Sailmakers Wanted

[Lancerbye]

I am looking for a new triradial, asymetrical cruising chute made out of 1.5 oz. ripstop nylon. I have a few request for quotes, out and have discovered some really big differences in prices among quality sailmakers plus high shipping costs for relatively small light packages. What favorite sailmakers have you used and why? How far was your shipment etc.?

[beetle]

I would recommend educating yourself as much as possible about the sail you are looking for, and then find the sailmaker that is the best to work with. This will help create a long-term relationship with the sailmaker and their loft, and hopefully they will build what you are looking for in the future as well. On the other hand, if price is the only object than just go with the lowest bidder that will build what you want.

I purchase sails from Hood Sails in San Francisco, Robin (loft owner), is marvelous to deal with and has built some wonderful sails for me. Prior to Robin I tried to work with North Sails - and had difficulty with North as they wouldn't listen to what I was asking for and continually tried to sell me things I didn't want. North did build some sails for me, and ultimately I was much happier working with Robin and the Hood loft.

Things you might ask yourself - why 1.5 oz nylon? Which 1.5 oz nylon? You may be happier with AirX 0.9 rather than a 1.5 oz. How much wind under which conditions are you planning to fly that sail in? How much performance do you want out of it? How much are you willing to spend on it? Do you want a rounder head for running deeper, a flatter sail for reaching, an all-purpose design that is somewhere in between? Which kind of bag - suitcase or regular bag? Do you want a spinnaker sock? Have you considered 0.75 oz body with 1.5 oz leaches - lighter sail for deep work in lighter air with stronger leaches for reaching... These are the kinds of questions you can talk through with your sailmaker of choice, and if you two hit it off well then you should get some interesting ideas back from the sailmaker and ultimately you should know what you expect the sail to do and why it will be built in a particular way.

- beetle

[Lancerbye]

I do know the sail that I want and part of the buying process is getting quotes, and factoring in the location, I have a hard time understanding a price difference of double on the same specs from two different well known and respected sail makers.

[beetle]

Which sailmakers, and what are the quotes?

I usually am charged roughly $65 to have a 2000 square foot 0.7 nylon kite shipped from Rhode Island to California via UPS. Which cloth did you decide to purchase?

- beetle

[Lancerbye]

Beetle
I am presently in Qatar so I have asked for quotes for sails that could be shipped here or to my home port in Washington. I have requested quotes from Jekells in the UK, Uk Hallsey in Washington, Quantum sails, Honkong sails and will check North and Hood. This is not for racing. Primarily for downwind and reaching. (a cruising chute) with a sock and bag. This sail is approx. 1300sq. ft. Star cut asymetrical with four colors. Shipping costs so far have ranged from 300US to 500 US. I can save that if I purchase in Washington. Sail and sock quotes have been from $1800US to $6000US.They all have the same specs. 1.5oz. ripstop nylon.

[beetle]

If you go with an ATN spinnaker sock Etienne charges $11.00/foot, at I=54 on the Lancer 44 you might want a 51' sock - that alone will run $561 and the sailmakers really don't have a discount on the sock - you're just as well off ordering directly from Etienne (let him suggest a sock length for you). The sock will definitely add to the shipping from Florida to Qatar.
ATN Home Page

Quantum is making good stuff and they have a facility in South Africa - I wonder if you can get a reasonable quote through that loft?
Quantum Sail Design Group

That is a huge range of price. The cloth should factor into it - I've had spinnakers built using cloth from Dimension/Polyant and Bainbridge, both have worked well:
Dimension-Polyant - Sailcloth Technology
http://www.sail-making.com/dbimgs/AIRX%20US.pdf
http://www.sail-making.com/dbimgs/US...brics%20US.pdf

You might try checking in with these guys to see where they get their sails from (found on their website):
DOHA SAILING ASSOCIATION CONTACTS:
FAX: (+974) 4439995; PHONE: (+974) 4439840- P.O. BOX: 4398 Doha- State of Qatar.


E-mail. sailing@qatar.net.qa

That's about all I can think of, and I don't know if any of this is useful to you...

- beetle

[Celestialsailor]

I can vouch for Robin Sadaro in San Francisco at the Hood loft. I purchased a main from him a while back. Out of 10 quotes, he was one of the lower 3. The quality was the best of all of them. Apparently, he takes the order and they are built back east. The sail shape was perfect. Hood has their own weaving looms and produces their own cloth. I found ordering in the winter are the best discounts and you can barter on them a little.

[Nick Tarpon]

I got a quote from fareastsails and Shurr sails, quite a bit of difference. I am now checking with Doyle also - looking for a gennaker - Roberts 482

[daddle]

Originally Posted by beetle

I would recommend educating yourself as much as possible about the sail you are looking for, and then find the sailmaker that is the best to work with.

...

- beetle

Post of the Day! Beetle is spot on. Unless you just want a triangle of nylon at the lowest possible price you need to talk to a sailmaker. You will pay more and you will get far more.