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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Sails

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pegasus
1st Mate

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USA
65 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/09/2006 : 17:30:47

Last question...I need new sails. A mainsail is most pressing. Who do you buy your sails from?

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2006 : 18:07:51

Kent Sail in Harrison Township Michigan made mine.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2006 : 20:00:26

Lots of owners here have used the Ullman loft in Ventura California (Gary Swenson)... email Ullman Sails Ventura [ullmanventura@worldnet.att.net]

Or you can buy the same sails from Catalina Direct (catalinadirect.com). They usually have them in stock. About $750 for a standard rig full-batten main.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2006 : 20:54:45

Cruising Direct
North Sails - vermillion Ohio
Doyle Sailmakers
Elvestrom - Sobstad Midwest (made sails for the number 1 and 2 boats at the nationals this year)
Quantum Sailmakers
Mauri-Pro Sails

All of these guys were sponsors at our national regatta.

I personally would recommend you finding out who your local guy is in SC.

The sailmaker/owner relationship is one that you want to build.

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 01:35:01

LOCAL lofts are great, IMHO. I always seem to go to the front of the line at my Banks loft in Portland because I buy new from him. My sails seem to fly as well and last longer than many, many "big name" brands. Prices are better, too.

I do NOT recommend the cheap foreign sails: Lee, etc. I have not been impressed with the cloth, nor the workmanship on the few I have seen.

Give the business to the "local guy", IMHO, or there may not BE a "local guy" someday for repairs, recuts, etc.

Gary B.
s/v Encore! #685

BTW: Are you SURE you need the main the most? IMHO, the main is the LEAST valuable sail on these boats. Mine sails pretty dang well with JUST a good headsail and won't do for squat with just the main.

Just a thought....

Edited by - Gary B. on 07/10/2006 01:37:37

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 03:52:01

Gary is right. Several years ago I bought my 82 and hoisted the original main for the first sail. I was impressed with its condition for such an old sail and promptly sold it for $100. At the time I read on this board that the head sail was more important but my last two boats were fractional rigs and that advise seemed ill'n. I bought the main from Ullman Ventura and it is beautiful; however I spent a lot of money for a fresh leech! The headsail really is the driving sail and really is the one that should get refreshed first. I was talking about this Saturday with a friend who sails a masthead Chrysler 22; there is a driving sail and a trimming sail and the jobs are swapped on the two types of rigs. On a fractional rig the headsail is the trimming sail; the main is the driver and the job of the headsail is to control the slot size and shape, and therefore the acceleration of air across the driving main. Fractional rigs sail pretty well under main alone. On a masthead the headsail is the driver and the main is the trimming sail. The mainsail acts to continue the laminar flow off the back of the headsail by having it reattach to the main, that usually happens at the back half of the sail and the first half of the mainsail is not doing much. The larger the headsail the less the main can contribute. Masthead rigs sail pretty well under headsail alone.

Our point is to be sure you are putting the money where it will do the most good. For the record, used headsails off J24s fit our boats fairly well and are often very cheap or free if you know any real J24 racers.

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 05:16:08

A lot of us are extremely satisfied with our Ullman Ventura loose footed, fully battened mains.

I got mine from Catalina direct and was very satisfied with their service.

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:36:24

Frank,

Thanks for the comparison of fractional vs. masthead rigs. Our good friends are learning to sail on an Aquarius 23, fractional rig, that they bought in the spring. It's good to understand why they behave differently.

Edited by - on

Heartbeat
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 13:23:48

The local sail shop is always nice. Your salesman/rep should come out to the boat and measure it, look it over, talk to you about the sail and the type of sailing you do. After the purchase, they should again come out and go sailing with you. Since he (she) made it, have them tell you how to tune it. All of this is great, but it comes at a premium. Use the net, local advice, or the yelow pages to find someone. (I believe that North is having a sale right now.)

You can buy sails online from:
CD
http://thesailwarehouse.com/cgi-bin/web_store.cgi?page=storeframe.html& cart_id=
http://www.fxsails.com/
and there may be others.

These will use standard measurements. You will need to know the luff system you want. (For the main it's bolt rope or slides.) Of course, they don't tell you how to sail the sail. You pays your money and get a sail. You can save some money this way.

I have done both methods.

UK Gulfcoast made my current race main and 155. They are fantastic sails, and are probably some of the fastest C25 sails ever made. They hand delivered them and made good on the one (small) problem.

I have bought a spinnaker from AirForce (now called FX.) It's a good kite, the right size, and it works. I saved a few bucks.

-Matt Q.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2006 : 09:03:43

I learned an important lesson when I had to replace my 135 genny... The gas pedal on a sailboat is in fact the sails! I have met some C-25 owners who spend all kinds of money on "winch handle covers" and other stuff, but have crappy sails.

My old genny was a Doyle and I replaced it with one. The difference between a 6-8 year old sail (i'm guessing based on the UV) and a new sail is truly amazing. Less heel, more speed, etc.. My Main is a North fully battened and under 3 years old. Both Doyle and North have sails for our boats nearly in stock. I waited one week for my new genny during JULY!!!!

IMHO - the larger sailhouses have more experience with this boat than anyone and that is where I would go. I would also caution against FX or Airforce or whatever Sailnet is calling themselves these days. I got a lot of great deals from Sailnet in the old days, but that business model was not sustainable and they left me and loads of other folks hanging, fighting thru credit card paperwork and the like to resolve the issue... Never again!

sten
1982 #3220
Newport, RI = as of tommorow

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2006 : 15:24:55

North's cruising loft - Cruising Direct is a very reputable sail for a decent value. They literally have the sails on the shelf. Sten is not exagerrating.

Sail Net did restructure and is under completely new ownership with from the best I can tell a completely new business model. Time will tell.

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.