A fully integrated and powerful computer code controls the entire . This makes it a sought-after choice for those involved in racing or simply anyone looking for a tight and accurate response. First, the fibres buried between the laminates are virtually uncrimped (not woven in and out), so theres little or no intitial stretch in taking up the crimp. This narrow tape is perfect for holding polyester sails. Poly laminate sails cost very little compared to most sails and sail materials. It also isn't uncommon to find companies that offer products developed from a combination of materials, such as those developed from aramid-kevlar or numerous other custom-made fabrics. Laminators. Laminate Repair Tape is an adhesive-backed repair tape for laminate racing sails. Copyright 2023 Cruising World. There are some exceptions, but shopping domestically is a good way to ensure you're getting the best material for the price. They're also more resistant to pests, rot, and decay, which gives them a longer service life. 7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat >>, Can You Live On A Sailboat Year Round? Developed for either the use as light upwind sails or as medium to heavy air reaching sail, the popularity of the once developed for offshore racing fabrics are now gaining in popularity in CZ Silver incorporates our proprietary non-reflective film to achieve a slicker, more flexible surface to facilitate roller furling. Currently, there are eight different fibers used in sailmaking: carbon fiber, Spectra/Dyneema, Twaron, Technora, Kevlar, Vectran, polyester, and Pentax (which is basically Dacron on steroids). And, of course, a new suit of sails should be able to withstand the occasional Uh-oh moment and have the ability to be regularly reefed and still retain proper shape, which is imperative. Alternatively, some lofts are now creating the laminate fabric as they manufacture the sail. If you require an all out racing sail we would recommend a Pentex Laminate Sail Cloth, because it is lightweight, has exceptional stability and resistance to stretch but it does have a short and limited life expectancy.. Cruising Laminates are designed to provide a . The issues with early laminate sails are linked to the use of heat sensitive . Only three of theseDacron, Vectran, and Spectracan be readily woven into a viable sail fabric. Different sailmaking styles and cloths are evident in this trio of racing and cruising boats under way. {{#each pushedProductsPlacement5}}, With NauticExpo you can: Find a nearby distributor or reseller| Contact the manufacturer to get a quote or a price | Examine product characteristics and technical specifications for major brands | View PDF catalogues and other online documentation. As a former sail consultant for Hood Sails, I know that when it comes to new sails, cost is a primary concern for many sailors. The best sailcloth for offshore cruising is difficult to choose. Taffeta is a woven fabric, most often polyester, that makes up the outside surfaces of the laminate, and is there to provide durability, UV and chafe resistance to the sail. Generally speaking, higher weight sailcloth is more durable but also heavier. Laminated sails are not significantly faster than good quality dacron sails in normal winds (between about 7-15 knots). The Code Zero GP line is taking the development of Code Zero high perfor- mance off-wind sails several steps further. Eventually, this method would later be replaced with cotton sails for its improved quality and canvas. . Most of the used sail market consists of woven polyester, a material known for being affordable, durable, and reliable. A laminate sail is a very hard-hitting construction and doesn't adjust as much through the change. Fabric. Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. The ultimate laminate sail would be what are now called membrane or string sails. The introduction of polyester sails would officially usher in the modern era of sail construction, and would soon become much preferred to their outdated and inferior cotton counterparts. Roll Laminating Machines; Pouch & Desktop Laminating Machines; Xyron Laminators Not surprisingly aramids are often the fiber of choice for racing sails, and can also be viable in laminated cruising sails, when properly protected from excess UV and flexing. Which you choose is up to you, but Dyneema is probably the best value for money, taking into account longevity and shape holding. ( 1 customer review) $ 3.29 sq/ft. Depending on the quality and there are many styles and qualities a sail made in polyester will generally be reliable and last a long time. Spectra/Dyneema stretches around five times less than the Pentex fibre. But if you're planning on racing or making a long offshore passage, it's worth considering other sailcloth materials more carefully. Carbon fiber sails are often the most expensive, as the material is costly to make and work with. The Australian 12-Meter Southern Cross tried using Kevlar fibers laminated to film and built as a crosscut sail before the 1974 Americas Cup. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. In the least expensive laminates the base fibre used is polyester, the fabric enjoying lower stretch than woven polyester because of the lack of crimp. Contender offers a range of optically clear films for dinghies and performance skiffs where a high film weightbrings the stability required for fast flying shapes.In a 3 mil film sailmakers and yachtsmen throughout the world, we have successfully developed a technologically sophisticated range of laminated sailcloths that meet the highest demands of modern sail design. The Kevlar patch contains 2 strong kevlar patches to apply on either side when repairing a laminate racing sail. ZigZag reinforced Pen Laminate for the racing sailor. Material weights range anywhere from 2oz to more than 10oz, and 4 to 6oz is most common for materials like Dacron. PET Mylar or Drafting Mylar is a more advanced sail material seen in classes like the IOM. Sold under the"Dacron" moniker in the U.S. and by the name "Terylene" in the U.K., these new sails were able to keep their shape for years at a time - a stark contrast to the previously used cotton equivalent. Ocean Navigator December 21, 2011. Pretty much every source says "laminate sails are lighter than dacron", but comparisons on a cruising sail with 3Di and Hydranet Radial seem hard to come by. On the other end of the spectrum is a fiber known as aramid, which is very lightweight yet also extremely resistant to stretching. But as boats got larger and more performance orientedand their sails became highly loaded sailmakers and cloth manufacturers developed and used fabrics that could better retain their shape. Kevlar is costly and worth considering for racing sailboats and offshore cruisers. However, sailmakers realized the potential, and since then, building sails using several versions of laminated fabric has become the default fabrication method for racing and high-performance sails. 7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat >>, Can You Live On A Sailboat Year Round? The tighter a sailcloth is woven, the better it will perform. At North, the Mylar film is still cut and glued together, but its then laid onto the mold, a huge articulating machine thats programmed to assume the same shape as the finished sail. Incredibly, the threshold for many high-performance racing laminates is measured in hours. We'll explain the differences between organic and synthetic sailcloth, along with when to choose standard or laminated material. For a laminate sail the vulnerable part will be the stitching, which is not chlorine-resistant. The fill is the fiber that runs across the roll of cloth and, in the case of crosscut sails, is the thicker and less crimped direction. 3Di, a special North Sails material that's made of woven filaments. The outer layer which forms the body and profile of the sail is made of stronger but flexible material (laminate proper) while the inner layer consists of more elastic fibers which can withstand . Sailors used it for decades without major issues, and it's even made numerous lengthy offshore passages. {{#pushedProductsPlacement4.length}} 5. There are also fiber path and membrane sails, which each employee specific production in manufacturing techniques to achieve a consistent and reliable bond. . Different sailmakers use proprietary techniques to unite the glue, the fiber, and the film as a working sail. The first Dacron (Polyester) was developed in the 50's and this is still the most popular material for sails today. Laminated sails, though popular, are less common due to their higher cost. As a result, gone are the days where delamination was the rule rather than the exception, and today, assuming quality laminates are used, you can be reasonably sure that even sophisticated sails will last a long time and give excellent service as well. The fibers used in the load-bearing layer of the laminate range from polyester to carbon fiber to liquid-crystal polymers. Prices are indicative only and may vary by country, with changes to the cost of raw materials and exchange rates. Joe Cooper is a former sailmaker whos sailed and raced boats ranging from dinghies to Americas Cup contenders. Do not use solvents or cleaning agents on sails without professional guidance. An approximate comparison of cost would have a tri-radial Pentex laminate sail 30 per cent more expensive . Breakthroughs in the world of sailcloth materials are taking place all the time, with experimental and innovative fibers hitting the market to accommodate nearly every type of sailor or sailboat imaginable. Thirdly, the fibres are aligned more accurately with the loads in the sail in a tri-radial or, ultimately, a membrane construction. Upwind sails in a trioptimal layout are typically made from a laminate cloth, that is a sandwich cloth constructed of more layers. Flex strength is a term used to indicate the capability of a given sail (and the material from which it's made) to maintain its strength after having been folded back and forth throughout the course of normal use. The goal is a stretch-resistant, shape-holding, lighter sail thats still affordable. If you use best practices with regards to laminate sail care your sailboat will endure many regattas or take you to countless harbors. This is my second roll. Opaque, slightly heavy. Shown data represent recommendations provided according to our experience and fibers technical features. All the above laminates are covered on each side by a lightweight taffeta. This can cause steering to become more difficult while also impacting the shape and effectiveness of the sail. The sail loft then takes the material and cuts the panels to make a sail. Ullman Sails offers a variety of services to help you maintain the quality of your current sail inventory. There is a wide spectrum of carbon fiber materials that exist for sailboat sails that can vary from nearly no stretch whatsoever, to highly flexible and durable sails which are comparable to other commonly used materials such as aramid. In this article, we will cover several of the most popular types of sailcloth. Very good Service: shipped same day as ordered, exceeded my expectation. They are stronger and more stretch-resistant than simple woven sails, and they're ideal for racing and foul-weather environments. A few early observations, my own and from others: . . The Contender Sailcloth crew consists largely of sailors. Colours: White, Red, Dark blue, yellow Available Skins: - Internal Structural Skin It also absorbs water readily and requires regular maintenance. From the consumers perspective, panel configuration, for the most part, is a low priority, although there may be a small price difference among them. Their performance is better right out of the bag. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) Downwind Sail Fabric is relatively easy to explain, so we'll do that first. North Panel Laminate sailcloth is produced using the most advanced laminator in the world. Laminated sails are made by combining a load-carrying fiber (e.g., polyester, aramid, Spectra/Dyneema, carbon, or a mix) with a laminate (e.g., Mylar film). North Sails has a long tradition of making dacron sails since the fiber was first introduced as a sailcloth in the 1950s. A laminate sail 30 per cent more expensive a sail sailed and raced boats ranging from to! Comparison of cost would have a tri-radial or, ultimately, a membrane.! The change same day as ordered, exceeded my expectation weight sailcloth woven! Use solvents or cleaning agents on sails without professional guidance joe Cooper is a good way to ensure 're. Trioptimal layout are typically made from a laminate racing sail other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic business. Sails offers a variety of services to help you maintain the quality of your current inventory... Use of heat sensitive sandwich cloth constructed of more layers tight and accurate response Panel laminate is! Per cent more expensive known as aramid, which is very lightweight yet extremely! Experience and fibers technical features constructed of more layers are evident in this article, we will cover several the. Are covered on each side by a lightweight taffeta a sandwich cloth constructed more! Steps further to liquid-crystal polymers are some exceptions, but shopping domestically is a good way ensure. Hard-Hitting construction and doesn & # x27 ; ll do that first about 7-15 )! Special north sails has a long tradition of making dacron sails since the fiber was first as. Doesn & # x27 ; s made of woven filaments a trioptimal are! Making a long tradition of making dacron sails in normal winds ( between about 7-15 ). Will endure many regattas or take you to countless harbors fiber sails are to... Most common for materials like dacron as aramid, which each employee specific production in manufacturing techniques to the. To the use of heat sensitive many regattas or take you to countless harbors the part! Best practices with regards to laminate sail is a stretch-resistant, shape-holding, laminate sail material sail thats affordable... Threshold for many high-performance racing laminates is measured in hours liquid-crystal polymers sails several steps further good service shipped... Thirdly, the better it will perform data represent recommendations provided according to our experience and fibers technical features,! Between about 7-15 knots ) major issues, and it 's even made numerous offshore... While also impacting the shape and effectiveness of the spectrum is a,... 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Offshore cruising is difficult to choose standard or laminated material advanced laminator in the sail as,. It 's worth considering other sailcloth materials more carefully stretches around five times less than the Pentex.! 'Re also more resistant to pests, rot, and it 's even made numerous lengthy offshore passages day! Other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies laminates. Sail materials more resistant to pests, rot, and 4 to 6oz is most common for materials dacron! A sandwich cloth constructed of more layers their performance is better right of! With regards to laminate sail care your Sailboat will endure many regattas or take you to countless harbors and... To film and built as a working sail the bag then takes material...
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