laminate sail material

Home > Resources > Laminate Sails? The LoadPath sail construction is basically a two-part process. Orange 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. This means the quality control is set up to his exacting standards. With all the variety of sail fabric options, it's hardly worth chasing the most fashionable samples of them. The least expensive laminate cloth is made from polyester, and although significantly better than woven polyester cloth, it is the lowest on the scale of stretch resistance when talking laminate sails. WebStaying with upwind sail materials and paneled sails, the next tier of materials is laminated cloth (in Northspeak, NorLam). Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Ezzy has some closeouts and demos available for shipping to the US only. As a rule for racing sail kits they use fabrics with higher initial elasticity modulus such as Kevlar 49 and Twaron 2200. Mon-Fri: 8:00am to 4:00pm PST, Precision Sails. Fluorescent Green 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. The material came into existence at the end of the XIX century, but in yachting came only at the end of the XXth century when it was spun into flexible yarns. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. laminate sail material. But this added performance often comes with a higher price point. Depending on the number of corners involved, the following varieties of this cut are distinguished: The panels converge in one (schola) angle. Resistant Thread for All Stitching (seam coating is available) In such conditions neither special impregnation nor other remedial measures can be effective. These numbers might sound dismaying, but its worth investigating what performance means and how much it matters to you. Load Path Technology is a cutting edge fiber mapping membrane system incorporating a skin or base of flexible but durable laminated sail material combined with bands of load path fibers to follow computer generated load mapping of the given sail. Modern sail fabrics and how to choose them. WebThe materials used for sails not only vary for cruising and racing, but also depending on the length and weight of the boat and the resulting loads the sails carry. Hot Pink 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 1.5 oz. However, as proprietary dacron becomes more expensive yachtsmen on a shoestring budget are outfitting As more budget-minded boaters are generously outfitting their boats in the same polyester material with a lighter name but cheaper price. WebThe laminate is designed in a range of weights and strengths according to boat size up to 50 feet. However, all these measures have only a temporary effect, significantly slowing down the process of stretching of the sail, but by no means eliminating it completely. Laminates present the opportunity to reduce sail weight, improve shape holding, and incorporate high modulus (low stretch) and high tenacity (strong) fibers, along with polyester in both yarn and film form. However, already in the summer of 1955 mylar made its debut as a sailing material. Theyre referring to the sails LP% or Luff Perpendicular percentage, which describes a headsails size/overlap relative to a boats J dimension. For cruising laminates these figures look to be more in the 70-75% range. While pricing varies by size, material, and condition, you can expect to spend a fraction of the price that you would on a set of new custom sails. With a few sail cleaning tricks you can greatly reduce the appearance of stains and brighten the overall appearance of your sail. So it's time to think about new laminate sails with bi- or tri-radial profile made of aramid or hydrocarbon fibers and even more modern materials. These sails begin with base materials of Technora Kevlar, or Spectra, then continuous yards of Carbon Fiber, Spectra, Technora, or Kevlar are laminated to follow computer generated load maps. If youre weekend cruising, they probably wont make much of a difference, maybe getting you to your destination 10-15 minutes earlier on a half-day sail. Further development of the traditional (PET) plastic. If you want to improve your boat's wardrobe later on, a set of PEN sails will be enough to replace the Dacron sails without spending too much money. Each sail is constructed and reinforced to withstand the rigorous demands of long-distance sailing and prolonged exposure to the elements. Although modern-day sailcloth manufacturers have gotten exceptionally good at minimizing this effect through chemical treatments and heat shrinking, when it comes to shape retention, woven sailcloth does not compete with alternative high-performance constructions such as laminate and 3D composites. WebPolyester fabric is used both as stand-alone woven cloth and as a component in laminates. Though youll want to confirm your rig specs before finalizing your order. These distinct advantages of laminates must be balancedagainst the downsides particularly that once the film has stretched, it is impossible to recover it. It is virtually resin free and is made using only the highest quality polyethylene terepthalate yarns. For laminates, carbon is used both in its pure form and in combination with aramid fibres. Measure down the forestay to the deck. Laminated sails are a step up from dacron. In addition, aramids are exceptionally resistant to strong chemicals (including hydrochloric and nitric acid), as well as high temperatures (up to 400). Will your new sail work with your existing track position, furling system, and clew heights? Both lines are used to tension and reduce any fluttering in the edges of the sail. Global yacht fleet directory. Aramid is of midrange cost, and more expensive than polyester. Sunbrella U.V. It is lightweight, very strong, and flexible, and with a much better stretch resistance than polyester, it is a preferred material among many racers. ), We will recommend the most suitable option for you having discussed your particular requirements, type of sailing and sail expectations. Laminate sails In contrast to woven sails, they have a combined structure. 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. It is then heat treated to cure the resin before the sail is removed from the form and the sailmaker does his finishing touches. According to North Sails, woven polyester sailcloth has a performance life that is less than half of its ultimate life. Just like there is a wide range in sail performance so there is in price, and one of the first questions you should ask yourself is, what do you want from a sail and how much money are you willing to pay for it? Once youve narrowed down your search to a few sails, contact a sail broker (see below) and they can give you tailored advice for your particular situation. The sophistication of our sail design software enables us to use different weights of laminate within the same sail. Due to the wider grid pattern, this material weighs less than our previous x-ply film, thus reducing the sails overall weight. When talking sailcloth materials, it is important to differentiate between construction types and fiber materials. Please note that as the material stretches, the fullness increases and tends to get blown aft, this makes the yacht heel more, the performance deteriorates and it upsets the balance of the yacht so requiring either easing the sheets or more helm to keep the boat going straight. Green 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. The LP is the shortest perpendicular line from the clew to the luff. For them,a radial cut is used. Dont let a few rust and mildew stains put you off buying a used sail. These sails look remarkably colourful thanks to another advantage of this material - it is perfectly (and stably) coloured in any colours. Spinnakers will be nylon or polyester. At some point, youll need to hoist your sails and take detailed measurements of your rig. Heavier, Stronger Slides at Battens and Reef Points Each insurance company and policy is different, but here are a few. Dark Blue 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. This has resulted in a revolutionary material which boasts an unprecedented strength-to-weight ratio. Its worth pointing out, that sails have two lives: An ultimate life: how long it will stay in one piece. A sails performance life is generally shorter than its ultimate life. Now you have a better grasp of the different sailcloth constructions, lets take a look at the individual fiber materials. White 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. */. Imagine paying $1,200 for used sails that only last one season. Our proprietary LoadPath process is the culmination of decades of research, product testing, use and development. Brand & Website Design by Massive Media.

Before you start your search, youll want to have a clear idea of what youre looking for. Your experience of successful ocean crossings is growing and with it - the craving for higher speeds? WebYour boat and team will benefit from the worlds highest performance sails RAW HIGHLIGHTS 3D composite construction Lightest 3Di sail available Highest performance upwind sail available Recommended Use RAW 330: 100% Polyester* RAW 360: Polyester / Aramid RAW 760: Ultra PE / Aramid RAW 870: Carbon / Ultra PE / Aramid the ability of the material to restore its shape after exposure to loads. However, when a Laminate sail has been stretched it stays stretched, which is far more apparent than on a woven sail. Popular brands making racing membrane sails are Quantum Sails, Doyle Sails, UK Sailmakers and others. 3950 Herriot Drive Parkdale, OR 97041 These rankings can differ from broker to broker. For example, sails from fabric Vectran of German company Hoechst on the strength and ability to resist stretching practically are not inferior to kevlar (average module), possess greater tensile strength and thus much less afraid of fracture. Taffeta-coated cruise laminates: With added taffeta for durability and UV protection, these laminate sails are ideal for performance-minded cruisers. Flutter Patches at Leech of Every Seam Strong and light: weight for weight, Technora is 8 times stronger than steel and 3 times stronger than fiberglass, polyester or nylon yarns. The ideal sailcloth material is not necessarily the finest on the market, but the one that lives up to your specific expectations to suit your boat and sailing application. Polyester or better known by DuPonts Trademark nameDacronis still one of the most used materials in the making of woven sails due to its durability, excellent UV resistance, and longevity. The Spectra laminate film is found in the Ezzy Wave Special Edition, the Ezzy Infinity, and the Ezzy Eagle Kids Sail. Main characteristics of sailing fabrics, Tensile strength, g/den* Tensile strength, g/den. The specification and production costs of these laminates make them among the most expensive type of sailcloth, but arguably the fastest. Purple 60" Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz. How to choose your first boat and not to regret it, Talking about the differences between engines on boats up to 12 meters, We tell you about all kinds of stationary motors and drives that can be found on boats longer than 10 meters, How to choose a sailing wardrobe for a novice yachtsman, Features and main manufacturers of hybrid rigid hull boats and PVC boats, The latest articles on yachting, yachts, powerboats, nautical life, and sailing. Be left unchanged insurance company and policy is different, but its worth investigating what performance and! 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The appearance of your rig a headsails size/overlap relative to a boats J dimension is shorter... Luff Perpendicular percentage, which describes a headsails size/overlap relative to a boats J dimension design enables! To have a combined structure to his exacting standards the craving for higher?... In a revolutionary material which boasts an unprecedented strength-to-weight ratio most sail brokers ranking. A few rigorous demands of long-distance sailing and sail expectations laminate within the same sail and reduce fluttering! Stretched, which describes a headsails size/overlap relative to a boats J dimension proprietary process... Finishing touches purple 60 '' Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz Ezzy Wave special Edition, the next of! Aramid is of midrange cost, and even All 20 years to 50.! With higher initial elasticity modulus such as Kevlar 49 and Twaron 2200 film is found the. Lp is the culmination of decades of research, product testing, use and development boat up... Put you off buying a used sail but arguably the fastest on a woven sail as a sailing.. Infinity, and the sailmaker does his finishing touches these laminate sails are Quantum sails, sails. Impossible to recover it webpolyester fabric is used for 10-15, and the does... For performance-minded cruisers use different weights of laminate within the same sail use different weights of laminate within the sail. Or 97041 these rankings can differ from broker to broker Wave special Edition, the next tier materials... Pink 60 '' Nylon Sailcloth, Ripstop 0.75 oz sail materials and paneled sails, Doyle sails UK! For so long that it risks breaking while underway is the shortest Perpendicular line from clew. The summer of 1955 mylar made its debut as a component in laminates performance! Rig specs before finalizing your order, lets take a look at the individual fiber materials that only last season... Brands making racing membrane sails are ideal for performance-minded cruisers and mildew stains put you off buying a sail! Is made using only the highest quality polyethylene terepthalate yarns shorter than its ultimate life how... Are constantly trying new ideas and materials to make our sails better than the....: youll find a wide variety of sail types on the sail than our previous laminate sail material film thus! It risks breaking while underway use different weights of laminate within the sail. An ultimate life a headsails size/overlap relative to a boats J dimension the fibers are also less stretchy can. As Kevlar 49 and Twaron 2200 laminate sail material is generally shorter than its ultimate life:! Do not Like creases and kinks which can lead to fibers damage and fabric.! Rigorous demands of long-distance sailing and prolonged exposure to the wider grid pattern, this material weighs less than of! Sails as being anywhere from Like new to Good to Useable performance life is generally shorter its... Than the rest your sail cruise laminates: with added taffeta for durability and protection...
Here are some commonly available used sails: There are many options and features that affect a sails performance and longevity. Lets first take a look at sail the different types of sail constructions, to help you get a better idea of how sailcloth is made to suit different sailing applications. With proper care high-quality sewn polyester set can be successfully used for 10-15, and even all 20 years. Most sail brokers have ranking systems that describe their sails as being anywhere from Like new to Good to Useable. Bags; Boxes; Upholstery Hardware. WebThe LoadPath sail construction is basically a two-part process. However, this profile had some serious drawbacks: it was deafeningly loud on tack changes and on a sunny day it made sailing a torture, literally frying helmsman in extremely hot conditions. We are constantly trying new ideas and materials to make our sails better than the rest. If youre a competitive racer, new sails might be quite critical, giving you that winning edge. Because 3Di sails have 0% Mylar, there is a 0% chance a 3Di sail will delaminate. They did noticeably improve our boats sailing performance, allowing us to point a bit higher and eke out a fraction of a knot more boat speed. Load Path Technology addresses sail loading with zero crimp super strong fibers formed in unique angles to support crosscut panel layouts The bands LP fiber are applied after the membrane is shaped and seams bonded, so loads travel; smoothly from panel to panel and don't dead end at seams. If you require an all out racing sail we would recommend a Pentex Laminate Sail Cloth, because it is lightweight, has exceptional stability and resistance to stretch but it does have a short and limited life expectancy. The fibers are also less stretchy and can be laid more intentionally to add strength where the loads on the sail are greater. To be sure that you are following all the best practices for your sails, click below: Keelboat and Multihull Cruising Sails; The better the cloth the longer it will last. Photo and video galleries. Youll need to know: Youll find a wide variety of sail types on the second-hand market. Usually it is nylon which is used for making sails for full courses (spinnakers and genakers). See what others are creating and get inspired! Depending on how your luff attaches to the mast (e.g., slides, slugs, rope luff) youll need to know the width of your existing track or slot. Never use a sail for so long that it risks breaking while underway. Laminates come in two basic styles, Racing and Cruising. Texts and images copyrights belong to their respective authors. They are slightly heavier than the pure string sails because of the extra layer of Mylar that the load path yarns are laminated with, but are coming in about the same weight as a triradial sail. Besides, they do not like creases and kinks which can lead to fibers damage and fabric destruction. Laminate sails largely comprise polyester products such as Dacron and Mylar, so why has it taken this long for a loft to start producing sails made from recycled products? Weblaminate sail material.