Good sailcloth for JR

  • 26 Dec 2017 22:22
    Reply # 5649055 on 1206989

    Safety is improved by coloured sails as well. Grey sea, grey sky and murky visibility make a white sails disappear while a dark colour continues to stand out.

  • 26 Dec 2017 08:24
    Reply # 5648536 on 1206989

    I find that colours towards the red end of the spectrum are easier on the eyes, both when sewing sails and when using them, and I think this is because they are absorbing the UV, rather than reflecting it into my eyes as blue does. Silver would be terrible, worse than white, but if light coloured sails are desired, cream colour is not too bad.

    White sails are a common choice because white cloth is less expensive to produce - it's not that the cloth is coloured white but that there is an absence of colour - the fibre has not had to go through a dying process. 

    Last modified: 26 Dec 2017 08:32 | Anonymous member
  • 26 Dec 2017 04:08
    Reply # 5648449 on 1206989
    Deleted user

    Coloured sails can have the advantage of less glare than white sails. I didn't realise how much easier on the eyes they could be until I had some, tan sails both in China Girl II and Ivory Gull.

    Last modified: 26 Dec 2017 04:10 | Deleted user
  • 25 Dec 2017 23:38
    Reply # 5648362 on 1206989

    A five-year warranty is a five-year warranty.  Significantly, they only give three years on the red, which I suspect fades.

    I wouldn't agree that your present colour scheme looks 'heavy', but if you're used to everyone having a white boat, colours can be a bit of a culture shock.  I'd have a coloured sail, myself, but then, I love colours!  Look at my 'avatar'!

    Last modified: 25 Dec 2017 23:40 | Anonymous member
  • 25 Dec 2017 19:53
    Reply # 5648242 on 1206989
    Deleted user

    It has been mentioned that dark color fabrics tend to have better UV-resistance compared to light color ones. My boat's color scheme being already kinda "heavy" will be prettier with White sail, I think. Maybe Silver would be fine also, Royal would be the last choice. Talking about Weathermax 80 color options.

    Here is the current look

    Is the UV-resistance for White actually that bad it should really be avoided?

    Last modified: 25 Dec 2017 19:55 | Deleted user
  • 25 Dec 2017 19:48
    Reply # 5648240 on 5648009
    Hard Perk wrote: Does anyone know if the Weathermax 80 is one-sided and how well does it last under the sunlight?

    I am about to start making a new sail and haven't been able to decide if I should go for Weathermax 80 or Dacron. 

    I read, somewhere, a review that said Weathermax outlasted Sunbrella.  I had a suit of Sunbrella sails on Badger that lasted 11 years and 80,000 miles and were never covered.  They still had a fair bit of life left in them when they were replaced.  So the Weathermax should last at least as long and a lot longer than Dacron. 
  • 25 Dec 2017 17:39
    Reply # 5648156 on 1206989
    Deleted user

    It is not coated and looks the same on each side.  5 year warranty I think. It is softer than Sunbrella and folds/packs down really well. If you are interested in WM80, consider also getting samples of the regular WM and the two weights of Top Notch. All four are similar products.


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  • 25 Dec 2017 13:26
    Reply # 5648009 on 5625660
    Deleted user
    Annie Hill wrote:Unless you are using a very light fabric, puckering is almost always caused by the tension top and bottom being out of sync.  Another possibility is that you need more foot pressure.  I've been surprised what a difference that can make.

    Sebastian has now made a number of sails from Weathermax.  He could be your 'go to' man for advice.  (Sorry, Sebastian!)


    Does anyone know if the Weathermax 80 is one-sided and how well does it last under the sunlight?

    I am about to start making a new sail and haven't been able to decide if I should go for Weathermax 80 or Dacron. 

  • 22 Dec 2017 06:59
    Reply # 5645868 on 1206989
    I had a long discussion with myself about the colour of the new sail and almost went for wine red - on the other hand I like the excellent visibility of the yellow. I didn't find good polyester webbing that would have suited the wine red cloth, but found it in yellow. Also,  my daughter kept insisting for the latter (yellow being her favourite colour). These things finally settled it :)
  • 22 Dec 2017 02:18
    Reply # 5645740 on 1206989
    It looks like nice stuff, Jami, and seriously UV resistant.  Not, I suppose, that this is a big worry for you.  Still, when you decide to sail around the world ...

    I like the yellow :)


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