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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Headsail Costs

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/03/2006 : 15:33:15

OK...let me first say that I am a real newbie to this sport/hobby/addiction. I have been checking headsails for a Catalina 25 standard rig. We just purchased her about 3 weeks ago and I have a list(surprise)of changes/upgrades that I want to do over the next couple of years or so. Yep I am a real boat owner now! I have been looking at headsails and am somewhat confused.

Being a frugal type of person I am trying to get the best deal. I have checked several sites that are in the "links" section and have found the following. I am comparing 135% Genoa's in dacron with telltales, and rolling furler set up. Here is what I found in just a little while checking:
1. Crusing Direct sells a 135 w/furler for $699 plus shipping.
2. Catalina Direct sells a 135 w/furler for $971.02 plus shipping.
3. Catalina Owners.com sells a 135 w/furler for $1,049.00

Now since I am looking at a 6oz dacron, rolling furler, 135% genoa, I would think that the costs would be similar, or at least within a few dollars. I have come from the ranks of RC Aircraft flyers where the last thing you want to do is buy from a hobby shop. Am I running up against a similar issue here? Or is the $699 sail from cruising direct poorer quality? and if so, how do I separate a good deal from something that is not.

Thanks for your input. I will also be asking other boaters at the marina, but wanted other opinions.

Mike
Grand Lake, OK
N.O. Catalina 25 #4849
In my opinion 75% of the earth is water for a reason. That's why I sail.

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 16:57:36

Unfortunately, this is the worst time, pricewise, to be buying. It's best if you can use a local loft, though others here have certainly had good luck with the places you have mentioned. I've been very satisfied with Hallet Canvas and Sails (local to me) and Elliott / Pattison Sailmakers, not local, but highly recommended by Capri owners.
Also have you considered some of the used sail lofts?

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 17:14:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by existentialsailor
 It's best if you can use a local loft, though others here have certainly had good luck with the places you have mentioned.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Mike,

You might want to contact Roger Kerr before making a decision:

Kerr Sail Makers
Address: 11429 E 20th St, Tulsa, OK 74128
Phone: (918) 437-0544

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 17:51:26

Price means nothing, you can be just as ripped off at 699 as you can at 1149. Value is what you want, some of that is quantifiable and some is intrinsic. I buy from Gary Swenson of the Ulman Ventura loft, he spends one day a week at Catalina because he is their primary sailmaker.
FYI, the 699 from Cruising Direct was bought recently by someone here on the forum and they are very happy with it, we are all waiting for a season wrap-up on it.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 19:19:45

Check what's included from Catalina Direct. Are they including some of the hardware you will need to go with the furler? I bought my Schaefer CF700 from them with lots of hardware to go with it for about 750 for the kit, and then about 700 for an Ullman sail.
The system rocks.
As usual Frank Hopper is right on the money about sails, and his praise for Ullman.
If you do buy a sail from Ullman directly, Gary will build you an anchor riding sail for 85 bucks if it ships at the same time. Quite a deal.

Edited by - on

Charlie Vick
Captain

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USA
423 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 19:24:18

What Frank said.
You can't go wrong with Ulman sails and Gary knows what he's talking about.
I've bought 2 headsails and a main from him in the past year and a half and
couldn't be happier with them.
Quality sails that fit like custom at a competitive price.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 19:41:02

existential - I have no problem waiting for the costs to be reduced because I have just started my research. The sailboat Antares came with a 110%, 150%, and a storm jib. The sails are still in great shape as Sea Trac can attest to. I am just beginning to ponder my choices.

Sea Trac - Thanks for the information. I didn't know there was a local sailmaker. I will certainly talk to Roger...and I was going to ask you as well.

flopper/gloss/charlie - I will also check with Ulman since it seems to have been mentioned quite a bit and the quality seems to be good.

As indicated, I am in no rush, just trying to get the best deal for my hard earned bucks. You may have guessed from this post that the boat I purchased was from JB Manley, Sea Trac. It was pretty much a turnkey purchase and I am happy with the 3 headsails that came with her. I just think that the Admiral in my family would be happier if she didn't have to go forward to mess with the jib. I am doing that now, anyway, but I would like to be able to have the furler in place so we both could handle the jib. Afterall, there is no guarantee that I might not be the one that falls off and she would have to come back after me. I want to make sure she doesn't think twice

Edited by - cat1951 on 05/05/2006 23:41:23

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 19:42:44

I got head sail and furler from Crusing Direct last year. I've been very pleased so far.

Head sail - 7oz 110 with UV leech and foot and a ropeluff reefing pad and reefing patches - $889 delivered.

CDI FF4 Furler with Ball Bearing - $499 delivered.

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 20:07:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cat1951
 Antares - Thanks for the information.

You may have guessed from this post that the boat I purchased was from Antares.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
She's Antares, Mike, and I'm still diligently attempting to get my username changed to Sea Trac. I'm really sorry, as I know it's awkward having me post under your boat's name.

Edited by - on

slaedlein
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 21:04:30

I too purchased my first about a month ago. Good boat, but the sails were in sad shape. Shurr Sails out of Pensacola is helping me out by making repairs to the main, and triming the 135 down a little to remove the part that was rotted by exposure to the elements while wrapped on the furler. Temprary fixes so thatI can get the boat moving by means other than the ugly duck.

Shurr sugested to go with the temporaty fix since this is the time of year when everyone wants sails, shop around, and make sure that if going with a furler, that the the leech contained UV protection.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2006 : 21:53:51

Prices suck right now...plus it is the busiest season for all lofts. There are about 10 lofts on our links page. Every last one of them has a quote form and you will get information back rather quickly.

Secondly, if you don't need new there are a ton of used sites out on the web. check this link... http://www.sailingtexas.com/csails.html

dw

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2006 : 03:38:51

I just got a quote from Mauri Pro Sails. They are trying to get into the Catalina market. I use hank ons, but the price seemed pretty good, and they are made in the USA, which pleases me.

I am not much for the Chinese...offshore brands, which can be "cheaper" in more ways than one....

Anyone have any first had experience with them?

Gary B.
s/v Encore! #685

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2006 : 06:47:11

Juan Mauri is a really good guy and is doing his best to enter all sailing markets. He is also sponsoring out nationals and is the equivalent of a title sponsor. I haven’t purchased any of their sails but he has been very reachable and amenable thus far.

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2006 : 07:34:31

I went through your same situation back in February. Here is the thread where I researched several different sail makers: [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11467&SearchTerms=head,sail"]New Head Sails[/url]

I decided to go with Cruising Direct because my local North Loft in Annapolis recommended me to use them. Cruising Direct sells the identical North sail that my local loft would have sewn me, only I would have paid more for them to come out and measure my boat. Cruising Direct is owned by North Sails, the sails are the exact same quality, same materials, they are just sewn over seas. My North loft was saying for our popular C-25s she recommended just buying through CD since there have been so many C-25 sails sold, they know all the correct measurements and I don't need to pay for them to come out to the boat. So, not only was CD the least expensive, they are also the same as well known, high quality North Sails.
I've been sailing the past month with my new Cruising Direct 135% on my furler and it has performed great. I did not get the rope luff and I do not think it is needed on a 135% genoa. I'm new to sailing as well, but from what I can tell it's a nice sail and my friend Dave agrees.

P.S. I also used to really be into R/C flying, but now sailing takes up most of my weekend free time. I've thought maybe I should get a sea plane to fly on the water someday

.

-Justin

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2006 : 08:25:32

P.S. I also used to really be into R/C flying, but now sailing takes up most of my weekend free time. I've thought maybe I should get a sea plane to fly on the water someday .

-Justin

Me, too! I even bought a set of floats to add to an airplane, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

BTW, Arlyn is also into R/C flying ... I wonder how many other R/C fliers there are among us ... as crazy as it might sound, there are some similarities between sailing and flying.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2006 : 09:42:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">CD the least expensive, they are also the same as well known, high quality North Sails.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The are a wholly owned subsidiary of North!!!

and dollars to donuts the North loft wasn't coming out to your boat unless you made modifications. They have everything you need in the database. What you pay extra for is the relationship - for example if you needed them to help you fine tune your rig for the new sail. Or once its made how and where you need spreader and pulpit patches...etc.

I have a CD headsail. They are also a major nationals sponsor this year. There will be a CD 110 jib in the raffle.
dw

Edited by - on

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2006 : 11:05:14

I think I can speak directly to this. I have an Ulman 150 I bought from Catalina Direct. The leech in the sail is too tight, so the sail has a bit of a "hook" in it. The cost was about $700 three years ago. Last year, I had Cruising Direct make me a 170--custom made in Asia--for about $625. I love it. I'd buy another Cruising Direct sail instead of the Ulman.

To make things even sweeter, I had a 10% off coupon for a North sail, and Cruising Direct honored it.

BTW, I'd sell the roller furler sail off my boat for $150. I went hank-on. It says it's a 150, but it doesn't look that big.

Edited by - on

Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2006 : 11:20:05

I e-mailed you yesterday I have a harken 00AL Furler, and a cut 155% genoa for a Capri 25 that I am wanting to sell, 400.00 for it all. You can have the sail cut here by Kerr if needed, But I think the sail would fit fine seeing that it was a little small on the Capri. I also have a garage full of sails that I will not be using, but reading your post It seems that you also have many sails to choose from.

Options Options Options.

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cat1951
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2006 : 16:59:25

Capri 25 - I sent you an email in response to yours. Sorry I didn't get back sooner. I am in the middle of a huge project at work and am stealing what time I can to read the posts and respond. If you need my home number, just let me know via e-mail and I can provide it.

Thanks

Edited by - on

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