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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Reconditioned Sails

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/28/2006 : 14:34:47

I have been considering purchasing a new main sail for my 25 and have a general question. What goes into the term "reconditioned" sail. I see this a lot on used sails and am wondering what it actually means. Is there a standard definition, or does it just mean cleaned to look nice?

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

Admin
Forum Admin

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460 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2006 : 14:38:40

It can mean anything from re-stitched to repaired to cleaned.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2006 : 12:59:56

There is a company that used to advertise in Sail mag which used a refurbishing process called Delaume (?). A friend had this done and his sails looked and felt like new. Even had that familiar new dacron crinkle sound. You may want to try and google the name.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2006 : 14:34:25

Try www.sailcare.com.

They get rave reviews. I use my boat a lot so I decided a new set of sails made cents.

Tom.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2006 : 10:29:11

I need a new main sail and jib. I looked at the Sailcare website and used the online quote request.
It would be a lot less painful to pay $175 for Sailcare's reconditioning process than to pay $1100 for a new one. But the question remains - what is the cost/benefit relationship of the $925 difference?

I have what I believe is the original 1981 Mainsail. The leech between the top three battens is blown out. I've asked Sailcare to quote on adding a leech line.

Any experience or opinions?

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2006 : 10:40:20

stampeder - Mine is probably a lot like yours. We have a 1985 standard rig and I am looking at reconditioning rather than new. Although, I do have a couple of quotes, one from Doyle, and the other from another sailmaker (just can't remember off the top of my head.) and they are around $800.00. Since mine is so old I may just elect to get a new one and sell the one I have for real cheap, mainly because we do not have a leach line and I would like to.

Still trying to decide.

Edited by - cat1951 on 07/31/2006 10:41:31

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2006 : 13:25:30

The old sails on my boat were reconditioned at Sailcare by the PO. That didn't make them new sails. I bought new ones and don't regret it--especially the fully battened loose footed main from Catalina Direct. A huge difference.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2006 : 20:17:51

SailCare trashed the headsail on the 28 I crew on. They did a very poor job. No effort to make small repairs; our spinnaker tape was still on the sail covering bad stitches!!!!

Edited by - on

Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2006 : 07:46:43

Frank, I just got a quote from Sailcare yesterday to go over and Etc our main, They previously has done a great job on our Catalina 22 sail. They said that the process should last 4-5 years on your sail. Did anyone on the 28 complain to the owner? We just bought a new headsail from www.mauriprosailing.com a Catalina 25 sponsergroup. Will let you know when we receive it what a difference it makes.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2006 : 08:35:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 I have what I believe is the original 1981 Mainsail. The leech between the top three battens is blown out. I've asked Sailcare to quote on adding a leech line.

Any experience or opinions?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I would be inclined to replace a 25 year old sail of questionable condition rather than having it prettied up.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2006 : 15:19:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Alan Clark
 Frank, I just got a quote from Sailcare yesterday to go over and Etc our main, They previously has done a great job on our Catalina 22 sail. They said that the process should last 4-5 years on your sail. Did anyone on the 28 complain to the owner? We just bought a new headsail from www.mauriprosailing.com a Catalina 25 sponsergroup. Will let you know when we receive it what a difference it makes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The owner of the 28 is "considering" his words before putting them to paper, they will be contacted.

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2006 : 15:43:19

We sent our main to Sailcare this past winter and our experience was good. Our sail came back clean and re-resined. They repaired a couple of batten pockets and attached tell tales. We feel we got our money's worth. However it's wasn't new when we sent it off, and it wasn't new when it came back. It's like sending your shirts off to the cleaners - you get your shirt back clean with starch in the collar. I doubt they can do much with a blown out sail but make it look & sound cleaner. It took a little longer than I was told so I called to see how things were coming and they seemed a little disorganized, but concerned about keeping me happy. I would use them again in the future.

Edited by - on

Steve Meyer
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2006 : 15:55:42

Mike,
I had an old sail worked on a few years ago. I had the top two battens replaced with full battens. This greatly improved sail shape in the top half where the leech fluttered the most. This may not be helpful if the entire sail is blown.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2006 : 00:34:35

I'm really having trouble with this decision. The sail seems to be in pretty good condition other than that leech area between the top two battens. The sail is fairly stiff otherwise. no holes or patches.
I'm rethinking my earlier conclusion about the age of the sail. While I don't want to replace a sail that can be fixed, I don't want to fix a sail that should be replaced.

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2006 : 06:34:45

If there's a trustworthy sail loft near you, you might want to take the sail there and have them evaluate it. I extended the life of my 1985 OEM main in two ways: I had a sailmaker in Norfolk recut the foot to take out the shelf, and a year or so later I had SailCare clean and re-resin the sail. Those helped, but the new main I bought two years ago is in another universe from the old sail.

If your 1981 OEM sail has been much used at all in the last 25 years, it's dead. Light and stretching from use make that a given. You can improve the sail by recutting and reconditioning it, but, if you have the money, nothing you do to that sail will ever be as satisfying as a new sail. Once you've made that decision, everyone here has their favorite sailmaker to recommend, from small local lofts to internet warehouses.

Brooke

Edited by - Brooke Willson on 08/02/2006 06:35:10

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2006 : 07:33:33

Brooke,
Yes we do have a local sailmaker in Tulsa. I can always have him look it. In fact, I bought a harken furler and sail from Capri25 on this site recently. Since it is from a Capri, it is larger than my C25 standard rig needs. Kerr Sails is going to recut and set up for my boat. I have heard good things about his work and can evaluate it on the furler. Then in the off season I can have him look at the main.

That said, I am prepared to spend up to around the $800.00 mark for a new sail if it is good quality.

Edited by - on

summerseve
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2006 : 11:27:24

My boat is a 1984 tall rig. I bought it in 96 and it had new sails on it at the time. I added a hood furler a year or so later and had the 135 jib cut to fit it. The sunbrella UV protector is coming unsown from the jib and the main is looking pretty sad. Is there a rule of thumb as to how long you should expect a set of sails to last? I'm on a Texas lake and not a racer.

If I do go for all new sails where should I go? Catalina direct? There is no sail loft near where me.

Thanks
Steve

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2006 : 17:09:07

Steve, it's like a car -- if you keep it in the garage, it'll last forever. The question is not age but mileage on your sails. But 27 year old sails are probably due to be replaced.

There are many, many threads on this site about where to buy sails. Catalina Direct is one place, SailWarehouse another, catalinaowners.com another, etc. I'm a great believer in using local lofts -- most of them are pretty competitive; you can establish a relationship with the sailmaker so you can get repairs, cleaning, recuts, etc.; it supports the local economy (except that most lofts are actually having sails made in China and shipped here); you can get the sail that really meets your needs and local conditions. A good sail for SF Bay is not necessarily the right one for Texas or for the Chesapeake or for the Great Lakes, or vice versa. Remember that when people here start opining on full vs. partial battens, loose foots, and the like.

Google "sailmaker" and do some research. Then go talk to some sailors in your area. (When I googled sailmaker and Fort Worth, I came up with hits.)

Brooke

Edited by - Brooke Willson on 08/02/2006 17:13:37

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2006 : 21:22:36

Steve mauripro.com is in texas and the gulf coast is covered with them. The sunbrella uv protection is a weak point on a furling sail. If it is very ragged I would simply take it off and see what the condition of the sail is underneath, you can buy a sock or send it off to have a new uv cover put on.

Edited by - on

Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2006 : 07:24:09

Steve, I just ordered a new 155% Genoa from www.mauriprosailing.com they are also a big supporter of our organization.They were VERY comparable to other sailmakers,I can't wait to receive the sail! I spoke with Juan and Rod at Mauri pro

Edited by - on

summerseve
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 12:32:39

Brooke, Alan & fhopper,

Hey thanks for the input. Mauri Pro Sailing is about 5 miles from my house. I had never heard of them before. I just spoke to Raul about sails and he was a big help. He's also going to stop by my boat next time he's at Eagle Mountain and take a look at a couple of other things.

Thanks again,
Steve

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 13:04:51

TA DA

Edited by - on

Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2006 : 13:42:09

We Have a SummerFest Regatta this weekend< I hope to get the new sail beofre the racing... :)

Edited by - on

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