These fibers are woven and manufactured in many different ways, as modern sail making techniques have made it possible to adapt synthetic fibers to both high and low-stress environments. mesh. A laminate sail is a very hard-hitting construction and doesn't adjust as much through the change. Another very common option when it comes to spinnaker sailing is spectra, which provides superior UV protection and breaking strength along with high flex strength and very low stretch. Sep 15, 2018. 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. Call us on +44 (0)1255 243366 or email sails@dolphin-sails.com 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). Each type has a different purpose. Great repair tape. Some Cruising Laminate sails have the addition of layers of fabric (Taffeta) laminated on top of the Mylar film to reduce de-lamination from chaffing. The best sailcloth for offshore cruising is difficult to choose. Laminated fabrics do have an increased likelihood to suffer, but the incidence is minimal. We sourced the information for this article from sailcloth manufacturers, sailors, and sail repair experts. Oops! Pentex exhibits around half the stretch of an extruded polyester. IMHO laminates are the way to go for both cruising and racing. . As sails are used, they eventually tend to show signs of wear that include stretching in high load sections. Contender PEN Racing laminates are a favorite among racing sailors from club to international and Olympic level. Zestimate Home Value: $305,000. It's durable, affordable, and extremely easy to work with. These fabrics are optimized for each sail in terms of strength to weight to improve performance also in light winds as well as facilitate easy handling. I thought 3Di would weigh less due to the heat-activation process . Appearance. Why is this important? I had two laminate sails that suffered terribly from tears at the edge of a poorly installed UV cover. Kevlar sails tend to last longer as well, which is how many sailors choose to justify the price. It also absorbs water readily and requires regular maintenance. Even with the taffeta, the laminate sail should be lighter than a dacron sail designed for the same wind range. Individualization. Colours: White, Red, Dark blue My first Mylar glider was a 1981 Comet OVR (Owens Valley Racer) which I used in my third Owens Valley Classic. Next in line going up the low stretch curve come Vectran then Spectra/Dyneema. Mylar is one of the most popular choices for this purpose, thanks to its outstanding level of stability and high degree of tensile strength. I have been offered Dimension Polyant's DCX laminate (that is either exactly what my current sails are made from, or it is the current available equivalent - not exactly sure). How Many People Can Fit On A Pontoon Boat? Proper sourcing is key to choosing the right sailcloth. Anyhow, thats where laminated fabrics come in. After the sail is both designed and engineered, the basic sail skin, or Mylar, is crosscut; then each panel is glued to its mate using high-strength glue. This is because load path sails are molded ahead of time to assume the optimal shape for harnessing wind power. This repair is common for small holes and tears and is often the preferred method for repairing laminate sails. Laminated sails include multiple components and different layers of material. ); and, in the case of an overlapping headsail, its chafe resistance. Kevlar (a Dupont product) and Teijin's Twaron and Technora are . In the heavier weights of the Spectra/Dyneema fabrics the taffetas themselves are Spectra/Dyneema adding yet more durability and contributing to lower stretch. Currently a sailing coach and consultant, he lives in Middletown, Rhode Island. Thanks to the way these fabrics are manufactured and treated, the impeccably smooth surface allowed nearly no air whatsoever to escape through pores or holes in the material. Type: - POLYESTER The one exception to this flat-floor method is Norths 3DL product, in its various versions. 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). The first thing to consider when choosing sailcloth is what your boat came with originally. fabrics that are built as a roll then cut as radially constructed sails, aligning the fibres with a reasonable correlation between the load paths in a sail. In the United States, sailcloth weight is measured in ounces. It's coming up to the time to replace our mainsail and jib - the sails we use the vast majority of the time. Sewing Machines. Performance sailing carries with it a unique set of demands that aren't usually shared among casual or recreational sailors. Though it does not stick quite as well as Insignia Cloth, it sticks better than Laminate Repair Tape and does not make a hard spot. This unitary, monolithic construction produces an airfoil that has balanced resistance to distortion in all directions. Different sailmakers use proprietary techniques to unite the glue, the fiber, and the film as a working sail. They improve on woven polyesters in three ways. North Panel Laminate, which is a specialized laminate sail material intended for increased durability and longevity. Today, however, most sailcloth manufactured for the U.S. market is high-tenacity. Not the one under the companionwaythe ones set off the mast. Width: 150 cm. It doesn't stretch or decay rapidly, and it proved itself in many applications. Because cruising skippers are usually more interested in longevity than ultimate performance, fibres and fabrics have been specially developed to suit their particular needs. The resulting product is functionally superior sails; lighter weight, higher strength, and increased durability compared to non-North laminates. Spectra X-Film. Prior to the late 1980s and the introduction of Norths 3DL sailsso-called molded sailssailmakers and cloth manufacturers were working on their own versions of what has become known as load-path or string sails, which is the other way of making a laminate fabric. Double Internal Taffeta Do not use solvents or cleaning agents on sails without professional guidance. . PRODUCT REGISTRATION . The base sail or skin is constructed using a light and "flex friendly" laminate sail material, assembled with horizontal panels and shaping seams. For additional durability, very lightweight dacron taffatas can be specified. Incredibly, the threshold for many high-performance racing laminates is measured in hours. Light spinnakers All Purpose. Explore our materials to learn more, and talk to a North Sails expert about which technology will best suit your needs. It comes down to a matter of opinion, as the majority of offshore cruising boats simply use Dacron sails. What Size Trolling Motor For 24ft Pontoon Boats? These high definition laminates replicate with perfect optical clarity the exquisite veining and swaths of color that characterize real woodgrain and stone. Each individual yarn is laid directly along the anticipated load paths which is a very efficient way of building a sail . Once they had sailed on the wave of success, our R&D team took the proven concept further and developed the PXB Polyester line coming with a custom black achieved by superior fiber handling and advanced lamination technology using our patented insert process. Stormlite is of a similar weight and finish to the equivalent Nylon spinnaker cloth but its Polyester weave gives it greater stability under load.Contender Sailcloth 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.Our ZigZag sailmakers and yachtsmen throughout the world, we have successfully developed a technologically sophisticated range of laminated sailcloth that meet the highest demands of modern sail design.Our ZigZag ZigZag reinforced Polyester laminate for the racing sailor Colours: Blue, White, Red 46 g/m. Only three of theseDacron, Vectran, and Spectracan be readily woven into a viable sail fabric. Same specifications as the Elite 33, stronger frame and chain. Colours: White, Red, Dark blue, yellow Sailboat sails are constructed from a variety of materials and fabrics, each with their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. However, serious offshore Cruisers often upgrade to laminated sails such as Kevlar, Pentax, and Dyneema. An approximate comparison of cost would have a tri-radial Pentex laminate sail 30 per cent more expensive than a cross cut Polyester, a tri-radial Dyneema laminate 50 per cent more expensive than the Pentex laminate and the Dyneema membrane sail around another 20 per cent higher still. Another measurable factor of the performance of sail fabric is known as "creep", which has to do with how much a sail tends to lose its shape over consistent and continued use. This laminate comes in four styles. When upgrading your sail inventory, understanding the basics of sailcloth, laminates and construction keeps the wool from being pulled over your eyes. UK Sailmakers. Our North Sails materials engineering team focuses on developing and producing sailcloth that will enhance your sailing experience while maximizing the value of your new sail purchase. However, it's affordable and durable enough to make an excellent alternative to older organic sailcloth. ZigZag reinforced Skiff Laminate for the racing sailor 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 . Today's modern sails are expertly crafted to the highest standards of detail and precision, thus being capable to contend with harsh conditions far better than sails used long ago. Shop Now. How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England? Carbon fiber is notable for its extreme strength-to-weight ratio. SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Review (Is It Worth It?). Long having been replaced by stronger fibers when it comes to racing and performance, it remains a highly coveted option due to its resistance to abrasion and very low cost. We'll explain the differences between organic and synthetic sailcloth, along with when to choose standard or laminated material. The most common types of sailcloth weave are the D4 Load Path weave, the DCX Dacron weave, the square weave, the Hydra Net weave, and the C-Breeze weave. External Structural Skin Our Suggestions - Upwind sails Just cut, peel and stick. Dacron withstands exposure to the elements and high-wind flogging better than any other sail material, providing the greatest longevity of any sail. This narrow tape is perfect for holding polyester sails. Laminate and composite sails also typically maintain sail shape longer than polyester fabrics, which can improve how the sail functions with self-furling systems and other components. Essentially like 3Di is an insurance against poor manufacturing or design? (Crimp refers to the S-curves caused by the weaving process.) Insignia Adhesive Backed Green 54" Fabric #104308. Water. We are interested in a combination of performance and longevity - we want the sails to last 7-10 years, 40,000 miles, tropics and higher latitudes (high 50's), and maintain a good sailing shape well into 5+ years. LAMINATE: Fabric constructed from layers of film, scrim and/or taffeta flued together under high pressure and/or heat to form a composite sail material. Support. The fibers from which sailboat sails are made could include any number of natural or synthetic materials, that can range from cotton, flax, or hemp, to polyester, nylon, and more. Even more variations of sails exist within the categories already mentioned, such as panelled sails which are a unique variety of laminate sail. The film acts as a base to which everything else is glued to form the finished product. It isn't uncommon for performance sailboats and racing boats to feature sails that need changing more frequently than those on other sailboats, and for this reason generally have a lower flex strength. The 1,597 sq. This sail is built of laminated panels assembled in a radial pattern. Joe Cooper is a former sailmaker whos sailed and raced boats ranging from dinghies to Americas Cup contenders. This material is a durable and tightly-woven polyester fabric, and it has been used for decades successfully in almost all conditions. The 2019 addition of Contender Finishing GmbH in Germany continues our hands-on approach to sailcloth manufacturing. Dacron: Dacron is the generic name given to the DuPont yarn made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and is a popular choice for cruising sails because of its overall lifespan and reasonable cost. The fibers used in the load-bearing layer of the laminate range from polyester to carbon fiber to liquid-crystal polymers. The use of cotton as sail material had its advantages over flax and hemp, but not without its own set of unique drawbacks. A small tear or pinhole in a spinnaker can be repaired using an insignia . For example, laminate sails which are constructed from multiple layers of film glued together, are able to withstand extremely high wind speeds and are also very resistant to damage from the sun's UV rays. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Something went wrong while submitting the form. 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