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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Best sail lofts

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5377 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/15/2010 : 13:01:19

In keeping with Tomas' idea of high quality repair folks, I'm in the market for a sail loft to repair the stitching and clean Passage's sails over the winter.

I'm in central coastal CT so North Sails are nearby, but thought I'd ask whether others had recommendations and preferences for lofts.

Any advice on what services to ask for, and what NOT to ask for?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 11/15/2010 13:11:43

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2010 : 22:17:45

I have used Sail Care, Inc. in Ford City, PA. for sail cleaning and stitching repairs for many years now and always had good service from them. They will go over your sails and call you with a quote and talk to you about any needed repairs:

http://www.sailcare.com/

I don't have furling sails, but some others who do have written to be cautious about sending a furling jib/genoa to Sail Care, something about their cleaning process possibly adversely affecting the UV cover. Don't take my word for it, check it out yourself.

Edited by - dmpilc on 11/15/2010 22:22:03

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 07:32:03

I'll second the recommendation for SailCare. I've had sails for 2 boats cleaned and serviced there. Very happy with the results.

I think I remember reading about the problem David mentioned. I think it had something to do with shrinkage. The Sailcare process will cause the Dacron to tighten up (shrink) at a different rate than Sunbrella. At least that's what I recall reading. The battens on my Mainsail had to be shortened an inch or so when it came back from them due to shrinkage.

Edited by - John Russell on 11/16/2010 07:33:26

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 11:53:26

I believe it was me that gave out a warning on Sailcare. My warning only pertained to RF Jibs/Genoas that have a Dacron UV cover. These UV covers are glued on then sewn. Somewhere in Sailcares cleaning process they must use heat to dry the sail or when they re-resin the sail to crisp it up. This heating process softens the glue on the UV cover and causes wrinkles/puckering to happen due to the different shrink rates between the sailcloth and the UV cover. My Mainsail came back perfect although they sewed my Insignia and numbers on. They do this so they won't come off when the sail is heated. This is what I was told at Doyle when I showed this to them. I asked about replacing the cover and they said that it would be to expensive ($450-$500). My next RF Genoa will be naked and I will use a sock to cover it with. Here is a photo of the wrinkling so you can get an idea. Its just a small section but is the same along the entire UV cover.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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5377 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 17:28:36

Shrinkage??? There's gonna be shrinkage??? That could be a dangerous thing!

Apparently, the stitching is coming out along the roach and luff, so I need that reinforced asap. I did a few critical areas myself last spring.

I reckon I can get a quote from North, and one from Sailcare, and try to get a sense of who might do a better job.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 18:20:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Shrinkage??? There's gonna be shrinkage??? That could be a dangerous thing!...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Maybe not--you could think of it as the opposite of "stretch", which your 13-year-old sails almost certainly have done. (As I recall, they were new in 1997, two years before I bought Passage.) So shrinkage could be a good thing.

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2010 : 20:00:35

Hey Bruce ,

did you ever use jean at ...Sutton Sails on barnum ave ?

I have , hes great ..he cleans the sails too for around $60

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 06:33:06

Quantum has an advertisement on the back cover of the November issue of Spinsheet magazine offering to wash sails for about $3.20 per lb. They claim that is the cheapest price available.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 08:49:18

I used [url="http://www.hathaways.com/"]Hathaway, Reiser & Raymond[/url] down the road from you in Stamford when I lived in Darien. They're a full-service loft with a big sail washing rig that hangs the sail from its luff and sprays stuff on it... They're well-regarded in the area. They supposedly pick up and deliver, too--I never used that service and don't know how far they go. I also can't speak to their prices--I never shopped around.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/17/2010 08:53:03

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 14:44:02

I use Hathaway, Reiser & Raymond (AKA Hathaways) who are a quality loft that will tell you what needs to be done and when it's time for the sails to be replaced, etc. I have also heard good things about Z Sails in Norwalk (or Stamford -- I forget which) who are really racing oriented but do good service work. North also has a good service reputation.
, but are farther up the line for me.

I purchased my sails from Ullman/Ventura as they know Catalina's and had close to, if not the best price at the time. If Ullman was close by I would use them for service/maintenance too, but they are 3,000 miles away. However, for maintenance, cleaning, service, I have used Hathaways for years on everything from a laser to a Pearson Renegade. You will not be disapointed.

Finally, you should go to a local (to you) yacht club -- one with similar sized boats -- and ask who most members use for service. Other equally good names may surface.

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