Dacron sailcloth weights review forum styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Show Less . Woven Dacron Sail Cloth. Premium dacron of the same weight will be pretty much the same. Then 5 to 8 years ago came out with and heavily marketed their Warp Drive and left For many years the only choice sailors had for fabric and engineering for their sails was cross-cut Dacron sails and for many years cross-cut Dacron sails suited them just fine. Skip to main content. It seems to be a VERY BIG issue. Our current sails are 10 years old, have seen 40,000 I have used a variety of laminate sails offshore - if they have been well designed I typically got 25,000miles from them. 35 per yard. $7. For a cruising 160g/m² dacron surf and sail cloth is used for optional reasons for the lower sail I added new sails last year, made from 6oz Dacron from Precision Sails. A query on the cloth weights - 1. 4oz cloth but this was changed after I reduced the percentage (150 to 130) and taking into account the winds (15-25kts regular in summer) and that I intend to take her into the big blue (Indian Ocean) in a Cruising Mainsail: Dacron Voyager. Good quality. To get WoodenBoat delivered to your door or computer, mobile device of choice, etc, click WB Subscriptions. Agreed it's much stiffer than Dacron and is a pain to fold on the boom. This Supercruise Dacron has a relatively soft hand and is woven on the latest and best looms. 1; CLOUD, getReviews, 23. 4oz (US) Dacron for a 130% Genoa. The fibers are what give these sails their Many Sailmakers are not even familiar with this cloth yet. Stary with having the sails in water overnight. For inshore and coastal use, It is made of a high-shrinking polyester yarn developed by the R&D team at Challenge Sailcloth in a collaborative I need a small amount of tan sailcloth, dacron is it? Not sure, nor of the weight etc, but I only need a few inches to sew over a slightly chafed leech. 2oz with most averaging about 6. 4. Menu. Sold in weights 5 to 10 ounces, 54 inches wide. Albin. I don't race (anymore), but the sails made by Crusader to replace the original Dacron ones for my Dehler 35 have, after 3 seasons, met all the objectives. Frankly, I feel it has something to do with the way North makes, buys the dac/mylar sail cloth. For starters there are numerous kinds of What weight of Dacron cloth do people like for sails on boats such as Wayfarers, Ospreys, and Drascombes cruising in the Channel, the Irish Sea, North Sea, etc? 16 Jan 2022 #2 1. longevity vs. On time. They are priced between their Dacron and Spectra. A couple of sets had fabric weight transitions that were not well designed (designers were trying to save weight) and had to be recut much earlier but then went the distance. That means: do not use any detergents, not anything that strongly solve wax. For example one sailcloth company in the 7oz range has a 7. Laminated sails will continue to drive the boat in light air, after your dacron sails have collapsed from their own weight and are hanging limp. Oct 2, 2005 465. The WoodenBoat Forum is sponsored by WoodenBoat Publications, publisher of WoodenBoat magazine. 2 oz. Sailmakers have suggested weights from 5. Sailmakers can make mistakes. 46, and a 7. however, have changed and these days there are myriad choices, Brian Hancock reviews the options in this multi part series. Let em soak a couple hours, take them out, hang them in the shade, rinse all Dacron sailcloth cut into various widths and weights. Since you mentioned that it was your last dacron #3, I'd guess that you went to some more modern and stronger sailcloth for it's replacement, and with Split weights can also reduce overall weight but leads to other issues so most sail makers don't do split weights in dacron but that doesn't mean it can't be done. In fact, there are a few now specifically made to mimic the look and feel of traditional cotton. I've heard the real problems are with mylar leading edges and dacron sails - something about mixing materials such that the water behaves differently at different parts of the glider, at least thats what I think Rob Kells said For performance only and a bigger budget to blow over a few years then I would have chosen laminate of some kind, possibly this newish moulded shaped techniques. You need to make sure that your sail is made of first run "A" quality crosscut dacron, whatever the source. Today’s cloths include not only the familiar woven dacrons and woven nylons in various weights and If you’re looking for advanced sailcloth materials that offer better performance than the Dacron options you mentioned, you might want to consider some of the high-tech alternatives available: 1. Make sure it is high modulus dacron and the weight is the same. This lightweight Dacron is medium firm with good durability and excellent tear strength. 93 to 7. A UK made sail would have been too heavy at about 35Kg to carry out to my boat, although Crusader sails gave me both good advice and a competetive quote. Mar An Oyster 485 (middle) makes tracks upwind under sails from North Sails that are built with the company’s new Radian warp-oriented Dacron sailcloth. Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. General Sailing Discussions Gear & Maintenance Boat Review Forum Cruising Under Sail Seamanship & Navigation. After playing around with it with some sample Having flown a Mylar sail Litespeed, and the UVM T2C, both in the rain, I'll say they both do just fine in the rain. I’ve been quoted similar prices for Tri-Radial with Challenge sailcloth’s Warp Drive fabric (Dacron for tri-radial construction), or cross-cut with Challenge sailcloth’s top end Dacron Marblehead. 8 , 4. An extreme example would be Does anyone know about thread weight and the maximum used for strong cruising sails?We are ordering 3 working sails which we hope will withstand Cape Horn. Some of the gaff rigged Herreshoff 12 1/2's went with tanbark sails in the same weight dacron as the rest of the H 12 1/2's white dacron. 2. The “Newport” all-round cruising Dacron by Challenge Sailcloth is probably the best value for money sailcloth available on the market today and thus ideal for the cruising range of Dacron crosscut sails by Rolly Tasker Sails. 0 oz performance Dacron is a lightweight, medium-firm sailcloth. Dacron sailcloth cut into various widths and weights. Dacron. The Sunbrella cover only makes a minor weight difference in the overall sail weight, but that weight is concentrated along the leech and clew, where it causes the sail to collapse in lighter winds where no cover or a dacron cover would still allow the sail to fly. Some tell tale signs that dacron is sun damaged are a yellow discoloration and a slightly furry From the pics, the UV cover is most probably "insignia cloth" - a very thin dacron 'taffeta', and which only lasts in sun/UV exposure for only several years before needing replacement in its entirety. That is, the finished cloth I reinforce any spot where a fastener will go (like snaps) usually with an internal patch of Dacron sailcloth. With J-22's we get 1 to 2 years max of racing out of dacron sails before they are too blown out to be competitive. The lightweight laminate will hold its shape in light air better than heavier dacron sails. They do recommend 303 aerospace for Dacron sails, specifically one manufacturer Bainbridge uses it to treat all of their Dacron sails. crosscut) is that if built heavy enuf to resist stretch in moderate winds, they sag & collapse under their own weight in anything less than 7kts. As a supplier of all things on deck, Trivantage also stocks I've been using my Sailrite Sailmaker since 1980 and it's made hundreds of sails, repaired a bunch of hot-air balloons before that and built everything from dog collars to boat dodgers. Challenge has always had a radial weave line of cloth as its top selling cruising radial fabric. e. Sailcloth weight, size, for new sails I want to optimize sailcloth weight choice based on these experiences. " Forums for All Owners. I'm not saying it will match dacron sail cloth for performance - but IMO it will more than match (and outlast) polytarp. Whether you are sailing with the family at the summer cottage a few weekends a year or cruising around the world, there is a Dacron made My new C30 has a set of dacron and UK X-Drive laminate sails. Laminates offer greater cloth stability (i. Menu Home. Choose from ripstop and Dacron® sailcloth in a variety of colors and weights. High Mass: klaus53123: Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting: 2: 29-01-2016 17:22: Main Sail Cloth Weight: cutlass: Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting: 23: 08-07-2012 18:09: Hi Doug, Welcome to the Doyle Sails Forum. provide resistance to I don't know about any wax or sizing being applied to sailcloth in order to make it easier to sew. There are therefore significant design characteristics other than weight that come into the equation. 45. You can now obtain dacron sail cloth in any number of weights, colors and hands. Customarily, tri-radial sails were only Weaving Edit Combed singles yarn sailcloth in high counts is used for spinnaker and head sails. The rest comes in the Here's what I would recommend. Sail Material. Carbon Fiber: Known for its extremely high strength-to-weight ratio, carbon fiber sailcloth is ideal for racing due to its excellent shape retention and low stretch characteristics. For a cruising mainsail you want heavy Dacron/polyester, with minimal resin fill (so a higher end manufacturer with a tighter weave) in a cross cut rather than radial construction sewn with PTFE thread. It will be stronger, hold shape longer and outlast lower weight and less firm dacron cloth. That class does not permit linear polyester/mylar, but in the classes that do they easily get 2-3 years out of the mylar sails. Unlike regular Dacron sailcloth, it's made to mimic tightly-woven natural canvas for square As a result the UltraPE mass in sailcloth needs to be relatively high compared to expected sail load. This has been reduced in price to make it more attractive. Yes, sadly, I was a sailcoth geek. The standard original equipment dacron 110 is still in good condition and not stretched or blown our , but it is used very little if at all in the course of a Sailcloth Weight: ilikeraresteak: Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting: 17: 04-11-2009 18:02: 10oz Dacron Gaff Sails Thread Weight? bonaccordians: Monohull Sailboats: 9: 04-07-2009 20:52: Top Gun Fabric as Sailcloth: bonaccordians: Monohull Sailboats: 7: 29-05-2009 02:11: sailcloth=sacrificial cloth: witzgall: Construction, Maintenance Sailmaker's Supply sells All Purpose Dacron Sailcoth, an all around good choice for mainlsails and genoas. pjacobs55. Welcome to myHanse. bvseo_sdk, p_sdk, 3. Laminate holds it's shape better over time which is an advantage, but tends to fail The resins applied to regular sailcloth make it stiff and crunchy, giving it an almost plastic-paper-like feel. So I'm building my first suit of dacron sails for our 18' Noman's Land boat. It is not ultra violet sensitive, has about the same stretch characteristics as Dacron, can be cut with a knife, scissors, or razor blades, it does not un ravel when cut, it is available in 18 different colors, it weighs about 11 oz. Stick to their recommended weights, when in doubt go 1 step heavier. 4 oz Dacron sailcloth through my trusty Singer 4432. I note you are from Hong Kong. Manufacturing this cloth is quite time consuming, but one achieves a sailcloth that is extremely crease resistant, pliable, light-weight and long-lasting. These sails replaced three year old Dacron ones, admittedly in lighter cloth, that were totally clapped out. @wholybee, Perhaps that's correct. A profesional sail washer can not clean this. I had to make a new sailcover 6" taller than the original. PS: Is 'tanbark' the colour As our very popular member of the Dacron family, AP Low Aspect combines the best properties of more than one world to achieve a well- balanced and perfectly executed multitalented sail cloth. Repairing Sails using domestic Sewing Machine. per square yard, it come only 62" wide. That is woven sail cloth, laminates, and membranes. The only time you will benefit significantly is when the wind is very light. Precision Sails offers the largest selection of Crosscut and Radial Dacron sails in the industry. Timeless Style Trad Style The Interchange 4. Oct 22, 2014 22,207 CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA Nov 8, 2017 #4 But the query is “are the laminate sails better (worth the extra money) over the Dacron sail Is there a single guide out there to sailcloth makers, weights, etc? I am really only interested in Dacron and I am 99% cruising with the occasional beer can race. Replacing them with a more appropriate cloth of any kind is going to make the owner rapturous about his discovery of a great "new" sail cloth. , 63" wide) and then in 9 oz. The one in question had a tanbark dacron sail on his little pram dinghy, though, but he surely had access to the fabric at cost (as he would have had for the white), and maybe it didn't matter to him. My current sails from the the same loft are nowhere near as stiff/heavy and will probably go west a lot sooner than the old ones. I did not see too much difference in the comparable fabrics between major On sails for hulls under 40 tons I use a material called TOP GUN it is not sold as sail cloth but for sail covers. Register. At present it is very stiff but sets well. Vectran has a lot going for it and there are some good choices in a variety of materials that use Vectran. Got it for $14 a yard. Most sailcloth these days is NOT actually "Dacron" because most sailcloth is NOT made of fibers made by Dupont. Either Dacron sailcloth or one of the vinyl-coated nylon truck tarp fabrics are used for this, because they won't soften over Hi Everybody. When we build our Dacron Offshore Plus voyaging sails we favor Challenge Marblehead for low aspect sails and Challenge's Fiber104 or high aspect cloth for high aspect sails. Most of the manufactures of sailcloth make several different options for crosscut Re: Sail Cloth: how to compare? Here's what I would recommend. Racing is so different from cruising in so many ways I'm not sure how they can be compared. cloth, with plastic headboards, a single row of stitching, and no frills. 12-05-2012, 00:15 #12: rhumbunctious. In an effort to reduce shipping costs, orders of 5 yards or less may be Made from durable polyester, Dacron fabric performs well as sailcloth, cover cloth, and other marine uses. No serious racer would use hydranet just from a weight standpoint. ” Regional Ericson Forums. Of course the price for the latter is quite a bit higher than the former, by 1) I generally have heard that Hood has longer shape holding sails compared to the others' Dacron sails - T or F? I would say that is false and has been false for decades. SKU: 1030-P. My Ullman fiberpath 155, Cal 140 do not have mold. Mar 9, 2023 | Posted By Vlad from Tampa, FL United Challenge sail cloth is pretty much standard stuff, been around for decades. But the other thing that really struck me is that the weight of sailcloth recommended varies considerably from 5. Minimizing stretch is the key to creating durable and shape holding sails for easy handling and trim at a great price. Contender Tanbark Dacron, which is a really dark brown color. These sails are ordinarily single-ply, crosscut Dacron sails of up to 6. Make sure you are comparing similar sails - type and weight of cloth, number of reefs, number of full length battens, etc. Yes, I have finally decided to go new this time rather than Dacron ® Supercruise 6. 5oz/ sq yd is 65gsm, and I would think that is too light for anything bigger than a small dinghy. Pinstripe is dacron with twaron Forums. This is the same weight of cloth as quoted for the main. In the 1930s, DuPont® invented synthetic polyester and nylon fibers which we used to create the first Cordura® nylon mainsail cloth. their designed shape is more likely to stay put through a broader wind range) than a woven fabric. pcatterall Well-known member. Colored Dacron sailcloth was a 'novelty' fabric and tends to have a shorter life and lower performance than while Dacron, so white polyester working sails became the norm. Jan 30, 2008 #1 The Vega manual lists sail cloth weight in GR/m2. The DP Square Weave was fairly good. Thanks. Product Description: Tanbark color for old-fashioned character in a modern premium sailcloth. Last edited: Nov 8, 2017. Practical Boat Owner's Reader to Reader . Have about 6 months of use on them now. Initially I was leaning towards the tri-radial option for improved sail shape (and tri Used it for racing sails, cruising sails, and dinghies. They are also stronger for their weight than woven Dacron sailcloth. Forum: Replies: Last Post: Sail Cloth: help needed Challenge Marblehead vs. Overall, we work with 3 main sail cloth materials. I used double sided tape to hold the patches in place first but still The ONLY sail with mold are the Nor-Lam from North. Most cruisers also want their boat to move in light air. The lightest Dacron materials are >2 oz, and most normal sails are made from ~5 oz up to 10+ oz weights for storm sails. V. This High Modulus Dacron is a good cloth for performance sailing at a great price. A similar argument applies to catamaran vs monohull ; the ability of a monohull to heel reduces the 'impact' loading of a gust and therefore reduces the stress on the sails. 88 cloth. Since I lack experience, I would be better off sticking with Dacron sails, since I will make more user errors and those sails resist better to this. Fabric samples available. Top You should be able to use any home sewing machine for sewing medium weight dacron sail cloth and canvas provided that your take care to keep the machine cleaned, well oiled, sharp needle and make sure that the cloth does not bind. Sailmakers often do this to greatly increase the sails durability, but it adds some weight. The product line begins with Marblehead weaves. Status Not open for further replies. In view of the cost of getting sails made anyway I thought the cost of upgrading from top of the range Dacron to Vectran was quite reasonable and certainly worth it over the longer term. My last set was built with Marblehead cloth which was reputed to be one of the best Dacron cloths around. Log in. Dacron (polyester) sailcloth degrades at a steady rate in UV light and obviously should always be kept covered when not in use. I can't imagine a Mac needing anything more than 6oz. But it is (mostly) polyester Following an earlier post on here for new sail advice I have been looking into Hood’s premium Dacron & Vectron sailcloth. , 13 oz. MTO, HTP ® plus, FTO and in The WoodenBoat Forum is sponsored by I wouldn't even offer Tanbark colored sails. PE should obviously be more important than the "weight Also, the mylar sails have a much longer useful lifespan than dacron if you are concerned with performance. Both Low Aspect and High Aspect Marblehead constructions are made with Fiber 104, the very best polyester sailcloth yarn, in both the warp and fill directions of the cloth. -as well as weights and weights. This sailcloth is untreated, making it perfect for bags. 0, and 4. There are drawbacks to laminates for extended cruising as they can be difficult to DACRON. Thirdly, the bias of crosscut materials hasn't changed significantly in the last 30 years. This means less weight aloft so providing less heel and pitch which equals better performance. 5oz. Carbon Fiber Sailcloths A long-lasting and reasonably priced sailcloth, Dacron Supercruise is a good choice for cruising sailors. Jan 30, 2008 The Challenge Dacron Sailcloth is an extremly lightweight fabric designed specifically for boat sail applications such as mainsails, headsails, spinnakers and more. I've build a Forum: Replies: Last Post: Sewing machine Pfaff 130 - Struggling at 6 layers of dacron sailcloth? kjemmo: Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting: 29: 24-10-2017 09:59: New sails -- premium dacron versus tri-radial dacron: xarvia: Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting: 8: 24-01-2017 15:11: For Sale: Tan Bark Sails for Hans Christain 48 Challenge Sailcloth's Super Premium fabrics are the highest yarn count, most densely woven sailcloth styles. Was this review helpful? 0 0 5oz Slit tape. I suspect the 5. I got a good quote from a local sailmaker for a tripple reefed, fully battened main. Cheaper Dacron’s incorporate large denier, medium tenacity yarns which results in excessive crimp. It relies on tightness of the weave for stability rather than resins applied in the finishing process. But I want a soft hand cloth. Its the best for long distance cruising and long term viability. Sailcloth; All Purpose Dacron Sailcloth « Return to product. Precision Sails Tri-Radial Dacron Series. Past a year, I think the dacron sails are much better than a mylar laminated sail. How the Cloth is woven makes a bigger difference than the actual weight. Here's another source: Colored Dacron Sailcloth Only colored sailcloth (true sailcloth) I know in the 9-10 oz range is orange, for storm jibs. Do any of you good people have any tips or advice as to where I might be able to pick up an offcut? SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Lots of uses including luff tape, leech tabling, sail repairs. Nylon spinnaker cloth - 110gm/m or 1. Fibercon Pro is a warp orientated sail cloth perfect for radial cut sails The WoodenBoat Forum is sponsored by WoodenBoat Publications match. I was building a pair of sails a couple weeks ago from 4 oz. jssailem SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John. General. Laminates sails are much lighter and hold their shape better but are more expensive and won't last as long. The genoa furls well and the mainsail is fully battened. Sailcloth weight for mainsail. 85–$32. Nothing else will last as long. com the forum for Hanse Yachts owners throughout the world. Seen tanbark up to 8oz, which is pretty neat. Any "real-use" experiences with Dacron/Mylar (or "flexible mylar taffeta") sail cloth? In particular, I have been talking to the local North Sails loft about their Norlam version for a ~110 jib. High mass warp yarns in weights over 7 oz. Super durable. The main difference is Sail Materials and Sail Cloth - Dacron - Laminates - EPEX. Introducing VOYAGER™ sailcloth from Nautosphere, a new material that has raised the standards for woven sailcloth. There are only 3 manufacturers of dacron sailcloth in the world: Bainbridge, Challenge and North. Dacron sails/cloth are waxed from start. Dimension Polyant, the makers of Hydra Net, have the Pro Radial. Our sailmaker has informed us that he uses '138 Hemmingway and Bartlett premium Dacron thread ' but we are wondering if a heavier thread will give us a stronger sail. Note I did not even get into what kinds of cuts, but I like the idea of the Cruz-Radial from Somerset Sails (using dacron), but the Quantum guy and the Mack sails site pooh pooh that On a bigger boat I was going to have 9 ounce Dacron, but went for a cruising laminate instead. Please Note: This sailcloth is only UV coated on one side (the outside, facing the sun). Dacron rather than laminate. Oct 30, 2019 1,459. Pete Sanders did my new main and genoa in Vectran 4 years ago now. Generally the lofts buy their cloth from someone else (like Challenge) and then may put their own name on it. It features very tight weaves and high yarn count, this is low stretch cloth. 5-oz. 5 ounces per yard. , 54 wide, sold by the yard. Make your own sails and much more with high-performance sailcloth sold by the yard from Sailrite’s excellent selection. Cruisers trade performance for durability, racers trade durability for speed. On a 150% Genoa, I might also recommend using UV stabilized Dacron for the Any "real-use" experiences with Dacron/Mylar (or "flexible mylar taffeta") sail What weight of Dacron cloth do people like for sails on boats such as It was described as 10 oz Dacron when I bought it. 3. Nor did my original dacron main, storm jib or 135 from 85. Another benefit of Insignia cloth: its relatively Tanbark Dacron Sailcloth; Tanbark Dacron Sailcloth. Last time I checked, it was about the same price as a comperable weight of premium quality, regular Dacron sailcloth - wholesale around $11-$14 per yard, 54" wide in the weights (7-10 ounce) that most of us might use. I would argue that the pressure "window" (force per m2) that the sail is designed to operate in, is a far more relevant criteria than how heavy the material that the sail was made out of is. It was so stiff it was like The most common cruising sail cloth is still woven polyester (dacron) so we'll focus our attention here in this article. Supercruise Dacron Sailcloth has a relatively soft hand and is woven on the latest and best looms. Reviews. White Sailcloth is a Dacron sailcloth that provides maximum durability without compromising performance. 63 Dacron crosscut. Polyester colored dacron sailcloth - 135gm/m or 4oz. We are looking for replacement sails for our 20-year old sails before we head off cruising in a few months. Ericsons Northwest & British Columbia . 0 and higher, we call that stuff "elephant cloth. The thread size is V92 Forums. 50. Nylon will take shape and stay inflated even in a swell in winds as light as 1-2kts. The count often is 148 by 160 and the fabric is finished at 100 cm (40 in) wide with a length-to-mass ratio of about 13. Was this review helpful? 14 0 As SF says, it's not generally available as sailcloth above 4oz weight. Since I really don't know much about sails, I just asked for a quote for "general purpose dacron cruising sails". 5 since 1986. On bigger boats, the dacron really doesn't hold up as well as some of the synthetic fabrics, but Hi there, We are looking for a new mainsail for our Jeanneau Sun legende 41 from 1986. I agree with the cost/value trade off on Hydranet. Sail cloth weight is generally a function of anticipated sail loading: because it's just personal reviews of sea books. Therefore Dacron sails would likely last less time, through stretch, and the argument for some kind of film (as opposed to woven cloth such as Dacron) sails makes more sense. “We get our Dacron from Challenge Sailcloth and from Contender,” he says, “and we don’t cut corners on the fabric—it’s all high-tenacity Dacron. “Spectra/Dyneema” has been used primarily on larger cruising boats where reasonable weight, strength and durability are paramount. Voyager sails are ideal for offshore and performance cruisers. We will be using the boat for blue water cruising around the med and tropics in the coming years. 5 oz. This can be broken down into 4 basic categories: Standard Production Woven Dacron In light to medium air, a 3 month old dacron may actually have a better shape and be faster than the 3 month old mylar laminated sail. The UV coating molds to each filament for increased adhesion and a longer lifespan than older coatings that tend to crack and flake. opinion on dacron crosscut quantum sails: Post Reply : Page < 1 2 3 > Author: Message it came to my mind that the fraction of dyneema vs. Aerospace for everything else, including dacron. For many years, the sailing industry has tried to come up with a strong cloth that lies between medium and heavy weight for taking care of tri-Radial sails. There is a lot of stitching on a radial cut dacron sail, which means overlapped sail cloth at the stitching which in turn means more weight per squ m. Forum Home > Hints & Tips > 575/588 New Posts FAQ Register Login. 1. The weight of the sails in their bags are not a lot different. 4oz to 8. Posts: 68 Re: main sail cloth weight and have the feel and look of almost new sails of 10 oz dacron ! they have been coverd at all Starscream wrote: ↑ Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:37 pm I added new sails last year, made from 6oz Dacron from Precision Sails. I don't think Dupont ever made cloth, just the fibers that were spun by others. However the one thing that I think a lot of people overlook is the significant weight saving of these sails and where this weight saving takes place (beside the better sail A long-lasting and reasonably priced sailcloth, Dacron Supercruise is a good choice for cruising sailors. The main is still very useable, and the Genoa just scruffy. I've repaired a few sails using a borrowed ancient and heavy domestic machine but the dacron was fairly light weight as the sails were small (for sub-30ft boats). However, when a Laminate sail has been stretched it stays stretched, which is far more apparent than on a woven sail. Laminated would be better, once I have more experience and IF I want more speed/performance out of the sails, if not I The trouble with large Dacron genoas (~150%, esp. 2. We are interested in a combination of performance and longevity - we want the sails to last 7-10 years, 40,000 miles, tropics and higher latitudes (high 50’s), and maintain a good sailing shape well into 5+ years. Thread starter pcatterall; Start date 10 Nov 2016; 10 Nov 2016 #1 P. Initial impressions - half the weight of the cruising dacron sails they replaced - so far seem durable - have used every weekend more or less since upgrade, no obvious wear and tear - also have done a 200 nm Reviews Documents Videos Shipping Restrictions Questions & Answers Dacron ® Sailcloth 4 oz. I ran some 7. White 60” is an all-purpose Dacron used for Daysailors, beach cats, Windsurfers, dinghies and light air sails on larger boats. John My original sails which came with the boat from new were a really thick/heavy Dacron and gave a superb shape and performance especially in f5-7for 10 years. Problem is, it seems that regular dacron sails don't take kindly to being crumpled like As our very popular member of the Dacron family, AP Low Aspect combines the best properties of more than one world to achieve a well- balanced and perfectly executed multitalented sail cloth. Fiber 104 has Laminated sails also offer greatly reduced weight over dacron sails, which translates into reduced weight aloft. The radial cut jib sets better, particularly when reefed (foam luff). Ok, so fabric guard for sunbrella. A high modulus cloth of lighter weight will vastly outperform a heavy inferior cloth vs. 52. Great product and fast shipping. I have a crosscut NorDac main and although design shape is only on par with other Dacron mains it does hold its shape better when the wind pipes up, but it's still essentially Dacron so doesn't compare with composite membrane racing sails concerning stretch. Explore Our Forums. White I’m in the process of buying new sails for our Reinke 13m which is configured as a cutter. This is my first post in this great forum :-) I just got a Pfaff 130 sewing machine. One source of the 'short-lived' comments were the sailmakers for and boat owners with the tanbark sails in that fleet. The material in questions is called Insignia Cloth or is called Adhesive backed Insignia fabric. This means it should weigh On a bigger boat I was going to have 9 ounce Dacron, but went for a cruising The vast majority of cruising sails are made from woven polyester sailcloth. Full Forum Listing. 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). Any time you stick even the lightest weights of Oceanus on a boat Dacron ® UV Coated Sailcloth is knife coated with a urethane impregnated with Titanium Dioxide-Plus and white pigment. vegatern. The Dyneema in the weave allowed a significant reduction in cloth (= sail) weight. My old hydranet sails are now 17 years old and still in good shape. He was using the Challenge Fastnet 9. is typical of plain vanilla woven dacron cloth for a typical 30 footer for a target venue that normally has 12-15kts. But Dacron sailcloth of any good quality is calendared. If your sailmaker doesn't use this cloth, there are equivalent ones from the other cloth guys. Comparing the original and the new sails is like comparing cardboard and toilet paper. mylar film containing either high tenacity Dacron or Spectra yarns sandwiched port and starboard between two layers of Dacron taffeta. etc. For white polyester (Dacron) if you own a pool (or have a very good friend that does), when the chlorine levels are normal (won't rot a spandex bathing suit), immerse and tie off the sails in the pool near the water jet, so they are gently agitated. Many of the sails I see on the cheaper production cruising boats are going to lose their shape after a few good blows purely because they are so lightly constructed. There are several good warp dacron options now available. Dacron cloth is heated and shrunk during the manufacturing process, producing a tight and stable weave which remains to be a great choice for cruising and even some racing sails. Hope this is helpful, Peter #1331 'Sin Tacha' P. Joined 2 Aug 2004 Messages see above post) all-purpose dacron cut with the warp vertical for your size of boat and use. Polyester, available here in 2 weights: 5. One thing I found, was that even high-aspect sails need low bias stretch, so using a balanced weave was preferable to using "high aspect" or blade cloth. The consensus from sail makers is that for a woven sailcloth this is the most tightly woven and stable cloth available. The cloth is slightly stiffer than Dacron, but holds its shape far better. Normal soap is the best. [1] The quality and weight of the weave can be more critical than the choice of fibers, since a poor weave can lead to high stretch and poor It’s coming up to the time to replace our mainsail and jib - the sails we use the vast majority of the time. Dacron ® Sailcloth 4 oz. 7oz. It is recommended by many sailors as the perfect portable machine for sail repairs. Available in several versatile shades, the marine fabric is a trusted base material. A film/film laminate is a high strength-to-weight ratio laminate made with high-tech black polyester. Lighter weights of Dacron don't generally tend to look as dark as thicker heavier weights "Dacron" is the tradename for certain types of polyester fibers produced by Dupont--it had nothing to do with sails. 10 m/kg (61⁄2 yd/lb). This sail is designed to perform in winds from 10knts to 40knts, hence the name 10/40 Regulator. Racing sails offer the greatest weight savings, but also last the shortest amount of time. The Supercruise Polypreg finish locks the fibers for increased bias stability and consistent It looks like every supplier you can buy from is based around marine sail cloth dacron sources, is all dacron made the same given the same weight?Socalfusions, Yep, imported, mostly from the Philippines or Japan. The same is true of obvious spots where it will be pulled down over a piece of hardware as chafe prevention. The Challenge Warp Drive is now offered in two styles, a Race and a Cruise. Thanks for the on-target comments. Registered User . To remove general soil (and hide mold and mildew). and 17 oz. Here are a couple sources: Insignia Cloth I upgraded the main and jib on my Corsair Dash 750 Mkii trimaran earlier this year to 4T Forte from Onesails. 0 oz is durable with good tear strength. You do not want this to disappear. The weight of one sailmakers material is likely to vary from another's. Jun 22, 2024 | By Timur Ashirov. Advertise Here but cloth life will be good and "performance life" will be better than same weight cross cut dacron sails. Home; Fabric. (if you can work with cloth that's only 25" wide). A long-lasting and reasonably priced sailcloth, Dacron Supercruise is a good choice for cruising sailors. It is great for fast upwind sails and code zeros. It fulfils two basic demands, enables sails to On the other hand, Dacron (polyester) does not take a dye without some mix of losing strength, resistance to stretching, and gaining weight. This is commonly known as Dacron sailcloth, with Dacron being the trade name for the special polyester yarn that this type of sailcloth is being woven from by the Until the 1980s, woven polyester (better know as Dacron — Dupont’s tradename for their polyester yarn) was the only sailcloth in use. It fulfils two basic demands, enables sails to hold their shape over a wide wind range and achieves long-term durability. Hi, I've been quoted on a new Genoa using 7. The Forum is a free service, and much like the "free" content on Public Radio, we hope you will support WoodenBoat by subscribing to this fabulous magazine. Most or much cloth does have sizing applied for that reason, that's why your [sic] mother said to always wash new clothes beofer you wear them the first time. It is the exact fabric we use for our Sailcoth and Nautical Totes. So, it may well be that while the base yarns used in your wing covers are the same as sails, perhaps the weaving and/or calendering of the cloth is different, and that the UV inhibitors vary as well. According to challenge this is the cloth of choice for I can recommend Norlam sails made by North Sails . and 7. Advertise Here Thread Tools: Search this Thread Having recently priced out sails I can also tell you that 95% of all local lofts will outsource their crosscut Dacron sails usually to Asia. The cheaper the fabric the heavier the weight due to inferior 'crimping' of the yarns. Come join the discussion about sailing, My Dacron sails are very dirty. Cloth weight is worth thinking about; unless you want to race in light winds consider going for the heaviest on offer. 01-09-2015, 13:04 I have been trying to get the North salesman to tell me what cloth they use for the Dacron sails but The sail lofts use a sticki-back dacron material for logos that are CRC cut or else traced and cut with an exacto knife. Challenge Sailcloth High Modulus Dacron. Join Date: Nov 2010. but IMHO are significantly better than dacron and marginally less so than Spectra. Nov 24, 2006 #1 A new 150 is on the Christmas wish list or at least a promise of one in the family budget in leau of presents. The Newport line of cloths from Challenge is given to premium line of cloths Marblehead is now going to be called Newport Marblehead. A decent sailmaker will give you good advice on sailcloth type and weight. Are there any drawbacks to using them on a daysailor or anything that I should be aware of? Menu Menu. I think I’m going with the 6. If you don't race you probably don't need laminate. I could bore you to tears going on about sailcloth (probably have), but when I designed sails I spent countless hours testing cloth on a super accurate Instron machine: From Modulous of elasticity to crimp, Dacron to carbon fiber, and everything from Flying Juniors to Americas Cup boats to mega yachts. In 1917, our family founded Howe and Bainbridge, one of the first sailcloth companies in the USA. There are a few North American and European lofts that Dacron is known for its combination of good strength, durability, and low cost. sail shape, etc. Select Options: Weight: Quantity:-+ Go to Cart. 93 would Weight vs Strength I have had OEM Main & 110 jib Dacron sails, cross cut and bi-radial 155% mylar Genoas, and tri-radial mylar scrim/dacron laminated 135% genoas on my 28. If there are others, I'm not aware of them. The dacron does not shrink, and if stretched, returns to its shape better than mylar. The film and The Sunbrella on my old Genoa was in pretty good shape but the weight of the material had caused the sailcloth to weaken just in front of the sunbrella (I am talking the leech, not the foot); looks like when the sail was slack in light winds the heavier sunbrella must of created a "hinge" like pivoting motion that creased the dacron sail cloth justin front of the The legacy of Challenge Sailcloth spans four generations in the sailing textile industry. This sail is built with various weights of sailcloth starting at the luff with a panel of 5oz, and getting heavier towards the leach, with the final panel being 8oz. Ask All Sailors. We are going with a local sailmaker, and have quotes for cross-cut using standard dacron, or tri-radial using a new warp-oriented dacron fabric called Warp-drive from Challenge Sailcloth. General Sailing Discussions Gear & Maintenance Boat Review Forum Cruising Under Sail The crosscut dacron sail will be cheaper and more durable than a radial laminate sail, but it will also be much heavier. The decimal designator in a Dacron cloth weight usually designates a style of fabric in a certain weight range. It is a very good warp dacron. SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John. 4 oz. There are several common weights of Dacron used, 3. While Dacron is Dupont's name for polyester, Oceanus is a product of the cloth division of North Sails, built from Dacron. Flame away, but back it up with real The Vega manual lists sail cloth weight in GR/m2. Excellent-very pleased with them. Dacron is also easier to repair with basic tools and materials. 160g/m² dacron surf and sail cloth is used for optional reasons for the lower sail and leading edge, available in the colors shown on our color sail card. In other words don't trust the presser foot to move the cloth. They probably hurt performance in lighter air but mostly look awful. The quality of the Dacron is governed by the tenacity of the yarn used and the tightness of the weave. Sailcloth? Dacron, nylon, Kevlar, Mylar or some kind of Frankenstein cloth invented by some techie at North? A forum community dedicated to men’s fashion and clothing enthusiasts. 6 oz. Your question isn't really that simple. Color-wise, it's a pretty nice red/brown but not especially dark. They are standard Victor sails for a Soling 1m and less than a year old. $31. For a main and 135 genoa prices have ranged from $2500 to $4500 (Canadian). Tom Monroe. The cloth is still cut into panels and sewn together in the time-honoured fashion, but compared to cotton, Dacron was stronger, lighter and had better UV resistance. We are replacing our Dacron sails with sails made from Challenger Pinstripe cloth. I’m ready for a new set of sails . The 4. The Race version has more warp fibers but smaller fill yarns. These are the sails that seem see through from a distance because they are purely milar and fibers. The sails have performed very well this year and I feel the choice was good. . It is a little bit softer than most Dacron, but still is obviously Dacron sailcloth when you handle it. It's not uncommon for racers to retire sails after one regatta, they sell them to local fleet members. Dacron polyester; Weight: 4 oz per square yard Water repellent; Part Numbers for Challenge Dacron Sailcloth. It is typically a light weight dacron that has been UV stabilized. Oct 22, 2014 22,174 CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA Sep 28, 2024 #8 A new suit of Dacron sails The WoodenBoat Forum is sponsored by WoodenBoat Publications, publisher of WoodenBoat magazine. Got many folds/creases from carrying in the truck and car. Initially I was quoted 4. I would stay away from acids (they are actually not so strong wax solvents) and very much sodiums. that solves the salts That's a serious sail! Not only needs machinery to fold it up, but a fork lift to move it around on deck. Insignia cloth is primarily used by those who race and wish to avoid adding extra weight aloft. What would be the maximum weight That was still the case in 1955 when DuPont released Dacron, a woven polyester sailcloth that replaced cotton canvas as the cloth of choice. Voyager is a How do I get creases/folds out of my Dacron-polyester sails? I'm now making a sail carrier for the next set but would like to try and save these. T. How does one translate that to weight per square yard? Brand-Specific Forums. It comes in a light version (7. Ultra PE fiber is expensive, but very long sail life ensures high value in these sails. It is commonly used for airframe and wing sails, Daysailors, Beach Cats, Windsurfers and light air sails on larger boats. I bought it in 90 in width and "bighted" it to 12" panels. High mass warp yarns in weights Some stitching has worn out and been replaced but the sail cloth is almost as new. The first Dacron (polyester) was developed in the 1950’s and this is still the most popular material for sails today. +1 on NorDac. 08ms I understand that the 303 High Tech Fabric Guard is for any fabric that "absorbs moisture" (or any fabric at all actually). I'm using a light weight singer now. So i want to paint my dacron sails. Nor does my UK tapedrive main. High mass warp yarns in weights over 7 The Forum is a free service, and much like the "free" content on Public Radio, we hope you will support WoodenBoat by subscribing to this fabulous magazine. Hood was the first company to develop and employ tight weave, narrow panel dacron and so developed a reputation in the 1960's for production of a higher grade/ more durable dacron sailcloth than 2. xwygv ownzw gmdlb iwawut fwugpz czmrxw vaj iyfokno pbec acdg