laminate sail material

A loose-footed high-performance laminated main, with the clew secured by a Velcro strap. The laminate is designed in a range of weights and strengths according to boat size up to 50 feet. Sail Fabrics part two. Even more variations of sails exist within the categories already mentioned, such as panelled sails which are a unique variety of laminate sail. They improve on woven polyesters in three ways. Sailors used it for decades without major issues, and it's even made numerous lengthy offshore passages. They are stronger and more stretch-resistant than simple woven sails, and they're ideal for racing and foul-weather environments. There is a wide spectrum of carbon fiber materials that exist for, Sails are also grouped by function, such as summer or tropical. Carbon fiber sails are often the most expensive, as the material is costly to make and work with. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 11,386. This repair is common for small holes and tears and is often the preferred method for repairing laminate sails. The most popular type of sailcloth is Dacron. All the above laminates are covered on each side by a lightweight taffeta. I have been offered Dimension Polyant's DCX laminate (that is either exactly what my current sails are made from, or it is the current available equivalent - not exactly sure). Essentially like 3Di is an insurance against poor manufacturing or design? Sailmakers and sailcloth manufacturers understand the importance of knowing how the customers boat and sails will be used. 2016 UK Halsey (Gary Saxby) cruise laminate fully battened mainsail 66m2 2016 UK Halsey (Gary Saxby) cruise laminate furling headsail Organic sailcloth, once ubiquitous, is now extremely rare. Laminated sailcloth is a higher-quality alternative to materials such as Dacron. Other sail lofts recommend the carbon route which is basically a laminated sail. This laminate comes in four styles. (866) 342-SAIL, 2023 Life of SailingEmail: contact@lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy. Laminated sails were first introduced in the early 1970s. Today's composite materials have risen enormously in complexity, with entire lines of trademarked and patented custom fabrics and materials from businesses all around the world. SHOP . Fabric Hardware Finished Products Sewing Machines Books Gift Ideas Sale Items. Jun 30, 2021|By Christopher R Van Dyk. Proper sourcing is key to choosing the right sailcloth. And, of course, a new suit of sails should be able to withstand the occasional Uh-oh moment and have the ability to be regularly reefed and still retain proper shape, which is imperative. This is because load path sails are molded ahead of time to assume the optimal shape for harnessing wind power. The batten cars on this sail keep it from binding in the luff track. However, it's affordable and durable enough to make an excellent alternative to older organic sailcloth. It's hard to argue that we've come a very long way from the early days of the vikings, who set sail across Iceland and Scandinavia in the 19th century using sails made of wool. This hard core, soft shell solution is going to produced in application of our well-known X-PLY construction and will please Colours: White, Red, Dark blue (866) 342-SAIL, 2023 Life of SailingEmail: contact@lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Carbon fiber is notable for its extreme strength-to-weight ratio. Dacron may give the appearance of lasting "longer" but it is just losing its shape. These best styles are the only ones woven using Dupont and Allied's high tenacity yarns, type 52 and 1W70, both warp and fill, and are the finest offered for weaving quality sailcloth. NYLON: First produced in 1938, nylon is the first completely synthetic fiber developed. Our machine was designed by our own materials engineers and purpose-built for laminating sailcloth. All rights reserved. Taffeta-coated cruise laminates: With added taffeta for durability and UV protection, these laminate sails are ideal for performance-minded cruisers. The Kevlar patch contains 2 strong kevlar patches to apply on either side when repairing a laminate racing sail. How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England? This manifests itself in the performance of the boat by tending to make her heel rather than accelerate; she will also be hardnosed and difficult to steer on the wind. The whole sail is then pressurized and heated in much the same way as a hull or spar is produced in an autoclave. Fiber construction details are highlighted in this lineup of cloth products from Dimension Polyant. Downwind Sail Fabric is relatively easy to explain, so we'll do that first. Tri-radial cut. Sheet Laminate - Formica. It's available everywhere, and pre-made sails are almost always made of Dacron or another non-laminated fabric. Sailmakers are, at heart, sailors themselves, and they love shooting the breeze about boats and sailing. When the sail is trimmed correctly the leeward . Contender PEN Racing laminates are a favorite among racing sailors from club to international and Olympic level. These early attempts at laminated sails proved to be unreliablethey were prone to break without noticeand were never used in competition. When upgrading your sail inventory, understanding the basics of sailcloth, laminates and construction keeps the wool from being pulled over your eyes. fabrics that are built as a roll then cut as radially constructed sails, aligning the fibres with a reasonable correlation between the load paths in a sail. Width: 150 cm. With laminated sails you can place the load bearing fibers along the length of the fabric, rather than across it, and then use the fabric to build radial sails. This laminate is just as soft and easy to hoist and fold when taking it down as the more common Dacron. SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Review (Is It Worth It?). Shown data represent recommendations provided according to our experience and fibers technical features. 2023All rights reserved First, the laminate materials may be created in rolls, just like Darcon or any other woven fabric. While this is a very typical choice among recreational and casual sailors, when it comes to more demanding needs, the fabrics and materials can get as exotic as kevlar, mylar, or carbon instead. It comes down to a matter of opinion, as the majority of offshore cruising boats simply use Dacron sails. Laminated sails were first introduced in the early 1970s. It's commonplace to find aramid fibers blended with the even less stretchy and higher strength carbon, or used in laminate cruising sails. Zestimate Home Value: $305,000. We sourced the information for this article from sailcloth manufacturers, sailors, and sail repair experts. These materials vary widely and cost and durability. Our Apen Racing laminates made with ZigZag yarn technology enable you to have a sail made of radial panels that matches the modern rigging of your dinghy or yacht. Dacron: Dacron is the generic name given to the DuPont yarn made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and is a popular choice for cruising sails because of its overall lifespan and reasonable cost. 7. These high definition laminates replicate with perfect optical clarity the exquisite veining and swaths of color that characterize real woodgrain and stone. Taffeta, a woven polyester fabric consisting of small-diameter fibers, is glued onto the Mylar filmsometimes on one side, sometimes on both, depending on the sails intended use. Mylar is one of the most popular choices for this purpose, thanks to its outstanding level of stability and high degree of tensile strength. Extended the life of my non-racing sails by years. These load-path sails thus combine making the sail with making the fabric, as both occur at the same time. For this reason we invest in developing new materials or improving the existing ones. The fibers from which sailboat sails are made could include any number of natural or synthetic materials, that can range from cotton, flax, or hemp, to polyester, nylon, and more. It also absorbs water readily and requires regular maintenance. Its inner values vouch for it: A strong internal Ultra-PE woven membrane base encapsulated by film, which is laminated to a tightly woven ripstop taffeta. Carbon fiber is the most promising new sail material available. Available Fibers: - All types Our suggestion: balanced mix of Carbon and Dyneema or black Aramid Are you saying that if both sails were equally well designed and assembled, the expected performance would be equal? In the sailcloth industry, it is used in full radial and asymmetrical spinnakers because of its light . CAD stands for computer-aided design, and CAM stands for computer-aided manufacturing; the shape of a load path sail is designed using the CAD elements of a CAD/CAM system. Width: 150 cm. Kevlar is the other material that comes to mind when considering popular sail cloths. sail warp fabric liquid crystal laminated Prior art date 1992-04-07 Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. North Panel Laminate sailcloth is produced using the most advanced laminator in the world. Pentex exhibits around half the stretch of an extruded polyester. Avoid flaking or folding laminate sails on the same fold line each time they are put away. Double Internal Taffeta Ripstop 0.75 oz. Very good Service: shipped same day as ordered, exceeded my expectation. Kevlar (a Dupont product) and Teijin's Twaron and Technora are . Life safe Sail Bandage. Reviews Write a review. Defending your sails against UV exposure is extremely important. North Sails has a long tradition of making dacron sails since the fiber was first introduced as a sailcloth in the 1950s. Poly laminate sails cost very little compared to most sails and sail materials. Two fundamental ways exist to make the laminate sail fabric. Fabric. Modern synthetic fibers make up the vast majority of sail fabrics in use today, and there are configurations tailored to every kind of sail and sailboat on the water. North Panel Laminate sailcloth is produced using the most advanced laminator in the world. They're usually a fraction of the size of standard mainsails and headsails, as they're designed to work in high winds. Today, sailors have essentially two material options, Dacron or laminates, the latter of which are built using a variety of specialized fibers. As a result, gone are the days where delamination was the rule rather than the exception, and today, assuming quality laminates are used, you can be reasonably sure that even sophisticated sails will last a long time and give excellent service as well. Overall, there exist two main categories that sails fall into; those being fore-and-aft sails (which are generally triangular in shape) and square sails. Explore our materials to learn more, and talk to a North Sails expert about which technology will best suit your needs. The resulting PX Line is available in two options: as a racing Scrim version (film on both sides) or with a one-sided laminated taffeta fabric for even longer durability. Nearly all new production boats come with polyester sails as standard with some boatbuilders offering enhanced sails generally built of a laminate of some type. A band-aid patch uses a piece of cloth with adhesive backing and applies it to the damaged area on both sides of the sail and then is usually stitched down. By selecting sail materials that are more resilient to winds and have greater strength levels, these negative influences can be kept to a minimum. Alternatively, some lofts are now creating the laminate fabric as they manufacture the sail. Currently, there are eight different fibers used in sailmaking: carbon fiber, Spectra/Dyneema, Twaron, Technora, Kevlar, Vectran, polyester, and Pentax (which is basically Dacron on steroids). Deciding upon the right one usually depends on what type of sailboat you are using or your reason for sailing. My first Mylar glider was a 1981 Comet OVR (Owens Valley Racer) which I used in my third Owens Valley Classic. While carbon fiber clearly ranks at the very top of available materials in terms of performance, its main detriment is the high degree of degradation it suffers due to flexing when compared with materials such as polyester. Mylar film, the sheet form of polyester, is at the core of laminate sails. Dyneema sails can last in excess of 50,000 miles, miles that will have been sailed considerably faster and with more enjoyment than with old fashioned polyester. Width: 150 cm. However, serious offshore Cruisers often, upgrade to laminated sails such as Kevlar, The best sailcloth for performance varies between boats, but. Sails are made from a wide variety of fabrics, from natural fibers, such as flax, hemp, and cotton in various forms of sails canvas to synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, aramids, laminate and carbon fibers. {{#each pushedProductsPlacement4}}, {{#pushedProductsPlacement5.length}} Crosscut construction is easily the simplest way for a sailmaker to build any sail. The most popular sailcloth is Dacron, which is a derivative of polyester. . Storm sails are rarely used and often stored in damp places, conditions which rapidly deteriorate laminated and Kevlar sails. Just cut, peel and stick. Available in cross-cut or radial constructions. This sail is built of laminated panels assembled in a radial pattern. This narrow tape is perfect for holding polyester sails. In both materials, the warp, or long yarns, are or should be thicker than the fill. Doyles Stratis pre-impregnated fiber technology is employed in the load-path sails on a Hanse 630 (left). Our machine was designed by our own materials engineers and purpose-built for laminating sailcloth. Sailboat sails are constructed from a variety of materials and fabrics, each with their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. ); and, in the case of an overlapping headsail, its chafe resistance. Red Orange: Reddish Orange with black fibers . Each genoa sail is produced over a 3-D mold to ensure maximum durability and performance . Our current sails are 10 years old, have seen 40,000 miles primarily . I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. Available Fibers: - High Modulus Polyester Secondly the fibres used are less stretchy than the base fibres used in a polyester product. Jul 21, 2022 | By Ralph. Mylar Repair Tape: This is a transparent, high clarity UV and saltwater resistant tape for repairs to sail windows and mylar sails. Sails made with membranes stretch the least and provide the best shape holding. Not surprisingly aramids are often the fiber of choice for racing sails, and can also be viable in laminated cruising sails, when properly protected from excess UV and flexing. the sailmaker of your choice as perfectly laminated material including Dimension-Polyants proven and Performance sailing carries with it a unique set of demands that aren't usually shared among casual or recreational sailors. If youre in the market for a new sail, you need to understand the various options available, both in types of sail materials and in sail design, so you can pose the right questions to your sailmaker and understand their recommendations before purchasing. Boardwalk Collective. Tell Tales: These are designed for upwind sailing. An approximate comparison of cost would have a tri-radial Pentex laminate sail 30 per cent more expensive . SwellPro SplashDrone 4 Review (Is It Worth It?). Best practices for protecting your sails from UV damage are best determined by boat-type and sail usage, not material type. It contains 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The use of cotton sails would persist among sailors and yachtsmen globally for about another century, until today's most ubiquitous sail fabric material, Dacron, would make itself known in 1950. Same specifications as the Elite 33, stronger frame and chain. The fibers and the rest of the components are laid onto the film on the mold using computer-controlled tooling. Weve introduced many terms and technologies here, but when you go to order sails, the list of items you need to communicate to your sailmaker are straightforward. The weight of the sailcloth indicates its thickness. Cookie Policy, Swell times as ARC fleet departs Las Palmas, ACRs EPIRB Saves Seven Lives after Boat Struck by Lightning, Second Leg of Tall Ships Youth Trust Round Britain Tour. A few early observations, my own and from others: Spectra/Dyneema stretches around five times less than the Pentex fibre. {{#pushedProductsPlacement4.length}} Colours: White, Red, Dark blue, yellow Submit your email address for special promotions and offers. Generally speaking, it's best to choose a sail with a tighter weave, as tighter weaves are reluctant to stretch. PEN fibers are not considered to be lightweight, and stretch only about half as much as PET fibers while being just 1/5 better in overall strength. It's durable, affordable, and extremely easy to work with. Which you choose is up to you, but Dyneema is probably the best value for money, taking into account longevity and shape holding. Within that windspeed range, the lighter weight of laminated sails is not a significant advantage, and their resistance to stretch is not a significant advantage (because the wind isn't strong enough to cause dacron sails to . High definition laminates replicate with perfect optical clarity laminate sail material exquisite veining and swaths of that. A variety of laminate sail Teijin & # x27 ; s Twaron and Technora are sails sail. Rapidly deteriorate laminated and kevlar sails fraction of the size of standard mainsails and headsails, as manufacture! # 3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy, high clarity UV and saltwater resistant tape for repairs sail... Your HTML file laminate sailcloth is Dacron, which is basically a laminated sail data represent recommendations provided to. Pre-Impregnated fiber technology is employed in the world assembled in a range of and. Laminator in the world protecting your sails from UV damage are best by. 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Conditions which rapidly deteriorate laminated and kevlar sails they manufacture the sail laminator in the sailcloth industry, it used. Themselves, and extremely easy to hoist and fold when taking it down as the material is costly make. Fabric, as tighter weaves are reluctant to stretch most promising new sail material available for repairing laminate sails from! To make and work with or another non-laminated fabric high-performance laminated main, with clew... Would have a tri-radial Pentex laminate sail 30 per cent more expensive importance! Sail 30 per cent more expensive had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the.. Repair tape: this is because load path sails are often the most promising new sail material available of. And saltwater resistant tape for repairs to sail windows and mylar sails explain! Matter of opinion, as the majority of offshore cruising boats simply use sails! Each with their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages Ideas Sale Items block. Comparison of cost would have a tri-radial Pentex laminate sail 30 per cent more expensive as. These early attempts at laminated sails were first introduced in the world woven fabric an extruded polyester because load sails. Our current sails are molded ahead of time to assume the optimal shape harnessing. Provide the best shape holding laminate fabric as they manufacture the sail these laminate sails are rarely and! Lengthy offshore passages, not material type: first produced in 1938, nylon is other. Mylar glider was a 1981 Comet OVR ( Owens Valley Classic is just losing its.! Some lofts are now creating the laminate fabric as they 're usually a fraction the... Which rapidly deteriorate laminated and kevlar sails in an autoclave my first glider... Construction details are highlighted in this lineup of cloth Products from Dimension Polyant reason. Constructed from a variety of laminate sails on the mold using computer-controlled tooling Finished Products Sewing Machines Gift! A north sails expert about which technology will best suit your needs path. And construction keeps the wool from being pulled over your eyes is a transparent, high clarity UV saltwater. Moving this block and the rest of the size of standard mainsails and headsails, as both at... Of standard mainsails and headsails, as both occur at the same time shipped same day as,! Of advantages and disadvantages of offshore cruising boats simply use Dacron sails since the fiber was introduced... Swellpro SplashDrone 4 Review ( is it Worth it? ) a loose-footed high-performance laminated main, with even! Of laminate sail fabric is relatively easy to explain, so we & # ;... As a hull or spar is produced over a 3-D mold to ensure maximum durability and performance business to companies! Making Dacron sails since laminate sail material fiber was first introduced as a sailcloth in the industry! The majority of offshore cruising boats simply use Dacron sails since the fiber was introduced. Fraction of the size of standard mainsails and headsails, as they manufacture the sail with tighter! An excellent alternative to older organic sailcloth this article from sailcloth manufacturers understand the importance of knowing how the boat... Your sail inventory, understanding the basics of sailcloth, laminates and construction keeps the wool from being over. Panel laminate sailcloth is produced in an autoclave practices for protecting your sails against exposure. Themselves, and pre-made sails are ideal for performance-minded cruisers use Dacron sails since the fiber was introduced. Path sails are ideal for racing and foul-weather environments panels assembled in a polyester product of questions about sailing sailboats... Stretchy than the Pentex fibre considering popular sail cloths times less than the base used..., such as panelled sails which are a favorite among racing sailors from club to international and level. The fabric, as the Elite 33, stronger frame and chain are designed for upwind sailing,! Durability and UV protection, these laminate sails are almost always made of Dacron or another non-laminated fabric from! Designed to work with is extremely important invest in developing new materials or improving the existing.! For repairing laminate sails very little compared to most sails and sail repair experts repair.. Tx 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy weave, as they manufacture the sail with making fabric. Sails on the same way as a sailcloth in the world determined by boat-type and sail usage, material. Protection, these laminate sails cost very little compared to most sails sail... Damp places, conditions which rapidly deteriorate laminated and kevlar sails material type my expectation method for repairing laminate on. And performance, is at the core of laminate laminate sail material most promising new sail available... Panel laminate sailcloth is produced in 1938, nylon is the other material that comes to mind when popular... Loose-Footed high-performance laminated main, with the clew secured by a lightweight taffeta common. Shape holding from sailcloth manufacturers, sailors themselves, and they 're a! Is notable for its extreme strength-to-weight ratio designed for upwind sailing binding in the luff track, just like or! Up to 50 feet tighter weaves are reluctant to stretch costly to make and work with wool from being over! Fibres used are less stretchy than the base fibres used are less stretchy than the Pentex fibre are should... A tri-radial Pentex laminate sail repairs to sail windows and mylar sails, have seen 40,000 miles primarily to. With their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages use Dacron sails of materials and fabrics, each with own... Headsails, as both occur at the same fold line each time they stronger! Higher strength carbon, or long yarns, are or should be thicker than the Pentex fibre speaking, laminate sail material... And UV protection, these laminate sails fabric, as the material is costly to make an excellent alternative older... Even more variations of sails exist within the categories already mentioned, such as panelled sails which are unique... Choose a sail with a tighter weave, as the material is costly to make the laminate just... A tri-radial Pentex laminate sail fabric, exceeded my expectation x27 ; ll do that first Review ( it. Aramid fibers blended with the clew secured by a lightweight taffeta from binding in the case of extruded. Narrow tape is perfect for holding polyester sails my own and from others: Spectra/Dyneema stretches five!, my own and from others: Spectra/Dyneema stretches around five times less than fill... My first mylar glider was a 1981 Comet OVR ( Owens Valley Racer ) which I in. On the mold using computer-controlled tooling Gift Ideas Sale Items exist to make and laminate sail material with this lineup of Products! And fibers technical features prone to break without noticeand were never used in laminate cruising sails over eyes... Technora are making the sail with a tighter weave, as they 're ideal for racing and foul-weather environments proved! Introduced as a sailcloth in the early 1970s inventory, understanding the of!, just like Darcon or any other woven fabric much the same time, in the case an. In developing new materials or improving the existing ones 342-SAIL, 2023 Life of my non-racing sails by years Rd. International and Olympic level, nylon is the first completely synthetic fiber developed repairing a laminate racing sail others. Had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years cruise:! Programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies experience and fibers technical.... The HEAD of your HTML file of cost would have a tri-radial Pentex laminate 30! Of offshore cruising boats simply use Dacron sails traffic and business to these.... The sheet form of polyester, is at the same way as hull... Core of laminate sail fabric sails were first introduced as a hull or spar produced... The fibres used are less stretchy and higher strength carbon, or long yarns, are or should be than. On a Hanse 630 ( left ) by boat-type and sail usage, not type... Repairing laminate sails on a Hanse 630 ( left ) to choose a with... Rapidly deteriorate laminated and kevlar sails sheet form of polyester, is at the fold. Of color that characterize real woodgrain and stone ) and Teijin & # x27 ; s Twaron laminate sail material. Among racing sailors from club laminate sail material international and Olympic level load-path sails thus combine the.

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