Dave, usually the coastal cruising sails are good enough for recreational sailing (one would hope that you are not planning to sail regularly in 40+ kt winds). This way you can select lighter cloth – the sail will be lighter and cheaper.
I would, certainly, specify two reef points and “ring–on-webbing-straps” (or dog-bones) at the luff. I find that they are extremely handy when you need to reef. Most sail lofts will offer a main with 4 full battens (for no or very little extra cost). I think it is worth it (keeps the sail shape better). I would look at the good reinforcements at the corners; this may differentiate between the sail makers. If you are ordering on-line (i.e. you won’t have the loft measuring your sail – you would have to do it), consider a small sail maker just outside of Buffalo, NY – Somerset Sails. I am not suggesting that they are better than most, but they are usually very competitively priced. Opinions vary. I am pretty happy with the sails I got from them. Marek 1994 C270 “Legato” Ottawa, ON From: Joel Aronson via CnC-List Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2016 09:20 To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Joel Aronson Subject: Re: Stus-List Mainsail replacement considerations Dave, 50 sailors will have 100 opinions on this one! I would go with a high quality Dacron cross-cut with at least 2 full battens, a loose foot, 2 reef point points. Their Coastal Cruising sail sounds like a good fit for you. The cunningham is important for controlling luff tension. Much easier to load up than a halyard. I had one of their gennies on my 35/3. Other than some restitching of the UV cover, the sail looked like new after 3,000+ miles. RT does not do much in laminates. UK does not do much in dacron. Joel On Thu, Oct 13, 2016 at 8:55 AM, Dave S via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Just received the results from the fall check-up and the local sail loft has diagnosed Windstar's ('85 33-2) mainsail as "beyond expired". Cue the Monty Python... The current main has two sets of reef points, (cringle at the leech and and ring-on-webbing-straps at the luff.) No telltales other than streamers off the leech. IIRC there may be a leech line. 4 partial battens battens. There are two cringles at the clew, one above the other, and what I believe is called a "shelf" of lighter weight cloth along the foot. Have never used this out of ignorance, but perhaps I should. it has a rope foot, slides on the luff. I will have Rolly Tasker in Thailand quote, as well as UK sails here in Toronto. I value the 33-2's performance but most of my sailing is recreational sailing here on Lake Ontario. Would like to distance race but not looking to be ultra-competitive at the top level. Don't want to buy another Main for this boat in the next decade. Any thoughts or recommendations on a replacement, or comments on sail lofts? Many thanks! Dave Windstar 33-2 _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated! -- Joel 301 541 8551
_______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated!