New Mainsail

[carl_miller]

<div>I had a very interesting discussion with a local sailmaker. He
pointed out that the recent extreme increase in the price of
gasoline is an indicator of an increase in the price of sail
cloth. (Just what we need)Lifesong's (1984 384)Main is original & just about shot, Sooo...
I have had very good experience with the Hood loft in CT, but it
has been many years.The local sailmaker is quoting around 2250 with 5 full battens,
two sets reef points, etc.Any thoughts?Tom
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[bobclark]

Tom,
I have just had an excellent experience with Lee Sailmakers.
I replaced my main last December and sailed this summer with it. It fit like a glove. Southerly IS FASTER, and has no weather helm. As well as all that, which you should expect from a new main; this is the finest made sail I have ever seen, repeat...ever seen in my very active 40 years of sailing. Generious use of leather, hand sewing, and etc, etc. All for the grand price of $1120. You have to see this sail to believe it, and then sail with it and look at the trim, and pinch yourself to make sure your not dreaming. It is not full batten, but that can be had for very little extra. At the same time my son replaced his main for $400.. He has a 23ft. O'Day Tempest. The experience was the same.
Larry

 

[bert]

<div>If you got sixteen years out of a main sail and it is "just about shot" you have done extremely well. I bought a new fully battened Quantum main last spring for about $3000. and it is worth every penny. The sail actually contributes to the forward motion of the boat and it almost trims itself.When it comes to sails you really get what you pay for. While the most expensive is not necessarily the best, the best is always expensive.Good luck.
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[bobclark]

I forgot to mention two rows of reef points, leech line, luff rope, and a shelf.
LH

 

[aurora2]

Any full batten mainsail should freely raise or drop quickly. I elected to go with the Tides Track System. It slips over the stock external track and drops in a flash. Cost is about $25/foot and is worth it. Any sailmaker can attach their sail to it. I went with a UK sail; cost was about $2300 and is a quality sail.

 

[frank_remus]

I had a new main by North, built in 1994 out of 7oz Norlam, with a full batten at the top and the other three are extra long (about 130 cm if I remember right), with two extra deep sets of reef points, it is called a power head and sets like a "solid wing" is easy to set and control. One of the tricks is to make sure the track is true with no snags, I rounded off the sections where they join with a dremel tool to a slight radius and then I hand fitted each slide so it is free with no binding, Then the icing is Elmers Dry Slide (recommened by Practical Sailor)It almost pulls itself up. good luck Ron