Hi Scott, 

Still studying purpose-made sailcloth, and the various marine fabrics, in particular the WeatherMAX LT you mention, plus Odyssey III which are both in the right weight range for my purpose. I do appreciate your kind offer. And I enjoy your videos on Lake Michigan - among other details of your SV, I was inspired early on by your choice of incorporating a mast tabernacle.

Mostly I'm concerned with any fabric lacking UV protection on one side, as with any fabric made and marketed to be applied to a surface and therefore having an "A" and "B" side, with test methods and published characteristics which therefore apply only to the top side. I've read an least one story where single-side-treated material has failed in relatively short order when used in a sail, where the back side was literally never intended to see the light of day.

Yet I know you and others here have likely had great experiences with these alternative materials. 

More reading and learning to do...

-Steve

Anonymous wrote:

Hi Mark,

for Ilvy's 35 m2 sail I used Swela Outguard (190 g/m2), and we are more than happy with it!

I think it is distributed all over Europe. If I remember correctly, one of our finnish members also used it.

Cheers,

Paul

Hi, I've been trying to find a source for this in the UK but have failed. The best offer is a full 60m roll @ £14.50/m bought over from Germany from Swela!!! I am currently waiting for samples from extremtextile in Germany

If you use polyester aka Dacron sail cloth, you will have to cover the sail, especially if you head towards the Equator.

Thanks everyone,  I will take a look.

All the best.

Hi Mark,

for Ilvy's 35 m2 sail I used Swela Outguard (190 g/m2), and we are more than happy with it!

I think it is distributed all over Europe. If I remember correctly, one of our finnish members also used it.

Cheers,

Paul