Association Forum - National Sail Supply

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

National Sail Supply

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/05/2007 : 18:11:22

Anybody know anything about National Sail Supply or Rolly Tasker Sails? Sure seem to have nice prices. I'm a little nervous about doing business with a loft in Phuket, Thailand, however. They claim they are the loft that other sailmakers use but put their own label on.

Edit: They have an address in Florida, too, but the sails are made in Thailand.

John Russell
1999 C250 SR/WK #410
Bay Village, Ohio
Sailing Lake Erie
Don't Postpone Joy!

Edited by - John Russell on 12/05/2007 22:03:17

Downbucket
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2007 : 19:16:37

John:

I wouldn't be nervous. I would be scared! What are you going to do if you have a problem? I like to do business locally even if it costs a little more money. Not only am I supporting the local economy, if there is a problem I can see someone "eyeball to eyeball." This is not to say I haven't done business over the internet but I make sure the company is reputable and/or others I know have done business with them.

Good luck.

Will

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 08:45:07

John,
We bought a Rolly Tasker 70% storm jib earlier this year. I was impressed with the construction of the sail. Admittedly since we've had it we've not been out in conditions again that warranted a storm jib, so I don't know how well it performs. We had it up in light winds a while back just to try it out, and there were no surprises.

Edited by - on

SJ
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 11:40:46

They make a decent sail, not my favorite, but still good especially for crusing canvas. If you are looking for racing sails, I'd look at North or Doyle. BTW, my new 140 from Doyle, local here on LI, was built in New Zealand and shipped back to the states. It actually is cheaper for them to do it this way than to build it here in the states. Go Figya!

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5897 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 11:48:41

I needed a new sail when my son's college expenses were pressing, and bought a Rollie Tasker hank-on jib. The materials and workmanship were satisfactory, but the sail didn't fit, and I had to have a local sailmaker alter it. The shape of the sail was flatter than I liked, so it was only really good in strong winds. It appeared to have been made to fit a roller furler, and, since I wanted hanks, they simply added hanks to it. The sail slides that were on it didn't fit my sail track, and I had to replace them all myself.

I repaired my old jib and used it in light air.

I'd guess the product is inconsistent. I know some people have been very satisfied with their Rollie Tasker sails, but my experience wasn't so good. I agree with Will, that a local sailmaker is better, but I still think that you can get reasonably good sails from some of the on-line sailmakers. Maybe I was just unlucky. Maybe my sail was made on a Monday after a long holiday weekend.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 12:26:56

I've bought a Rolly Tasker main and genoa for my C-22 as replacements for my aging original sails (not my racing sails.) They seem to work very well. Actually, I bought the genoa first, on ebay from an individual selling R/T sails, liked it and bought the main fron The Sail Warehouse, whose catalog I regularly receive. So, apparently, there are several outlets for R/T sails. BTW, I believe the Rolly Tasker company is Australian. I would have no problem using their main for racing.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 12:36:28

John: You probably had Rolly Taskers on your DS/II. Not that that means anything...

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 12:54:36

For what it's worth . . . When I replaced sails last year it came down to National Sails (Rolly Tasker) and Ullman Ventura. I spoke with both companies -- I believe it is Dirk from National and Gary from Ullman -- both were great helps. The pricing for both a main (2 full and two partial batton/loose fit/2-reef/with number and logo as well as the 135 roller head sail were virtually identical in pricing. I ended up going with Ullman as Gary was highly regarded by folks on this sight and he seems to be a Catalina "expert"(e.g. works closely with Catalina). However I did buy the sail and tiller cover from National and had impeccable service. If I were racing I would buy locally and have custom sails made for my location/skill/rig -- but for cruising, I think either will do well and would not hesitate buying from National -- that said, you should also check with Ullman Ventura.

Good luck!

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 13:37:26

One thing that I found interesting about the National website was that they had a section dedicated to Catalina Sails. They didn't have any other specific boat manufacturer's sections. Other websites don't seem to have that. That leads me to think that they may have some kind of relationship with Catalina.

Or, that maybe, the supplier for Catalina is actually having the sails made by Rolly Tasker and putting their name on it.

Dirk from National sent me a quote today. The luff measurement he used was 29 feet. Although the quote said it was for a 150% furling sail, I think his measurement is for a hanked on deck sweeper. The luff on my 110% is only 27ft + change.

I'll check with Ullman as well as a local guy (Sobstad) that did a repair for me last summer. I'm not interested in racing. So, high performance sails aren't a requirement. I just want a bigger sail because I spent a lot of time last season trying to catch <5 knots of wind.

It's all about cost for me. My CURRENT thinking (subject to never-ending vacillation) is that a 150% would be more cost effective than a 135% because it would give me more options. The other thought working back and forth is to stay with my 110% and buy a drifter. Or, maybe a 135% and a drifter??????? Or, maybe just a 135%....Aaargh!

Thanks for the feedback.

Edited by - on

Alan Clark
Captain

Members Avatar

406 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 14:45:35

We bought a rolly Tasker for our Catalina 22 and it was OK. We have also used a UK and now are SOLD on DOYLE Sails. Service is what it is ALL about in my opinion and our loft- Doyle Detroit- supports our club by seminars,ETC.
Price was real close when we bought our sails but the decideing factor was service and support.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2007 : 16:14:41

John:

It all depends on where you are sailing and your usable inventory. As I was starting from scratch I went with a 135 -- which for the part of LI SOund I sail on seems to be the "base" head sail (e.g. most usable in most conditions) I have a roller furler and as such, reefing in a 150 on a regular basis did not seem to make sense. My plan is, as funds are available, to next look at either a drifter or 150 then maybe in the future a working jib. This past season the 135 worked well and is well sized for my TR/FK Back in the 70's I did a bit of sailing out of Toledo and if your Lake area is similar the ability to change sails/reef in quickly may be the more important requirement. Finally, having always sailed "good old boats" whatever you do you will love having a new suit of sails!

Peter

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.