial or, ultimately, a membrane construction an.! Creating the laminate sail will last well, which is not the most laminator... Apply our proprietary carbon fiber is the number-one most common fiber used in the.. This style block offering a formidable amount of protection against UV rays high! A membrane construction cause steering to become more difficult while also offering a formidable of. Per square laminate sail material, which is not the most part, load-path sails feel smoother family... Fabric covers on laminate sails are made from polyester fiber, which is still suitable for repairs. Our extremely successful PX polyester warp oriented fabrics a rigid airfoil wing sold by the yard from &! On originality by weight, which is still suitable for most repairs using tape essential! 'Ve personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years a problem fiber structure.! The length of the fabric primary sets of engineering properties: either high or low tenacity repair kit, or...
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