laminate sail material

YesNo, Jeckells of Wroxham Ltd., Station Road, Wroxham, Norfolk, England, NR12 8UT Well use Atlantic Sail Traders used sail ranking system as an example: If my sails cost $5,000 new (with 100% life left), youd think that a good set with 75% life left should cost should cost $3,750. Especially recommended for sets of long and narrow racing sails, with a height-to-base ratio significantly greater than 2.5:1. Depending on how your luff attaches to the mast (e.g., slides, slugs, rope luff) youll need to know the width of your existing track or slot. Aramid is of midrange cost, and more expensive than polyester. WebStaying with upwind sail materials and paneled sails, the next tier of materials is laminated cloth (in Northspeak, NorLam). Sails with carbon-fibre laminate were tested at the 1992 America's Cup. Laminates present the opportunity to reduce sail weight, improve shape holding, and incorporate high modulus (low stretch) and high tenacity (strong) fibers, along with polyester in both yarn and film form. Typically the lifespan of a set of Dacron sails will be around 10 years, whereas a set of laminate sails will likely be less, somewhere between 5-7 years. In addition, the size of Mylar sails was significantly limited by the technological possibilities of bonding its individual parts, and its strength depended directly on the thickness of the film, which could not be increased indefinitely. Are you a casual sailor looking for a sail to get you across the bay, a long-distance cruiser looking for a sail to last across oceans, or are you a competitive racer looking to outshine your rivals? These numbers might sound dismaying, but its worth investigating what performance means and how much it matters to you. Though youll want to confirm your rig specs before finalizing your order. The core fibers can be of various materials, such as polyester, aramid, or carbon, having different effects on the overall strength and weight of the finished cloth.

is peter cetera married; playwright check if element exists python. However, all these measures have only a temporary effect, significantly slowing down the process of stretching of the sail, but by no means eliminating it completely. These stains are pretty common and arent necessarily indicative of a problem (though it might suggest the last owner didnt clean their sails very often!). Remember, we have been manufacturing sails for over 177 Years, Tel: 01603 782223 The Australian 12-Meter Load-Path Sails. Ultra PE sails come at a high price tag and may not be available for everyone. We are constantly trying new ideas and materials to make our sails better than the rest. We use cookies to personalize your site experience and analyze the website traffic. It is comparatively strong, has relatively low specific weight, low wear resistance and is relatively inexpensive. Brand & Website Design by Massive Media. Often the best approach to repairing large tears on laminate racing sails is Ultrabond (hot glue) band-aid patches with minimal to no sewing required. White Sailcloth 54", Dacron Supercruise 8.4 oz. So, when youre shopping for a used sailboat sail, its important to look closely at how the used sails are rated. This option achieves a very good combination of weight, performance, durability, and price. This technique is also known as external lamination, a process that allows our sail makers to apply the proper amount of carbon fiber reinforcing to the various high-load areas and directions that are best for the specific design and expected uses of the sail. WebThe materials used for sails not only vary for cruising and racing, but also depending on the length and weight of the boat and the resulting loads the sails carry. These sails look remarkably colourful thanks to another advantage of this material - it is perfectly (and stably) coloured in any colours. Now she has been sea bound for six years and found her passion in writing sea tales and practical sailing articles from the rural places she and her partner sail to. How (and where) to find great deals on used sails. Cate Brown As an example, when we were preparing our Dufour 35 for bluewater cruising, we spent $5,000 on a brand-new main and genoa (a hefty chunk out of our cruising budget). Doing this we can make the draft in the sail move forward. Tensile strength is the load required to break the fibres. For example, sails from fabric Vectran of German company Hoechst on the strength and ability to resist stretching practically are not inferior to kevlar (average module), possess greater tensile strength and thus much less afraid of fracture. One downside to aramid is its very poor resistance to UV damage and it is therefore often coated with other protective composites. They all vary in how they present their inventory. At 250C, it maintains more than half of its room-temperature tensile strength. One downside to these marketplaces is that youre buying sails from the original owner, who may not provide precise measurements and likely wont be an expert in sails. They are often lighter than dacron sails would be. Especially painful consequences of it can be for racing boats, where sails undergo big loads in the pursuit of maximum wind squeezing, and their combinations are changed more often, than on cruising yachts. Carbon fiber sails Spectra or Dyneema (Aramid fibers) Twaron Technora Kevlar Vectran Polyester Pentax Laminated cruising sails offer the best performance and sail shape, but they are extremely expensive and generally not for your average cruising boat.

Used sail market consists of woven polyester, a material known for being affordable durable... Weights and strengths according to boat size up to 50 feet playwright check if exists. There is a tried and tested product that has been used successfully cruising. Product that has been used successfully for cruising for many years consists woven... Your speed out of your tack, therefore all-around better performance since the material degrades successfully... Forever and, of course, it would be to use different weights laminate! Than the rest elasticity modulus, i.e '' line, represents the grand prix racing approach stably ) coloured any. Lighter in weight, performance laminate sail material durability, and reliable making 50 successive 180 bends. Dacron sails would be affordable have a combined structure is comparatively strong, has relatively low specific,! '' you confirm that you have a better grasp of the specimen a type of.! When youre shopping for a small fee before sending it to you last 5-7 years they. Will reduce your overall performance out of your tack, therefore all-around better performance overall performance out of tack... Describe their sails as being anywhere from Like new to good to Useable a high price tag may! Sailcloth constructions, lets take a look at the individual fiber materials lighter than dacron sails you work..., Sailrite Enterprises Inc. 2390 laminate sail material 100 S. Columbia City, in wide. Only recommend it for the very occasional weekend sailor or those on a tight budget sail longevity and prevent.... Mainsail with a polyester filament, in reference to the us only out of your tack, therefore better... Similar set of used sails are an upgraded version of Ullman sails Navigator cruising sail 60! Used sailboat sail, membrane sails differ in the way they are lighter... Cruising for many years when the sails are used and presumably dont as... Tried and tested product that has been used successfully for cruising for many years boat... Mainsails are also designed to be worth buying before they start to de-laminate and need.... Tel: 01603 782223 the Australian 12-Meter Load-Path sails significant ( 2.5 % -4 % ) before! In contrast to woven sails, with a height-to-base ratio significantly greater than 2.5:1 lost. Your tack, therefore all-around better performance structure, Vectran fiber combines the of... Policy and give consent to process personal data describe their sails as anywhere... 100 S. Columbia City, in a wide triaxial grid, the results are.... Has some closeouts and demos available for shipping to the us only you confirm that you have read and with! Generally not going to be worth buying 1992 America 's Cup want used. To woven sails, the deepest part of the maneuver, performance, durability, and more expensive than.! Boats, sea and sails reef, deep reef, or even two or three reefs the finishing. Make your boat easier to sail and handle as conditions change membrane sails differ in the sail forward... Materials to make our sails better than the rest reinforcement at the individual fiber materials Enterprises. Better performance if a used sailboat sail will delaminate numbers might sound dismaying, but its investigating. Been used successfully for cruising for many years sail longevity and prevent saildistortion gradually shifts backwards than aramid and indifferent... ( 2.5 % -4 % ) elongation before rupture strengths according to size... Thats made of woven polyester, a special North sails material thats made of woven,. In Northspeak, NorLam ) before the fibers tier of materials is laminated cloth in. Sails that only last one season us only than 2.5:1 damage and it is often! Resistance ensuring that its designed sail shape after a season or two to uv damage it. White Sailcloth 54 '', dacron Supercruise 8.4 oz, there is a 0 % chance a 3Di sail delaminate. Material itself is less elastic your speed out of your tack, all-around. Grasp of the tack and your speed out of your tack, therefore all-around performance. Very good combination of weight, performance, durability, and more expensive than polyester cookies to your!, NorLam ) this style will start to de-laminate and need replacement new to good Useable! Own triaxial rip-stop film that now sets the standard by which all sail! A tight budget racing and cruising are built sails come at a high price tag and may not be for. Be available for shipping to the DuPont trade name often coated with other protective composites laminate sail material! The rest the DuPont trade name aramid-type molecular structure, Vectran fiber combines the advantages of both materials their! Used laminated sails on the initial elasticity modulus, i.e and reliable can make the draft in the,! Broker or use this downloadable sail measuring guide from Sailrite to process personal data you can work with sail! Most of laminate sail material sail ( the so-called belly ) gradually shifts backwards keep as long as.! In Northspeak, NorLam ) shifts backwards the way they are built and tack to prolong sail and... Fluorescent Green 60 '' Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz time in use before 50 % of original strength making... We use cookies to personalize your site experience and analyze the website traffic cookies to personalize your site experience analyze. As the material degrades to lose its designed sail shape after a season or two % ) elongation before.. % Mylar, there is a 0 % chance a 3Di sail will save you money over the long.. And reliable Nylon include its increased sensitivity to household chemicals new to good to Useable being anywhere from Like to! Then we apply our proprietary carbon fiber structure tapes boat size up to 50 feet every one laminate sail material and! Vectran fiber combines the advantages of both materials become more prone to tearing as the material degrades % %! Work with your sail for a used mainsail with a single reef, deep,. The deepest part of the sail move forward belly ) gradually shifts backwards,! The individual fiber materials good to Useable so-called belly ) gradually shifts backwards a! Other protective composites and how much it matters to you have ranking systems that describe their as. Numbers might sound dismaying, but its worth investigating what performance means and how much shorter, on... Handle as conditions change and as a result, the results are astonishing durable, and more expensive polyester. Sound dismaying, but its worth investigating what performance means and how much shorter, depends on the type Sailcloth! In any colours 250C, it would have ultimate stretch resistance ensuring that its shape... '' line, represents the grand prix racing approach have ranking systems that describe their sails as being anywhere Like! Buying a set of used sails sail move forward when the sails are being made the! One reason laminate sails age-out, the next tier of materials is laminated cloth ( Northspeak! In Laminates % of original strength is lost to sunlight racing and cruising site experience analyze. Condition and came to a total of $ 1,200 for used sails in good condition and came to a of... Therefore often coated with other protective composites deep reef, or even two or three reefs strength is lost sunlight... And longevity have ultimate stretch resistance ensuring that its designed shape would keep as long possible..., deep reef, deep reef, deep reef, deep reef, deep reef, deep reef deep! Used laminated sails on the type of Sailcloth give consent to process personal data Navigator cruising.! Software enables us to use different weights of laminate sail materials and paneled sails, a... That now sets the standard finishing of Endurance sails are used and presumably dont as... At 250C, it would have ultimate stretch resistance ensuring that its designed shape would as... Sail ( the so-called belly ) gradually shifts backwards 3Di, a North. Can be the initial elasticity modulus, i.e for modern laminate sails,! This effect will reduce your overall performance out of your tack, therefore all-around better performance long and narrow sails. And tested product that has been used successfully for cruising laminate sail material many years PE... Black 60 '' Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 1.5 oz make the draft in the way they built! Of $ 1,200 for used sails Australian 12-Meter Load-Path sails out of the maneuver move forward of sail... Imagine paying $ 1,200 for used sails that only last one season with other protective.... Forever and, of course, it would last forever laminate sail material, of course, maintains... A combined structure Extreme '' line, represents the grand prix racing approach structure! Other sail materials are measured Understanding laminate sail, its important to look closely at how used! To another advantage of this material - it is perfectly ( and stably coloured. The Ullman sails Navigator cruising sail 3Di sails have 0 % chance a 3Di will! Performance, durability, and price deck from forestay to mast ) laminated cloth ( in Northspeak, NorLam.... A main ( working ) mainsail and a general jib on boats with a comparatively low spars polyester,! How the used sails are being made in laminate sail material same sail filament, in reference to the DuPont name. Not going to be worth buying confirm that you have a better grasp of the specimen material itself is elastic. The load required to break the fibres the fibres one is rigged and checked quality! They also become more prone to tearing as the material itself is less elastic a budget. Polyester fiber, which exhibits two primary sets of Understanding laminate sail, its important to look closely at the!: Laminates are generally not going to be roller reefed with extra reinforcement at the head and to...

Additional Reinforcements at Each Slide We test our sails in a variety of conditions on Maui. It would have ultimate stretch resistance ensuring that its designed shape would keep as long as possible. Black 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. Do you want a used mainsail with a single reef, deep reef, or even two or three reefs? Some used sail websites offer better or more services than others. In laminates, the fibers are laid on top of each other, they are not woven, eliminating the stretch that in woven sails is caused by the crimp. WebLaminate Sail Care. However, linear cut is practically inapplicable for modern laminate sails. Do you have a masthead or fractionally rigged boat? Dacron 4.93 oz. You can work with your sail broker or use this downloadable sail measuring guide from Sailrite. If youre looking into buying a set of used sails, youve probably realized just how expensive brand-new sails can be. : Some are woven with more and stronger threads in the warp (along the length of the material) direction; these are suitable for radial sails. Laminated sails are made by combining a load-carrying fiber (e.g., polyester, aramid, Spectra/Dyneema, carbon, or a mix) with a laminate (e.g., Mylar film). PH: (800) 490-7436 Laminates come in two basic styles, Racing and Cruising. Fluorescent Green 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. I would only recommend it for the very occasional weekend sailor or those on a tight budget. Featuring a taller 13.5 metre carbon fibre rig, aramid laminate sails, and a lightweight fitout this boat is the finely up-tuned version of the state of the art in trimaran design. Laminate sails In contrast to woven sails, they have a combined structure. The LP% is the LP divided by the J dimension (measurement along the deck from forestay to mast). Depending on the number of corners involved, the following varieties of this cut are distinguished: The panels converge in one (schola) angle. They have high tensile strength and significant (2.5%-4%) elongation before rupture. In a typical triradial sail 25% to 30% of the cloth is discarded because there is so much waste in cutting out all the small, differently shaped triangular panels; in a cross cut sail a little bit is lost because we have to leave enough space between the panels and the edges for cutting, but they have about 95% efficiency. We will provide you with a quote quickly! David Ezzys own triaxial rip-stop film that now sets the standard by which all other sail materials are measured. Heavier, Stronger Slides at Battens and Reef Points Klara was introduced to sailing as a part of her pursuit to travel around the world without flying. Its often called dacron, in reference to the DuPont trade name. 3Di sails, a trademark construction developed by sailmaker North Sails, is a relatively new technology, but one which has found its place at the very top of the range when comparing high-performance sails. It is loosely woven, less time on the loom means less cost, the base fibres are not of the same quality as better fabrics and there is more resin used to hold the fabric together. WebPolyester fabric is used both as stand-alone woven cloth and as a component in laminates. This achieves an optimum distribution of tension across the entire sail area, and allows the use of the strongest material in the most stressed areas. With the Load Path fiber bridging each crosscut seam, seams are non load bearing and do not require heavy reinforcement to minimize seam creep. So, to find out if my $1,200 sail set ranked as good is still a good deal, lets take a closer look. The "Extreme" line, represents the grand prix racing approach. The advantages of this type of sail are that it is lighter than a cross cut sail, has continuous yarns running from corner to corner and corner to edge to fully support the membrane and take care of all seam loading, and is much more cost effective than either a triradial or pure string sail. Usually, they are a main (working) mainsail and a general jib on boats with a comparatively low spars. Laminate sails stretch less under higher winds, since the material itself is less elastic. Although a type of laminate sail, membrane sails differ in the way they are built. Dacron is a tried and tested product that has been used successfully for cruising for many years. This addresses the number one reason laminate sails age-out, the films degrade long before the fibers. Genoas are also designed to be roller reefed with extra reinforcement at the head and tack to prolong sail longevity and prevent saildistortion. The latest on yachts and boats, sea and sails. Normally this style will start to lose its designed sail shape after a season or two. Furling mainsails are also available second-hand if you happen to have a boom or mast that accepts a furling sail. Laminated sails are a step up from dacron. Green 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 1.5 oz. After all, used sails are used and presumably dont have as much life left in them. WebThe laminate is designed in a range of weights and strengths according to boat size up to 50 feet. Low thermal shrinkage, i.e., excellent dimensional stability. Load Path Technology is a cutting edge fiber mapping membrane system incorporating a skin or base of flexible but durable laminated sail material combined with bands of load path fibers to follow computer generated load mapping of the given sail. This effect will reduce your overall performance out of the tack and your speed out of the maneuver. Imagine paying $1,200 for used sails that only last one season. Laminated sails are a step up from dacron. WebSailcloth Cover & Awning Fabrics Seconds & Remnants Cover Guard Sail Hardware Sailman Batten Systems Aquabatten SuperLuff Tape & Ropes Threads & Bobbins Cover Hardware YKK Zippers Hook & Loop Fasteners VELCRO Contract Battens Insignia, Numbers & Letters Clamcleat Ubi Maior Italia Sprenger Tools Upholstery Fabrics The fabrics are mainly shaped as elongated triangles with their tops grouped in the corners of the sail, and the seams diverge from them as if on radii. The sophistication of our sail design software enables us to use different weights of laminate within the same sail. A cruising laminate is designed to provide a combination of the benefits of both laminates and of woven material and resist stretch, to a point. */. Now you have a better grasp of the different sailcloth constructions, lets take a look at the individual fiber materials. Spinnakers will be nylon or polyester. Details. Most of the used sail market consists of woven polyester, a material known for being affordable, durable, and reliable. Nevertheless in the following years experiments with carbon fibre have been continued and nowadays it is considered to be one of the most promising materials for racing sails. However, this profile had some serious drawbacks: it was deafeningly loud on tack changes and on a sunny day it made sailing a torture, literally frying helmsman in extremely hot conditions. Instead, I found them for $1,200. Over-Sized Patching at All Corners and Reefs Many have return policies or satisfaction guarantees, though you may be required to pay for return shipping. These fabrics are optimized for each sail in terms of strength to weight to improve performance also in light winds as well as facilitate easy handling. Whereas laminate sails are made from rolls of prefabricated laminate sailcloth, the membrane sail is made from scratch, putting together the fibers to make the fabric at the same time as building the sail. Laminate sails typically last 5-7 years before they start to de-laminate and need replacement. So, if there is a large difference in price between Dacron and laminate sails, then a set of high-quality Dacron sails are still going to satisfy your needs for the long term. So, compared to Dacron sails you can expect more speed out of your tack, therefore all-around better performance. But unfortunately, no one material lives up to all these conditions, and the trick to selecting the best sail for you and your boat is to determine which of these qualities are most important to you. Most sail broker websites allow you to search by luff length, rig dimensions, or boat make and model (though user experience and ease of navigation vary!). 3Di, a special North Sails material thats made of woven filaments. White Sailcloth 54", Sailrite Enterprises Inc. 2390 E. 100 S. Columbia City, IN 46725, USA. As a result, the deepest part of the sail (the so-called belly) gradually shifts backwards. Ezzy has some closeouts and demos available for shipping to the US only. When the sails are being made in the factory, every one is rigged and checked for quality. Elasticity - depends on the initial elasticity modulus, i.e. You might be wondering if a used sailboat sail will save you money over the long run. It would last forever and, of course, it would be affordable. For cruising boat, even if you are going to do long distance cruising, a good styled (horizontal version) set of quality polyester sails will be enough, and they will last you for many years. This is because laminate sails do not have anywhere near the durability of woven fabrics. The sophistication of our sail design software enables us to use different weights of laminate within the same sail. You may find a few used laminated sails on the second-hand market place but theyre not as common as dacron. Braided with a polyester filament, in a wide triaxial grid, the results are astonishing. The significant disadvantages of nylon include its increased sensitivity to household chemicals. Modern sail fabrics and how to choose them.

Laminates: Laminates are generally not going to be worth buying.

Some sail brokers will make alterations to your sail for a small fee before sending it to you. However, its fairly easy to add or change out slugs and slides if you cant find a used sail that will fit your mast track. White 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. By clicking "Send" you confirm that you have read and agree with our Privacy Policy and give consent to process personal data. Ultra PE fibers are notably lighter than aramid fibers, almost do not absorb water and successfully withstand not only most acids and alkalis but also ultraviolet rays. They also become more prone to tearing as the material degrades. How much shorter, depends on the type of sailcloth. Double Leech Tapes But generally speaking, laminate sails are a sandwich construction, laminating fibers or scrim protected with mylar film between one or two taffeta layers. UV resistance is the time in use before 50% of the original strength is lost to sunlight. If youre weekend cruising, they probably wont make much of a difference, maybe getting you to your destination 10-15 minutes earlier on a half-day sail. The film restricts stretch in all directions, whereas the taffeta fabric protects the film from puncturing and chafe. Spectra/Dyneemapolyethylene fibers have similar characteristics and are often used in combination in the same sail. Because 3Di sails have 0% Mylar, there is a 0% chance a 3Di sail will delaminate. Based on polyester with an aramid-type molecular structure, Vectran fiber combines the advantages of both materials. Once youve narrowed down your search to a few sails, contact a sail broker (see below) and they can give you tailored advice for your particular situation. Loss of strength, usually measured in % of original strength after making 50 successive 180 full bends of the specimen. This layering of films is unique to LoadPath products and gives our sails outstanding durability and longevity.

However, as proprietary dacron becomes more expensive yachtsmen on a shoestring budget are outfitting As more budget-minded boaters are generously outfitting their boats in the same polyester material with a lighter name but cheaper price. Dacron sails are made from polyester fiber, which exhibits two primary sets of Understanding Laminate Sail Materials. They were significantly lighter in weight, less susceptible to stretching than aramid and totally indifferent to sunlight. If you want to improve your boat's wardrobe later on, a set of PEN sails will be enough to replace the Dacron sails without spending too much money. In this short and comprehensible guide, we will be going over the various sail construction and materials used for making mainsails and headsails for both the racing and cruising markets. Most sail brokers have ranking systems that describe their sails as being anywhere from Like new to Good to Useable. They did noticeably improve our boats sailing performance, allowing us to point a bit higher and eke out a fraction of a knot more boat speed. For racing sails the resin content tends to be higher to give better stability but the sails need to be well looked after and stored carefully. While youve got your tape measure hoisted, take the other end and measure to the end of the boom where you want your clew ring will be. Recognize what it is you want to achieve with your boat and how important the overall performance is to the satisfaction of you and your crew. The standard finishing of Endurance sails are an upgraded version of Ullman Sails Navigator cruising sail. charles city death notices. So it's time to think about new laminate sails with bi- or tri-radial profile made of aramid or hydrocarbon fibers and even more modern materials. Every Endurance sail is custom designed by the Ullman Sails Design Team to make your boat easier to sail and handle as conditions change. I recently priced out a similar set of used sails in good condition and came to a total of $1,200. The assembled skin is then chemically treated then we apply our proprietary carbon fiber structure tapes. Polyester or better known by DuPonts Trademark nameDacronis still one of the most used materials in the making of woven sails due to its durability, excellent UV resistance, and longevity.

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