New #1 Headsail

[sawalt]

I'm looking at buying a new #1. Was wondering what the going rate (cost) is. I'll be doing around 30+ races a year with it and want at least a Pentex to match the main I bought 2 years ago.

Hey Scott. Just curious why you've specified Pentex. There are a bunch of really good materials out there, a lot of them with performance characteristics superior to Pentex. The cost isn't significantly different. Tom

[Tim Bosma]

We area very pleased with our Quantum #1. Contact is Dave Gerber at Traverse City loft. We paid around 2K.

[sawalt]

I was thinking Pentex because I bought a new Pentex main from Neil Pryde about 2 years ago. It has worked pretty well and kept it shape fairly well. I've concidering buying from Lidgard because I know a Lidgard rep and he has promised to have his associate Doug Christie design it for me. We use a Doug Christie designed chute on the Tripp 47 that I trim main on and it's great. I just want to be sure the price he gives me is in the right ball park.
On the Tripp we have had alot of trouble with our Quantum Fusion sails so I'm kinda wary about them. How are the Doyle?

[Tom Elsen]

Just my own humble opinion - I go with the guys who have the most experience. I think my last genoa was a '17th generation' design. I've never had a regret, or even a problem, with Doyle Boston.

You might want to discuss the Pentex 'issue' though. Even a couple of years ago Pentex wasn't a first-line choice of materials, especially for genoas. There was plenty of it out there, but...

[Rudeman]

If you are dealing with Doug Christie and Karl Funk I would give them a shot - both are good local guys who should do a good job for you.

If you are not going the local route I would go with what Tom said, you will get a good product and speed right out of the box from Spike and Doyle Boston.

One consideration in Doug's favor is that his sails will fit PHRF NW regs nicely as Mr. Christies is fairly up on the NW measurement book.

Something tells me we are still a few years away from a NW 7.9 Fleet.

[jtleyland]

You can't go wrong if you're go with Spike but if you're interested in someone in the PNW I would contact Dennis Lefeaux at the North Loft in Vancouver who has had some great sails built for #312.

Dennis has collaborated with Perry Lewis at North and in addition to Spike I doubt anyone knows and can build a better 7.9 sail.

[tpf]

When Pentex came out I was very interested, I worked in the plastics industry and I was very excited about the physical properties of Pentex but my sail maker said there were problems with how it is weaved. If I recall correctly he said there was a significant difference in the creep between the warp and weave directions. He said the way the sail is paneled is critical to how it holds shape over time and the cutting losses made for cheaper alternatives.

This was several years ago so they may have overcome the problems he was talking about or the material costs may have come down so the losses my have less impact on the price.

I would appreciate any feedback on Pentex sails, I will be getting a new Genoa next year and I am interested in all options.

[dave]

I built a suit of sails for a J 80 about 9-10 years ago using a Pentax/Mylar laminate in the class jib and woven Pentax in all but the head and clew of the main. The sails still look as good as or better than any other material would look after that time. One really nice aspect of Pentax as compared to Kevlar is that it doesen't self abrade when folded/wrinkled. No matter what you do all sails [especially headsails] get wrinkles in them and once they are there the sail tends to want to crease in that same spot and sooner or later the Kevlar will start to break at those [thousands of] spots. If you replace sails ever two years it's usually not an issue. If you are looking for more longevity Pentax makes lot's of sense. There is no magic bullet

Sailing well [clean bottom, good boat handling, good crew work, smart tactics] with olds rags will get you better race results than constantly replacing sails and not sailing well. I AM a sailmaker, admitedly, a very small on. 99% of the sailmaking world lives on hype and PR, spending untold $$$$ on adds to convince everyone that their new designs are far superior to the old and that you might as well not even show up if you don't use said product. Such is not and never has been the case. Of course that's not saying that new sails aren't a good plan but only if the other four things are taken care of first and maintained.

Dave