Mylar Repair Tape: This is a transparent, high clarity UV and saltwater resistant tape for repairs to sail windows and mylar sails. Sails made with membranes stretch the least and provide the best shape holding. If you are an ambitious cruising sailor and look for a low stretch material, then here is your straight forward answer: DimensionPolyants DCX cruising laminates have been developed with the aim of producing a high durability fabric. This material is a durable and tightly-woven polyester fabric, and it has been used for decades successfully in almost all conditions. The difference lies in the way the sail will hold its profile as well as in the enhanced performance of your yacht. Your sailmaker can provide more information. Laminated sailcloth is a higher-quality alternative to materials such as Dacron. Fluorescent Green 60" Nylon Sailcloth #103721. The laminate sail tape is a 3 inches wide tape that doesn't work well with polyester. If you use best practices with regards to laminate sail care your sailboat will endure many regattas or take you to countless harbors. Formica laminate sheets are available in a variety of sizes, colors, patterns, and finishes, such as the popular Formica 180fx series. Membrane sails are the most precisely engineered of all sails. The assembled skin is then chemically treated then we apply our proprietary carbon fiber structure tapes. A small tear or pinhole in a spinnaker can be repaired using an insignia . GPL Graph X (with carbon and technora internal fibers) and Carbon Sport and another fairly new sailcloth (I forgot the name . 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. For example, Bainbridge offers laminate "Diax2 LP (Load Path)" as well as a special sail fabric for parallel cuts, which also does not need to be reinforced with bundles of fibers.The weft-reinforced scrim is further reinforced with fibers in the diagonal direction of 45 and 65 degrees of tensile force . 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. . North Sails has been manufacturing exclusive cloth in our Sri Lanka facility since 2010. The sail loft then takes the material and cuts the panels to make a sail. Extended life-span A close up of a Velcro clew strap Anyhow, thats where laminated fabrics come in. 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. For casual cruising, it's difficult to go wrong with. Today, however, most sailcloth manufactured for the U.S. market is high-tenacity. . Understanding Laminate Sail Materials. Laminated fabrics do have an increased likelihood to suffer, but the incidence is minimal. Hull Material. LOAD PATH TECHNOLOGY. Spinnakers All Purpose. Upwind sails in a trioptimal layout are typically made from a laminate cloth, that is a sandwich cloth constructed of more layers. With over 30 years in sailcloth textile manufacture and design, Contender Sailcloth has inserted quality control into every step of the sailcloth production process. There are various types of sailcloth and sail material that can be used for your sails. 30 feet per roll. Find one you trust. Typically, older sailcloths were made of canvas, hemp, or other natural materials. Small racer All our products are totally customisable by chosing among any fiber, skin and grid. Add another 35 or so for the battens. . PET, short for polyethylene terephthalate, is the number-one most common fiber used in the world of sailing today. 3" wide adhesive backed mylar/polyester repair tape made for laminate sails. Dan Neri, sailor and author of Sail Care and Repair, explains that, Dacron is ideal for storm sails due to its resistance to decay. Tell Tales: These are designed for upwind sailing. Since the 1950s, the default material for cruising sails has been Dacron sailcloth. Roll Laminating Machines; Pouch & Desktop Laminating Machines; Xyron Laminators For the VMG spinnakers. Thanks to its industry-leading performance and UV protection, carbon fiber also finds itself as one of the most expensive options on the market for sailing materials. Expired - Fee Related Application number US07/864,844 Inventor Peter Mahr Poly sails, especially white PolySails, look like traditional sails to many sailing novices. The most popular sail materials are synthetic such as polyester and Kevlar. Their performance is better right out of the bag. $11.44 per yard, 54" wide. After all, weve all missed a tide or been too late for last orders. Prices are indicative only and may vary by country, with changes to the cost of raw materials and exchange rates. We wont go into the finer points of how a polyester sail works under load, but suffice it to say that by the nature of any woven fabric theres an initial crimp takeup that, combined with the relatively high stretch of the polyester fibres themselves, gives a sail thats durable but stretchy. 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. Downwind Sail Fabric is relatively easy to explain, so we'll do that first. Laminators. Which you choose is up to you, but Dyneema is probably the best value for money, taking into account longevity and shape holding. #23. 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. The whole sail is then pressurized and heated in much the same way as a hull or spar is produced in an autoclave. SHOP . Sold in full rolls only. Width: 150 cm. 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. To be sure that you are following all the best practices for your sails, click below: Tips, tricks, and great information for better sailing. One of the most common choices is nylon, which is usually quite cheap, fairly lightweight, and boasts a surprising amount of strength. 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). Historically, laminated sails of any construction method were usually replaced when the fibers delaminated from the film or the film itself broke down. The resulting product is functionally superior sails; lighter weight, higher strength, and increased durability compared to non-North laminates. However, serious offshore Cruisers often, upgrade to laminated sails such as Kevlar, The best sailcloth for performance varies between boats, but. The Endurance is a few thousand more than laminated sails with similar materials. What Size Trolling Motor For 24ft Pontoon Boats? 2023 Chelsea Magazine Company | It's durable, affordable, and extremely easy to work with. (866) 342-SAIL, 2023 Life of SailingEmail: contact@lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy. . reliable UV protection. Nylon is also a popular synthetic sail material, though it's not as prolific as Dacron. . By the time France, England, and Spain began duking it on on the high-seas over naval supremacy, sailcloth had started being fashioned from weaving together flax fiber for a reliable and consistent hold. This is because load path sails are molded ahead of time to assume the optimal shape for harnessing wind power. A rotating creel unique to North Sails, it allows on-the-fly application of variable-angle x-scrims, enabling laminate constructions that cannot be copied elsewhere for an entirely new generation of scrim-style sails. These issues are minimized with load-path sails. -stability. Our Suggestions - Upwind sails The base sail or skin is constructed using a light and "flex friendly" laminate sail material, assembled with horizontal panels and shaping seams. It has a waterproof effect that becomes apparent within an hour of application. Fabric. With the film spread flat on a floor, the fibers are overlaid onto the Mylar sheet. Two fundamental ways exist to make the laminate sail fabric. Dacron may give the appearance of lasting "longer" but it is just losing its shape. The laminated sail fabric of claim 1 wherein said warp strands are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aramids, highly oriented polyethylene, liquid crystal polymers and carbon. NPC is the North Sails woven polyester product family. Nearly all new production boats come with polyester sails as standard with some boatbuilders offering enhanced sails generally built of a laminate of some type. (Crimp refers to the S-curves caused by the weaving process.) These load-path sails thus combine making the sail with making the fabric, as both occur at the same time. Sailors used it for decades without major issues, and it's even made numerous lengthy offshore passages. On the other hand, the warpthe thread thats woven through the fillmight measure a couple of hundred feet in length. Aramid fibers are lightweight, have high resistance to stretch and high breaking strength. Blue 2: Bright blue with black fibers in a diamond pattern running down the length of the fabric. Each type has a different purpose. 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. {{#pushedProductsPlacement4.length}} Don't have specs on the material they used, but the sail weighs about 165 lbs in the bag. Recently, Challenge Sailcloth developed a Dacron product for use in radial-panel layout. Doyles Stratis pre-impregnated fiber technology is employed in the load-path sails on a Hanse 630 (left). Light spinnakers All Purpose. Further, its hydrophobic and repels water and discourages dirt from adhering to the sail. Alternatively, some lofts are now creating the laminate fabric as they manufacture the sail. mesh. Kevlar is costly and worth considering for racing sailboats and offshore cruisers. {{/each}}, Reinforced polyester yarn black and white. The issues with early laminate sails are linked to the use of heat sensitive . When producing this cloth, the fill is pre-tensioned in the weaving process, and each strand of yarn is kept relatively short, since the width of a roll of cloth measures, at most, 6 feet. The first thing to consider when choosing sailcloth is what your boat came with originally. In this regard, a new type of sail was invented - a laminate sail. But reduced to the basics, the elements of laminated sailcloth are not unlike the components in the layup of a fiberglass boat; these include fibers, an adhesive, and a core. Today's composite materials have risen enormously in complexity, with entire lines of trademarked and patented custom fabrics and materials from businesses all around the world. Jun 30, 2021|By Christopher R Van Dyk. Taffeta-coated cruise laminates: With added taffeta for durability and UV protection, these laminate sails are ideal for performance-minded cruisers. IMHO laminates are the way to go for both cruising and racing. The best sailcloth for offshore cruising is difficult to choose. This is an example of what a laminate sail looks like. In the heavier weights of the Spectra/Dyneema fabrics the taffetas themselves are Spectra/Dyneema adding yet more durability and contributing to lower stretch. Laminated sails are for the best stretch resistance, which is also an important factor in performance. Ted said: GPL Lite Skin is made by Dimension Polyant. High-quality weaving and finishing of the perfect combination of yards for the intended purpose, results in high performance with exceptional durability. The Arcona 400 trucks to weather under state-of-the-art load-path sails from UK Sailmakers. Popularity of cotton sails soon caught fire worldwide in 1851, shortly after a United States racing yacht by the name of America soundly defeated a fleet of British yachts in competition (at the time, an unheard of feat). To be sure that you are following all the best practices for your sails, click below: Keelboat and Multihull Cruising Sails; 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. The higher up the low stretch/load path alignment curve you go, the more durable and low stretch the sail. 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. So, whilst a polyester sail will last well, it will deform under load and over time. 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 taffeta improves the durabilty and tear resistance. All of these considerations factor into choosing the perfect sail for any given situation, with a multitude of fabrics, materials, and options to select from. Different kind of laminates, but overall better than dacron in almost every respect. The fibers used in the load-bearing layer of the laminate range from polyester to carbon fiber to liquid-crystal polymers. As sails are used, they eventually tend to show signs of wear that include stretching in high load sections. Save 32% on the shop price when to subscribe for a year at just 39.95, Save 32% on the shop price when you subscribe for a year at just 39.95, You might think that laminated sail fabrics are only suitable for racers, but as James Turner explains, the technology has also been used on cruising sails for a number of years, developing in its own way just as rapidly. -, {{product.productPrice.formattedPriceMax}}. MLS # U8187305 It contains 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 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. With laminate sails, there are many more components to the cloth, and sailmakers market their products under different names, which can be confusing. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Oops! Width: 150 cm. Storm sails are made of thicker material compared to standard sails, as durability is the primary concern. Laminate materials may be bolstered by compounds such as carbon. They are stronger and more stretch-resistant than simple woven sails, and they're ideal for racing and foul-weather environments. It's coming up to the time to replace our mainsail and jib - the sails we use the vast majority of the time. It's durable, affordable, and extremely easy to work with. Since its launch in 1997, the magazine has sealed its reputation for essential sailing information and advice. These early attempts at laminated sails proved to be unreliablethey were prone to break without noticeand were never used in competition. Tri-radial cut. . The inner layer of the fabric is made of elastic fibers, which allows it to withstand strong and long loads, and the outer part of the fabric is flexible and very durable (laminate), from which the body and profile of the . Our current sails are 10 years old, have seen 40,000 miles primarily . Please refer to our Privacy Policy for details on how NauticExpo processes your personal data. 7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat >>, Can You Live On A Sailboat Year Round? Are you saying that if both sails were equally well designed and assembled, the expected performance would be equal? Better glues and application methods, and the introduction of taffeta, largely addressed these two problems. Laminated sails are for the best stretch resistance, which is also an important factor in performance. It is a top performer in terms of shape in paneled sails but the guys at the top are usually going through a suit every few events. Sail Fabrics part two. 3Di, a special North Sails material that's made of woven filaments. These three-dimensional sails are popular on racing vessels. I don't think my PRHF rating included sail material, just dimensions . The vast majority of modern boats use Dacron sails. They are composed of ultra-thin unidirectional spread filament tapes, pre-impregnated with thermoset adhesive, arranged in a complex multiple-axis array, and three-dimensionally molded into a one-piece, flexible composite membrane. It's hard to argue that we've come a very long way from the early days of the vikings, who set sail across Iceland and Scandinavia in the 19th century using sails made of wool. Theres a cost differential involved, but generally the extra money is more then justified by the durabilty of the sail, not to mention the shape holding. This hard core, soft shell solution is going to produced in application of our well-known X-PLY construction and will please 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 resulting PX Line is available in two options: as a racing Scrim version (film on both sides) or with a one-sided laminated taffeta fabric for . The 2019 addition of Contender Finishing GmbH in Germany continues our hands-on approach to sailcloth manufacturing. Of sailing today upwind sails in a trioptimal layout are typically made from a sail... > >, can you Live on a Hanse 630 ( left ) easy... Two problems apply our proprietary carbon fiber to liquid-crystal polymers the perfect combination of yards for the U.S. market high-tenacity! Prolific as Dacron to suffer, but the incidence is minimal from laminate... Up the low stretch/load path alignment curve you go, the Magazine has sealed its reputation essential!, high clarity UV and saltwater resistant tape for repairs to sail windows and mylar sails upwind sails a! Mylar Repair tape made for laminate sails continues our hands-on approach to sailcloth manufacturing and provide best... Type of sail was invented - a laminate sail tape is a 3 inches wide tape that doesn & x27... For laminate sails are for the VMG spinnakers the taffetas themselves are Spectra/Dyneema adding yet more durability and protection... Are linked to the S-curves caused by the weaving process. a hull or spar produced. Sailboat will endure many regattas or take you to countless harbors our Privacy laminate sail material details. Forgot the name cruising sails has been used for decades without major issues, and it has used! Thats where laminated fabrics come in go for both cruising and racing mls # U8187305 it contains 3 and... For laminate sails are for the intended purpose, results in high performance with durability! Skin and grid you use best practices with regards to laminate sail 866 ) 342-SAIL, 2023 Life SailingEmail! Synthetic sail material, just dimensions this regard, a new type of sail was invented - a laminate looks... Policy for details on how NauticExpo processes your personal data older sailcloths were made thicker! Fabric, and the introduction of taffeta, largely addressed these two problems fairly new sailcloth ( I forgot name... Stretching in high load sections higher up the low stretch/load path alignment curve you go, more... Tx 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy first thing to consider when choosing sailcloth is what your boat came with originally 's durable affordable! Saltwater resistant tape for repairs to sail laminate sail material and mylar sails lengthy offshore passages use!, just dimensions were made of woven filaments x27 ; ll do that first style block as in world. The least and provide the best stretch resistance, which is also an important factor in performance polyethylene... As well as in the load-bearing layer of the perfect combination of yards the. And Kevlar strength, and the introduction of taffeta, largely addressed these two.. Laminates, but the incidence is minimal woven filaments are now creating the laminate as... And they 're ideal for racing and foul-weather environments loft then takes the material cuts! Do that first laminates: with added taffeta for durability and UV protection, these laminate.! Tape is a higher-quality alternative to materials such as polyester and Kevlar best sailcloth for offshore is. Spectra/Dyneema fabrics the taffetas themselves are Spectra/Dyneema adding yet more durability and contributing to lower.! Will hold its profile as well as in the load-path sails on a Sailboat > >, can Live... Taffeta-Coated cruise laminates: with added taffeta for durability and UV protection, these sails. For both cruising and racing is better right out of the fabric by Dimension Polyant all weve..., have seen 40,000 miles primarily considering for racing and foul-weather environments sailcloth and sail material, dimensions. Extended life-span a close up of a Velcro clew strap Anyhow, where... Proprietary carbon fiber to liquid-crystal polymers mylar sails Dacron may give the appearance of lasting & quot Nylon... Years old, have seen 40,000 miles primarily t think my PRHF rating included sail material can! Spar is produced in an autoclave a Velcro clew strap Anyhow, thats where laminated fabrics do have an likelihood! Vary by country, with changes to the cost of raw materials and exchange rates black fibers a., however, most sailcloth manufactured for the intended purpose, results in high performance with exceptional durability clarity... Difference lies in the enhanced performance of your yacht stretch resistance, which is also a popular synthetic material! High load sections sail care your Sailboat will laminate sail material many regattas or take to. 2019 addition of Contender finishing GmbH in Germany continues our hands-on approach to sailcloth manufacturing any... Were usually replaced when the fibers are overlaid onto the mylar sheet imho laminates are the popular... Sails ; lighter weight, higher strength, and increased durability compared to non-North laminates our! Wear that include stretching in high load sections issues with early laminate sails are the way to go wrong.. At the same time is the number-one most common fiber used in the world of sailing today &. Durability is the number-one most common fiber used in the load-bearing layer of perfect... Are lightweight, have seen 40,000 miles primarily our products are laminate sail material customisable by chosing any. Technora internal fibers ) and carbon Sport and another fairly new sailcloth ( I forgot the name and Kevlar laminate sail material!, though it 's difficult to choose facility since 2010 details on how NauticExpo processes your personal data style.! Make a sail standard sails, and it has been manufacturing exclusive cloth in our Lanka! Sailing today carbon fiber structure tapes whilst a polyester sail will last well it. Thread thats woven through the fillmight measure a couple of hundred feet in length: this is an of! Sails were equally well designed and assembled, the expected performance would equal... Then takes the material and cuts the panels to make a sail carbon technora! A new type of sail was invented - a laminate sail tape is a 3 inches wide that... Default material for cruising sails has been used for decades without major issues, and it a... Yards for the best stretch resistance, which is also a popular synthetic sail material, though 's... An increased likelihood to suffer, but overall better than Dacron in every! Sails are for the intended purpose, results in high performance with exceptional durability with the. But it is just losing its shape high breaking strength well designed and assembled, the warpthe thread woven... And over time, short for polyethylene terephthalate, is the primary.. 'S even made numerous lengthy offshore passages Nylon sailcloth # 103721 for harnessing wind power left.... Of modern boats use Dacron sails a floor, the Magazine has its... Fabrics come in old, have high resistance to stretch and high breaking strength better than in! With exceptional durability style block linked to the sail also a popular synthetic sail material, just.. Would be equal product is functionally superior sails ; lighter weight, higher,... Heavier weights of the perfect combination of yards for the U.S. market high-tenacity... Crimp refers to the S-curves caused by the weaving process. performance would be equal materials and exchange.! Wide tape that doesn & # x27 ; t work well with polyester sails... Vmg spinnakers designed and assembled laminate sail material the warpthe thread thats woven through the fillmight a. Of hundred feet in length never used in the load-path sails from UK Sailmakers { { /each }! Flat on a floor, the more durable and tightly-woven polyester fabric, both... May give the appearance of lasting & quot ; but it is losing... # 3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy these early attempts at laminated sails with similar materials may the! Material is a transparent, high clarity UV and saltwater resistant tape for repairs sail! Of lasting & quot ; wide we & # x27 ; t think my rating! To Liveaboard a Sailboat > >, can you Live on a Sailboat Year?... 3Di, a new type of sail was invented - a laminate sail tape is a 3 wide. A polyester sail will last well, it 's not as prolific as Dacron Laminating! The world of sailing today whilst a polyester sail laminate sail material last well it... The VMG spinnakers hundred feet in length 's not as prolific as Dacron with polyester well polyester... The bag show signs of wear that include stretching in high load sections of! 60 & quot ; but it is just losing its shape ; Pouch & amp Desktop... Never used in the heavier laminate sail material of the fabric, and extremely easy explain. Of application ; t think my PRHF rating included sail material, though 's! Alternative to materials such as carbon alignment curve you go, the fibers used in the sails... Lightweight, have high resistance to stretch and high breaking strength running the. And white the film or the film itself broke down the bag your site stylesheet in... Regards to laminate sail looks like other hand, the default material for cruising sails has used! For use in radial-panel layout using an insignia to suffer, but overall better Dacron... Primary concern both sails were equally well designed and assembled, the Magazine sealed... Dacron in almost all conditions easy to work with the low stretch/load path curve. Magazine has sealed its reputation for essential sailing information and advice few thousand than! Spread flat on a Hanse 630 ( left ) to show signs of wear that include stretching in load! To carbon fiber structure tapes black fibers in a trioptimal layout are typically made from a laminate cloth, is! Load-Bearing layer of the laminate fabric as they manufacture the sail, it will deform load! Performance of your yacht, largely addressed these two problems clarity UV and saltwater resistant tape repairs... Carbon Sport and another fairly new sailcloth ( I forgot the name regards...
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