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Fast Sails?

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Headhunter
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/16/2004 : 14:37:29

Who here likes to go fast? I am long overdue for a new main and am interested to see who has the best fast dacron sails for a '86 FK TM. I race in a PHRF fleet on Lake Norman, NC...Dacron should be the answer here...I want the sail to last over 2 years!

Anyone know how do the Ullman sails through Catalina Direct perform?

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 14:44:54

Doug - whoever you choose to build your new main, make sure that they don't just give you the inadequate (for racing) original size triangular mainsail. Have as much roach as you can - just make sure you clear the backstay!
Derek

Edited by - on

Headhunter
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 14:59:10

Got an oversized (?) main on there now...Will probably want to put a backstay kicker at the top of the mast. Also just ordered the 8:1 backstay adjuster system from Catalina Direct...Had been using the original (?) pinch system.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 15:29:26

Doug,

Just a heads-up. You may know that North Sails purchased many privately owned sail lofts over the years. We have a couple of Catalina 22 racers on our lake that ordered North Sails from two different locations and got two completely different products - one was great and one was very cheesey . . .

The great sail was with out question the nicest main sail I've ever seen. It came out of a North Sails loft in Texas. I can get more info if you're interested.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 15:51:14

I believe that local lofts understand the prevailing winds better than other lofts. If there is a good loft in your area doing racing sails I would sit down with them and ask them whay a sail needs to be fast in your area. See what they say. I live in Kansas and for me I had that conversation with a Doyle loft in central Texas.

Edited by - on

Scotd
Navigator

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USA
136 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 15:57:29

Full Battens!

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 16:20:30

I've purchased a full battened, loose footed Ullman main from CD and it seems to be fast to me as well as very well built and reasonably priced, but I'm not sure if it can be considered a serious racing sail. It's fast, well shaped and does allow a plenty of sail control.

Edited by - on

matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 17:47:49

Hi Doug. I'm on Lake Norman as well, Kings Point. I installed an Ullman full batten, loose foot from CD last year and I really like it. Dramatic performance improvement compared to the old bed sheet I used to have. I don't race, so I can't say if it's what you're looking for, but you're welcome to look at it if we can coordinate our schedules. You might want to contact Select Yachts of Lake Norman 704-483-6656. They carry Doyle sails. They seem to know their stuff, but they also seem overly expensive to me.

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Headhunter
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 21:07:09

Thanks...I'm on "B" dock at King's Point - B30. There used to be a pretty strong fleet on the Lake...Fleet 5 I think. Someday I'd like to see it up and running again. Supposedly, Lake Norman hosted the Cat 25 Nationals a few years back.

I've heard that Doyle Sails is parceling out their business these days...I know Butch sold his location and is moving down the street and is more about selling boats than making sails any more but I will give him a call.

I'd like to take a look at your sails and may try to get in touch with you sometime.

Edited by - on

matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 21:49:21

Feel free, anytime. I'm on D14.

Shoot me an e-mail when you're ready. If you'll put Catalina or something nautical in the Subject, I'll be more likely to read it! Getting an awful lot of junk e-mail these days!

Edited by - on

jmeadows
1st Mate

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52 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2004 : 08:40:19

I noticed you can buy Ullman main sail for about $60.00 less if you deal direct with Ullman.

Does anyon know if its the same sail as Catalina Direct?
One whould think so

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2004 : 08:57:44

It is not likely the same. Ullman Ventura is the loft that CD (Catalina Direct) uses. They have a plotter/cutter/ in a loft in asia. They send the cloth to asia. They send the data file that runs the cutter, and then the sail is assembled there in the asian loft. The sails are then put in inventory and sold via CD at a good price. They feel the control provided by this system removes any low quality issues from their asian products. If you order from them directly then you will probably recieve either a custom sail or one that is at least assembled here at their loft. I spoke to Ullman Ventura and it was made clear to me that the CD sails are only available through CD. I bought a CD sail and am very pleased with it. It is my third new main in my life on various boats and it stands up well to any product I have purchased.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 02/17/2004 08:59:18

jmeadows
1st Mate

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52 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2004 : 09:18:26

[quote]Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 It is not likely the same.

Thanks, good information to know.
$60 dollars is not alot of money when you are talking about a new main

CD has always been good to deal with and I don't min sending my business their way.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2004 : 16:45:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Have as much roach as you can - just make sure you clear the backstay!
Derek
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's not even important anymore. Just make sure you have a method to shake it out if it gets caught. . .and make sure you have a way to keep the sail from getting beat up if it does get caught.

The new thing I've seen is beads added to the aft stay to allow it to roll through....

But for our purposes, Derek is right, have them cut it just a millimeter short of the aft stay at Minimum Rake

Edited by - on

teamwike
1st Mate

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82 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2004 : 22:49:03

I just recieved my full batten main from CD, The main was shipped from Ullman sails in Ventura, CA. 60.00 must be for the CD/ Ullman label sewn on the sail. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, looks nice and well built, also picked up my new TALL :) mast from the dealer !!!
Will let you know this summer how my soon to be '82 FK Tallrig sails.

Max in MD
82/fk/sr&tr

Edited by - on

Headhunter
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2004 : 09:27:10

Doe everyone agree that full battens are the way to go? I wonder about having full up top and then partial lower...Wouldn' that allow one to manipulate sail shape a bit better?

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2004 : 09:50:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Headhunter
 Doe everyone agree that full battens are the way to go? I wonder about having full up top and then partial lower...Wouldn' that allow one to manipulate sail shape a bit better?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes. However, in light air nothing can beet a full batten main, especially if you actually take the time to tension the batten pockets to the sail shape you want. If I were in the market for a racing only main it would be as you described, but a Catalina 25 is well served with the Ullman main as a quality, fast, long lived product.

Edited by - on

Scotd
Navigator

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USA
136 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2004 : 10:28:33

What is the difference between the offshore Ullman sails, and the regular Ullman sails ?

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2004 : 12:06:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Scotd
 What is the difference between the offshore Ullman sails, and the regular Ullman sails ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
A second reef, some different headboard material, maybe different stitching around cringles and such. Nothing we C-25 sailors would care about unless we have recently taken out a large policy on ourselves.

Edited by - on

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