I'm about to place an order for a new genoa for cruising & racing on my
24' boat, and have received a bewildering array of styles and prices,
from a straight cut Dacron genoa to a tri-radial Kevlar laminate genoa.
Priced in the middle are materials such as Twaron, Polykote and Pentex.


A big deal is made of sail cut. The Dacron sails are usually offered
straight cut (Non radial cut) and the laminated fabrics seem to be
offered more radially cut than not.

Does the stretch of a Dacron sail produce the required shape (In the
middle of each panel) and outweigh the need to have the additional
radial panel pattern?

Am I best off going for a laminated genoa that is non-radial cut,
rather than a radial-cut dacron genoa? (Some sailmakers offer
attractive prices on Twaron laminate, not radially cut)

Am I better off paying more £ for a sail with a radial cut in Dacron
or a laminate, just the laminate or not for either? (Just going for a
sail in a laminate with a straight cut)

Many thanks in advance for your opinions and experiences

Artie

Artie,

I faced the same issue some years ago.

It came around to how competative are you now and how much you want to
spend.

No One does radial cut Dacron these days (you found that - too).
Dacron will successfully block the helmsman's view for years with out
failing. They can be stuffed into a bag (if dry) and used for bedding
for tired crew. It will only be "race quality" for two -maybe three-
seasons. It will "blow-out" (stretch out of shape) if worked hard in
heavy weather and to some extent even if not.

Once you get to laminate construction the price increase per feature is
not really a big part of the total cost. Even the laminates that are
radial cut are not that much more than the directions yarn reinforced
sails and they sure do work well. It hold its original shape for three
years of serious and heavy use and be just find up to winds where you
are (or should be) terrified. Problem: The cost of any laminate sail is
significantly greater than any fabric sail. The laminate sails require
careful handling to prevent damage. Worst is the fact that the
adhesive has a functional life of about 8 years - in the bag or on the
rig.

My suggestions:
If you are currently racing and consistently in the top half of the
fleet, go for a directionally reinforced laminate and plan on spending
as much next year on a main to match. Get your current set repaired
and recut for cruising.

If you were not in contention for trophies this last season, go with
Darcon or maybe Pentex, but when you and the boat are capable of sailing
in the top half then spring for the big money sails.

My situation-
My inventory
I have a 26 footer (S2-7.9) that I have raced, I got it with a very
complete set of laminate racing sails. By the end of the first season,
half were junk. I now have a small set of racing sails that do not live
on the boat and do not even get on the boat except to go racing. When
back in the slip they go out to the lawn and get rolled of folded and
hauled home until the next race. I also have a collection of nearly
good fabric sails that live on the boat and get put in the car when we
go racing.

How much different are the cruising sails?
It takes about a knot or two more air for me to get on the polar.
88-90 between tacks instead of 83-85 and definitely better pinch.

I hope this helps, if I can be more help - I'm here alot.

Matt Colie A.sloop "Bonne Ide'e" S2-7.9 #1
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Pathological Sailor


Arturo Ui wrote:
I'm about to place an order for a new genoa for cruising & racing on my
24' boat, and have received a bewildering array of styles and prices,
from a straight cut Dacron genoa to a tri-radial Kevlar laminate genoa.
Priced in the middle are materials such as Twaron, Polykote and Pentex.


A big deal is made of sail cut. The Dacron sails are usually offered
straight cut (Non radial cut) and the laminated fabrics seem to be
offered more radially cut than not.

Does the stretch of a Dacron sail produce the required shape (In the
middle of each panel) and outweigh the need to have the additional
radial panel pattern?

Am I best off going for a laminated genoa that is non-radial cut,
rather than a radial-cut dacron genoa? (Some sailmakers offer
attractive prices on Twaron laminate, not radially cut)

Am I better off paying more £ for a sail with a radial cut in Dacron
or a laminate, just the laminate or not for either? (Just going for a
sail in a laminate with a straight cut)

Many thanks in advance for your opinions and experiences

Artie

Racing sails are faster than cruising sails. If you don't race, you don't
need them because you're only talking about a few tenths of a knot, and a
few degrees of pointing ablility. Racing sails won't help you pick up girls,
they won't help you join the RYS, they REQUIRE more care, and carefully
folded storage in proper bags, by trained crew.

If you do race anyone, please remember that where you are going is more
important than what you are doing, and how you are doing it, unless you are
right next to your competitor, i.e. the Americas Cup.



"Arturo Ui" wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm about to place an order for a new genoa for cruising & racing on my
24' boat, and have received a bewildering array of styles and prices,
from a straight cut Dacron genoa to a tri-radial Kevlar laminate genoa.
Priced in the middle are materials such as Twaron, Polykote and Pentex.


A big deal is made of sail cut. The Dacron sails are usually offered
straight cut (Non radial cut) and the laminated fabrics seem to be
offered more radially cut than not.

Does the stretch of a Dacron sail produce the required shape (In the
middle of each panel) and outweigh the need to have the additional
radial panel pattern?

Am I best off going for a laminated genoa that is non-radial cut,
rather than a radial-cut dacron genoa? (Some sailmakers offer
attractive prices on Twaron laminate, not radially cut)

Am I better off paying more £ for a sail with a radial cut in Dacron
or a laminate, just the laminate or not for either? (Just going for a
sail in a laminate with a straight cut)

Many thanks in advance for your opinions and experiences

Artie