Preferred sailmakers for CD sails ?

[Russell]

Which lofts do CD owners favor? Or to ask this another way, which lofts understand best the rigs on our kind of boat? (Or, conversely, which lofts should we avoid?)

[chuck yahrling]

Which lofts do CD owners favor? Or to ask this another way, which lofts understand best the rigs on our kind of boat? (Or, conversely, which lofts should we avoid?)

I did very well with Doyle last year. They have all the stock CD sail measurements and I am pleased with my StackPac main, 110, 150 and storm jibs for my CD-27.



yahrling@cybertours.com

[Joe Wysong]

Which lofts do CD owners favor? Or to ask this another way, which lofts understand best the rigs on our kind of boat? (Or, conversely, which lofts should we avoid?)

We just decided to forgo our genoa and replace it with the original yankee for our 330. According to Robinhood Marine, the only sail maker that had the specs on file for the original sail was North. They first contacted Fortune/Doyle who quoted on a sail that did not meet the original specs (as in size, not in cloth weight).

Joe



tgjournal@gestalt.org

[David Brownlee]

We had a very good mainsail built three years back by Skelley Sails in Havre de Grace. At the time they were part of the Sobstad chain; they are now Quantum, I think. We got it made heavier than the original Vector sail and with a third row of reef points. They had the CD dimensions on file, but they came out and looked at the boat and took their own measurements--something that the big name lofts were not going to do.

About six years ago we got a very good heavy weather jib (smaller than the working jib, but not quite a storm jib) made by Linthicum in south Jersey. We find that it's a very useful sail, btw.

David Brownlee
"Windrush" CD 27
Havre de Grace, MD



dbrownle@sas.upenn.edu

[Bruce Bett]

Russell:

I recently ordered a set of sails (main and 145% jenny) for Sostenuto , my 1977 CD 25. I got into the Yahoo yellow pages. Selected for Detroit typed in sailmakers and hit the "beyond Detroit" button. I got 20 or so hits. I called 4 or 5 of them, told them generally what I wanted and asked for suggestions and prices. They all had a spec sheet on the boat. I did carefully distinguish between my CD 25 and the 25D. One company, it might have been North said that they had made sails for Cape Dory (my originals were made by Chong Lee). Any way I got a variety of prices and specifications. I chose UK/Detroit based on price specifications, and the fact that the gentleman I spoke to there seemed knowledgeable and enthusiastic. At the sailmakers suggestion I raised the clew on the jenny 1.5 feet to improve visibility when beating.

I haven't got the sails yet so I can't say much about them. I know people who have ordered sails through the mail order lofts advertised in the sailing magazines. They have been happy with them and I believe the prices are better.

You mention that you would like your sails made to the original specs. I would point out that some boat manufactures sell their boats without sails. They do this because if they provided sails they would of necessity be generic multipurpose sails. A custom sailmaker can account for local conditions as well as the needs and tastes of the individual sailor.

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
CD 25 #496

Which lofts do CD owners favor? Or to ask this another way, which lofts understand best the rigs on our kind of boat? (Or, conversely, which lofts should we avoid?)

bettb@macomb.cc.mi.us

[John]

Which lofts do CD owners favor? Or to ask this another way, which lofts understand best the rigs on our kind of boat? (Or, conversely, which lofts should we avoid?)

Hi,
I sent out a request for quotes for a main for my CD-25 to North, Doyle, and Hood this spring. Hood never got backt to me. North came back with a quote, but Doyle had a better sail at a lower price. I like the Doyle sail better because it has two full length battons up top, as opposed to the North sail's regular short battons. The sail was well cut by the loft in Marblehead MA. The shape is nice and it drives the boat well.
John Ring

[John MacArthur]

Which lofts do CD owners favor?

I'm quite partial to Neil Pryde. The Denver dealer has given me excellent sails and service over the years. We just ordered a full set for "Stork", a CD-30 cutter. Ullman in San Diego had excellent prices, too. The Quantum dealer out of Dallas actually measured my boat for a set, but he seemed more race oriented, and the Quantum sails I looked at didn't have quite as good a finish as the Neil Prydes I have gotten. North was having a summer sale, and surprisingly enough, their prices were quite competitive. Neil Pryde has several levels of sail price/finish, and I like their "Cruise Plus" level, with their "Trade-wind specification" finish. I think it is a good idea to get sails make from American sailcloth, rather than Asian. The major brands are Bainbridge, Dimension, and Challenge.



jmac@laplaza.org

[John MacArthur]

Which lofts do CD owners favor?

I'm quite partial to Neil Pryde. The Denver dealer has given me excellent sails and service over the years. We just ordered a full set for "Stork", a CD-30 cutter. Ullman in San Diego had excellent prices, too. The Quantum dealer out of Dallas actually measured my boat for a set, but he seemed more race oriented, and the Quantum sails I looked at didn't have quite as good a finish as the Neil Prydes I have gotten. North was having a summer sale, and surprisingly enough, their prices were quite competitive. Neil Pryde has several levels of sail price/finish, and I like their "Cruise Plus" level, with their "Trade-wind specification" finish. I think it is a good idea to get sails make from American sailcloth, rather than Asian. The major brands are Bainbridge, Dimension, and Challenge.



jmac@laplaza.org

[Tad McDonald]

For myriad reasons that need not be posted, I STRONGLY recommend AGAINST Scott Sails in Annapolis. I'd be happy to regale you with the particulars, if interested, but suffice it to say I was extremely displeased with their service (and remain so today).

Jimmy Scott needs to pay more attention to his business and remember that sailors comprise a small community that readily shares information. I'd have thought he'd have grasped that concept after all those years with Hood.




tadmcdonald@worldnet.att.net

[Don Sargeant]

As you can tell by the variety of suggestions preceeding this one, what service you get very much depends on the local loft or rep. I bought a complete suit of sails this year from Quantum. The New Jersey Rep came to my boat in CT, measured it completely, gave me as good a price as I could get from any of the other major lofts (I got about 12 quotes), and volunteered to take the "maiden voyage with us. Quantum's CT rep didn't offer to go that far. BTW Quantum has two lofts (manufacturing facilities), one in Annapolis and one in South Africa. West Marine also uses Quantum's SA loft and call the sails Quest. I have a racer friend who swears by Quantum's SA sails -- purchased through the NJ rep. My rep said the Annapolis sails are better, but because they were slow last Fall he had my sails built there at the SA price. The sails are excellent except they left the D off 25D.

Happy hunting
Don Sargeant
~~COQUINA~~
CD25D # 189
Greenwich Cove

Which lofts do CD owners favor? Or to ask this another way, which lofts understand best the rigs on our kind of boat? (Or, conversely, which lofts should we avoid?)

don@cliggott.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

Russell,

The original set of sails on our CD32 were made by UK Sailmakers of City Island, NY. We purchased a cruising spinnaker from them in 1997 at the boatshow in Atlantic City, NJ. The sailmaker's rep delivered it to our boat in the Spring when we were ready for it, we all went sailing together and he showed us how to set it up, fly it, jibe it and douse it. Their service was excellent. I would have no hesitations about purchasing another sail from them.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay

Which lofts do CD owners favor? Or to ask this another way, which lofts understand best the rigs on our kind of boat? (Or, conversely, which lofts should we avoid?)

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[Olli Wendelin]

Last year I had a set of sails made up for my CD30 ketch by Irby/ Sobstad sailmakers of Charleston, SC. I gave them my original sailplan, which they compared with their computer database. They then measured the original sails and the boat itself. They then helped me select sailcloth and weight based on local conditions and expected usage. The sails I recieved are much better than the originals ever were, complete with reef points on the working jib. Did I mention the originals gave 20 years of faithful service? In addition to being able to go to the loft and watch my sails being made, the sailmaker offered to ride the boat and verify that the sails match the boat. You just can't get this kind of service from a mail order loft.

Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC



wendelin@spawar.navy.mil

[Don Carr]

Russell,

The original set of sails on our CD32 were made by UK Sailmakers of City Island, NY. We purchased a cruising spinnaker from them in 1997 at the boatshow in Atlantic City, NJ. The sailmaker's rep delivered it to our boat in the Spring when we were ready for it, we all went sailing together and he showed us how to set it up, fly it, jibe it and douse it. Their service was excellent. I would have no hesitations about purchasing another sail from them.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay

I agree with Catherine. Just purchased a UK Cruising Spinnaker last month from UK City Island. Kerry Klingler is a great guy and I would highly recommend them. That particular sail-loft is from the old Ulmer sail days. They do know their sails. I am now getting my order ready to replace my 1981 vintage main with their Tape-Drive Crusing sail.
My last staement might sound like blasphemy to the sailing community:
I would avoid North Sails. My justification: (1). The pricing is too high (IMHO) (2). The owner of the boat I race on had to have the sail refitted 3 times (the North rep measured the first time) before they got it correct.

Don Carr
s/v Camanae.



carrd@erols.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

I'm not quite ready to replace the sails on Hanalei, but out of curiosity, how much does a main, staysail, and yankee jib cost? I know it makes a difference by manufacturer, weight etc., but just round figures would be appreciated. Thanks.....

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[Neil Gordon]

Dave,

I replaced the main on LIQUIDITY with a Neil Pryde cruise plus. Was $1,556 with 2 reef points. This was priced as of 12/96.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com