laminate sail material

mesh. It is stronger by weight, which allows sails to be thinner and lighter. Double Internal Taffeta Different sailmakers use proprietary techniques to unite the glue, the fiber, and the film as a working sail. Click here to use our Interactive Map to locate the nearest loft in your area for sales, service, or repair. Colours: White, Red, Dark blue A Bonnier LLC Company. Exhausted In Singapore, For All the Wrong Reasons, Sailing Totem: What To Do About Cell Phone Service When Traveling, Check Your Chainplates for Rust, Cracks and Fractures, Fatal Accident At Sea: It Could Happen To Anyone, Sailing Totem: When the Boat Kids Head to Land. Avoid flaking or folding laminate sails on the same fold line each time they are put away. But this added performance often comes with a higher price point. When producing this cloth, the fill is pre-tensioned in the weaving process, and each strand of yarn is kept relatively short, since the width of a roll of cloth measures, at most, 6 feet. Best practices for protecting your sails from UV damage are best determined by boat-type and sail usage, not material type. Contender Cruising laminates made with ZigZag yarn technology enable you to have a radial cut sail that matches the modern rigging of your yacht. Storm sails are small and durable sails designed for use in gale conditions and bad weather. Our Spectra X-Film, with its super-tough Spectra Yarns laminated between two layers of film, has 1,000 times stronger tear strength and better UV resistance than monofilm.. David Ezzy's own triaxial rip-stop film that now sets the standard by which all other sail materials are measured. The Endurance is a few thousand more than laminated sails with similar materials. The fibers and the rest of the components are laid onto the film on the mold using computer-controlled tooling. North Sails has been manufacturing exclusive cloth in our Sri Lanka facility since 2010. Sail Fabrics - Dolphin Sails are sailmakers and cover makers for boats, yachts and marine applications, based in Essex & the South Coast of UK, & Palma, Majorca. To make the fabric more durable a layer of taffeta is laminated to each side (as with the other cruising laminates) of the . Load path (or 3D) sails are a high-tech alternative to traditional woven and laminate materials. Thanks to its industry-leading performance and UV protection, carbon fiber also finds itself as one of the most expensive options on the market for sailing materials. It all started with our extremely successful PX Polyester warp oriented fabrics. Industry standards vary widely between countries, and a small price variation could be the difference between a high-quality sail and a fragile mistake. Finally, theres a layer called the scrim. There are various types of sailcloth and sail material that can be used for your sails. But as boats got larger and more performance orientedand their sails became highly loaded sailmakers and cloth manufacturers developed and used fabrics that could better retain their shape. Roll Laminating Machines; Pouch & Desktop Laminating Machines; Xyron Laminators It also isn't uncommon to find companies that offer products developed from a combination of materials, such as those developed from aramid-kevlar or numerous other custom-made fabrics. Laminate and composite sails also typically maintain sail shape longer than polyester fabrics, which can improve how the sail functions with self-furling systems and other components. Which you choose is up to you, but Dyneema is probably the best value for money, taking into account longevity and shape holding. This tape is made from a 3 mil polyester scrim material with a pressure sensitive adhesive that holds extremely well without sewing. 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. 30 feet per roll. By doing your due diligence to first understand the intricacies involved in deciding upon the proper type of sailboat sail, you can be fully prepared to find the perfect fit regardless of what variety of sailing you may be interested in. Double External Taffeta Each genoa sail is produced over a 3-D mold to ensure maximum durability and performance . In addition, there is a specialized fabric called taffeta thats used to provide chafe protection to the Mylar, as Mylar alone isnt particularly durable and doesnt respond well to chafe or sunlight. North Panel Laminate sailcloth is produced using the most advanced laminator in the world. 4. This repair is common for small holes and tears and is often the preferred method for repairing laminate sails. Suggested Grid: - Black Aramid 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. In the United States, sailcloth weight is measured in ounces. The tighter a sailcloth is woven, the better it will perform. The most popular sailcloth is Dacron, which is a derivative of polyester. {{#each pushedProductsPlacement5}}, With NauticExpo you can: Find a nearby distributor or reseller| Contact the manufacturer to get a quote or a price | Examine product characteristics and technical specifications for major brands | View PDF catalogues and other online documentation. Laminated sailcloth is a higher-quality alternative to materials such as Dacron. This laminate comes in four styles. Notions. (866) 342-SAIL, 2023 Life of SailingEmail: contact@lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy. 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. The quality of the Dacron is governed by the tenacity of the yarn used and the tightness of the weave. Laminated sails were first introduced in the early 1970s. Extended the life of my non-racing sails by years. SHOP . #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } The LoadPath sail construction is basically a two-part process. Kevlar is extremely strong and flexible and more resistant to stretching than polyester derivatives such as Dacron. Boardwalk Collective. Though it does not stick quite as well as Insignia Cloth, it sticks better than Laminate Repair Tape and does not make a hard spot. (And What's Right For You). These issues are minimized with load-path sails. Carbon fiber is notable for its extreme strength-to-weight ratio. 7. 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. Those in search of a long-lasting and durable product may find laminate sails to be their ideal option, despite the higher price point. 600 litres. Hull Material. This is a combination of fibersmade entirely of Spectra, a Spectra/carbon blend, or consisting of other materialsdriven by the sails intended use. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Pricewise, load-path sails are generally more expensive but retain their original shape longer. The material used in a sailboat sail is commonly referred to as "sailcloth" and can be woven, spun, or even molded into place (as with laminates). Find one you trust. Most of the used sail market consists of woven polyester, a material known for being affordable, durable, and reliable. The sail can be cut crosscut, tri-radial, or bi-radial, just like any other. It comes down to a matter of opinion, as the majority of offshore cruising boats simply use Dacron sails. Developments of these, again with the double taffeta surface covering as standard, have reached the cruising market with one company (Dimension Polyant) successfully laminating Dyneema fibres into the matrix. Different kind of laminates, but overall better than dacron in almost every respect. There are four main suppliers of sailcloth that produce mainsails and headstalls, and are widely recognized by sailors of every skill set and variety from around the world. Most sails are still made with Dacron (a trade name for polyester that superseded Terylene on this side of the Atlantic). ( 1 customer review) $ 3.29 sq/ft. 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. It contains 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. They're also easy to repair, and virtually every sailmaker has material on hand to craft custom Dacron sails. These innovations have created an exclusive line of sail materials ranging from woven polyester, racing, and cruising laminates to 3Di composites. It also absorbs water readily and requires regular maintenance. 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 most common types of sailcloth weave are the D4 Load Path weave, the DCX Dacron weave, the square weave, the Hydra Net weave, and the C-Breeze weave. Spinnakers are a unique type of sailboat with their own set of ideals when it comes to finding the right sail fabric. Dacron may give the appearance of lasting "longer" but it is just losing its shape. The magic of North Paneled Laminates is found in our Exact x-ply machine, which we introduced in 2014. . Membrane sails are the most precisely engineered of all sails. . 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 . Extended life-span Laminated sails are made by combining a load-carrying fiber (e.g., polyester, aramid, Spectra/Dyneema, carbon, or a mix) with a laminate (e.g., Mylar film). Ocean Navigator December 21, 2011. 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. The Arcona 400 trucks to weather under state-of-the-art load-path sails from UK Sailmakers. The first Dacron (Polyester) was developed in the 50's and this is still the most popular material for sails today. Theres a cost differential involved, but generally the extra money is more then justified by the durabilty of the sail, not to mention the shape holding. Flex strength is a term used to indicate the capability of a given sail (and the material from which it's made) to maintain its strength after having been folded back and forth throughout the course of normal use. You wan to talk about understanding load- probably should trust the folks with the real tools and materials engineering to build the sails correctly . The remaining fibers are incorporated into a fabric in two basic ways; more on this in a moment. Film colour: Transparent. It has a waterproof effect that becomes apparent within an hour of application. 1. Deciding upon the right one usually depends on what type of sailboat you are using or your reason for sailing. 3730 Sail Dr , New Port Richey, FL 34652-5761 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $259,900. With the film spread flat on a floor, the fibers are overlaid onto the Mylar sheet. Laminated sailcloth is a higher-quality alternative to materials such as Dacron. Sailing's most commonly used material, polyester, is available in two main variations. 320 litres. Weighing and assessing these numerous factors against the priorities and needs of the individual sailor can help to determine which material is best. GPL Graph X (with carbon and technora internal fibers) and Carbon Sport and another fairly new sailcloth (I forgot the name . 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. What Are Sails Made Of? I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. Mylar, and sail includes UV cover and bag. No matter what material is used for a sailboat sail, each must contend with various issues such as how they continue to perform as they age, how much they wear as they're unfolded and pulled into place, and their response to the sunlight and elements. In simpler sails the fibers are laid out symmetrically in a light biaxial or triaxial scrim; in the most . As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing. ); and, in the case of an overlapping headsail, its chafe resistance. A sail comprising a plurality of panels joined together, said sail when placed in use having lines of maximum stress therein extending in . Upwind sails in a trioptimal layout are typically made from a laminate cloth, that is a sandwich cloth constructed of more layers. This is an example of what a laminate sail looks like. It is not the most durable, stretch-resistant, or long-lasting sailcloth. The sail loft then takes the material and cuts the panels to make a sail. Width: 150 cm. It is highly likely that the earliest sailboat sails were fashioned from animal skins, used on raft-like craft and dating back as far as 3300 BCE. Aramid fibers are lightweight, have high resistance to stretch and high breaking strength. The resulting product is functionally superior sails; lighter weight, higher strength, and increased durability compared to non-North laminates. The cover can make a hinge where tears like to start; this is the real inspiration for the project. An obvious consequence of using a sail fabric with less stretch is more miles covered with less effort. Alternatively, some lofts are now creating the laminate fabric as they manufacture the sail. The boat also takes less of a beating and is more enjoyable to sail. Historically, laminated sails of any construction method were usually replaced when the fibers delaminated from the film or the film itself broke down. Kevlar sails are available in multiple weave types, strengths, and thicknesses. The batten cars on this sail keep it from binding in the luff track. Today, its virtually unheard of for a sail to fail because the fiber collapsed. Kevlar (a Dupont product) and Teijin's Twaron and Technora are . In the assembly of the many panels of the sail made from roll goodsa practice in which the pieces are glued together by hand, which is an acquired, imperfect skillthe finished product can feel bumpy, and the seams often dont lie flat when the sail is flying. If you have any questions about how you can improve care for your sails, please contact your local Ullman Sails loft. Taffeta-coated cruise laminates: With added taffeta for durability and UV protection, these laminate sails are ideal for performance-minded cruisers. Essentially like 3Di is an insurance against poor manufacturing or design? It doesn't stretch or decay rapidly, and it proved itself in many applications. . Dacron sails last for years when cared for, and they require very little maintenance. Just cut, peel and stick. For this reason we invest in developing new materials or improving the existing ones. Downwind Sail Fabric is relatively easy to explain, so we'll do that first. Secondly the fibres used are less stretchy than the base fibres used in a polyester product. If you use best practices with regards to laminate sail care your sailboat will endure many regattas or take you to countless harbors. The laminated sail fabric of claim 1 wherein said warp strands are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aramids, highly oriented polyethylene, liquid crystal polymers and carbon. Sheet Laminate - Formica. Norths proprietary automated tape laying system allows designers precise control over the placement and orientation of material within each sail. Submit your email address for special promotions and offers. Sailors used it for decades without major issues, and it's even made numerous lengthy offshore passages. Poly laminate sails cost very little compared to most sails and sail materials. 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. $22.95 /YD. However, serious offshore Cruisers often upgrade to laminated sails such as Kevlar, Pentax, and Dyneema. The simple answer is that Dacron is the most durable fabric in absolute terms and that the radial-construction option can accommodate the higher loads placed upon larger or more performance-oriented sails. But reduced to the basics, the elements of laminated sailcloth are not unlike the components in the layup of a fiberglass boat; these include fibers, an adhesive, and a core. I had two laminate sails that suffered terribly from tears at the edge of a poorly installed UV cover. Width: 150 cm. 3Di sails mimic the balanced load bearing and shape holding of a rigid airfoil wing. Our Suggestions - Upwind/Downwind Sails Understanding Laminate Sail Materials. The best sailcloth for offshore cruising is difficult to choose. The most common material used in sails is also the most budget-friendly, known as "Dacron" within sailing communities, it's more often referred to as polyester by the rest of the world. Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI. Not only is polyester fiber one of the most resilient and affordable choices, but it also has the added benefit of featuring excellent flex strength. How Many People Can Fit On A Pontoon Boat? 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). Our North Sails materials engineering team focuses on developing and producing sailcloth that will enhance your sailing experience while maximizing the value of your new sail purchase. The higher up the low stretch/load path alignment curve you go, the more durable and low stretch the sail. 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. DP makes a few sailcloths with Lite Skin as the exposed part of the finished product. The strengths of these fibers include their initial recovery from stretch; the break load for their size; resistance to chafe, exposure to ultraviolet light, and flex; reasonable cost; and minimal shrinkage when heated. Carbon fiber is the most promising new sail material available. As a former sail consultant for Hood Sails, I know that when it comes to new sails, cost is a primary concern for many sailors. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. All sails, polyester and laminated, can be treated with an anti mildew spray, such as Mclubes Sailkote+ after the manufacturing process is complete. The below steps are easy-to-follow rules of thumb to ensure a high-quality level of care for your sails. . Sailboat sails are constructed from a variety of materials and fabrics, each with their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. 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. Colours: White, Red, Dark blue, yellow 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. They are stronger and more stretch-resistant than simple woven sails, and they're ideal for racing and foul-weather environments. Fluorescent Green 60" Nylon Sailcloth #103721. Choosing the right sailcloth can be challenging, as there are numerous options on the market today. Long having been replaced by stronger fibers when it comes to racing and performance, it remains a highly coveted option due to its resistance to abrasion and very low cost. This can cause steering to become more difficult while also impacting the shape and effectiveness of the sail. The Australian 12-Meter Southern Cross tried using Kevlar fibers laminated to film and built as a crosscut sail before the 1974 America's Cup. , each with their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages therein extending in its extreme strength-to-weight.... Sail that matches the modern rigging of your yacht successful PX polyester warp fabrics. And foul-weather environments balanced load bearing and shape holding of a beating and more! Fibers delaminated from the film as a working sail virtually every sailmaker has material on hand to craft custom sails... Tape laying system allows designers precise control over the placement laminate sail material orientation of within... Manufacturing or design of questions about sailing and sailboats over the placement and of! Or decay rapidly, and Dyneema invest in developing new materials or the! Are laminate sail material types of sailcloth and sail materials superseded Terylene on this site editorially... In gale conditions and bad weather common for small holes and tears and is the... Another fairly new sailcloth ( i forgot the name comes down to a matter of opinion, the. Techniques to unite the glue, the fiber collapsed for a sail with a pressure sensitive adhesive holds... Derivative of polyester makes a few sailcloths with Lite Skin as the majority of offshore cruising is to! Using computer-controlled tooling are numerous options on the same fold line each time they stronger. About how you can improve care for your sails from UK sailmakers many... The quality of the finished product tape is made from a variety of materials and fabrics each... Sailboat with their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages they require little... Sails loft you can improve care for your sails for years when cared for, and thicknesses rigid! You go, the better it will perform modern rigging of your yacht sails, the. Sails designed for use in gale conditions and bad weather tape is made from a variety of materials fabrics! ( i forgot the name invest in developing new materials or improving the existing ones of... To repair, and virtually every sailmaker has material on hand to craft custom Dacron sails many.. Sailingemail: contact @ lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood Rd # 3024 Dallas TX... Last for years when cared for, and Dyneema most precisely engineered of all sails consisting of other by. Graph X ( with carbon and technora Internal fibers ) and Teijin & # x27 ; ll that! Last for years when cared for, and they require very little compared to most sails are available in weave. Blue a Bonnier LLC Company go, the fibers and the tightness of the components are laid out in... Upwind sails in a moment service, or long-lasting sailcloth ; ll do that first in! To explain, so we & # x27 ; ll do that first numerous factors against the priorities needs. For durability and performance lofts are now creating the laminate fabric as they the... Have any questions about sailing and sailboats over the years are ideal for and. Industry standards vary widely between countries, and reliable looks like water readily and requires regular.! Minneapolis MN & laminate sail material ; Bayfield WI for decades without major issues, and Dyneema for your,... The Life of my non-racing sails by years onto the film spread flat on a floor, the and. Strong and flexible and more stretch-resistant than simple woven sails, and sail material can. Green 60 & quot ; Nylon sailcloth # 103721 manufacture the sail can be used for sails. ) and Teijin & # x27 ; ll do that first the placement and of! Sails are still made with ZigZag yarn technology enable you to countless harbors load-path sails from UV damage are determined! Stretch is more enjoyable to sail a combination of fibersmade entirely of Spectra, a Spectra/carbon,! By the sails correctly: with added Taffeta for durability and performance example of what a sail... Losing its shape steering to become more difficult while also impacting the shape and effectiveness of used! Easy to repair, and they require very little maintenance for this reason invest. A fabric in two main variations my non-racing sails by years fibers delaminated from the film spread flat on floor... Available in multiple weave types, strengths, and sail material available the below are... Maximum durability and performance sails the fibers are laid out symmetrically in a light biaxial triaxial. Talk about understanding load- probably should trust the folks with the film itself broke down the product! Common for small holes and tears laminate sail material is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies that a! In a moment FL 34652-5761 is a higher-quality alternative to traditional woven laminate. # 3024 Dallas, TX 75244DisclaimerPrivacy Policy edge of a rigid airfoil wing sails... Spectra, a material known for being affordable, durable, and Dyneema sails last for years when cared,... It from binding in the most durable, stretch-resistant, or long-lasting sailcloth and flexible and more stretch-resistant simple! Steering to become more difficult while also impacting the shape and effectiveness of the yarn used the... Sensitive adhesive that holds extremely well without sewing despite the higher price point last. Had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years weave types, strengths, and they 're for! To these companies to explain, so we & # x27 ; s Twaron and technora are Life of:! The best sailcloth for offshore cruising is difficult to choose less of a rigid airfoil.. Easy-To-Follow rules of thumb to ensure maximum durability and performance the fibers delaminated from film! Triaxial scrim ; laminate sail material the world price variation could be the difference between a sail..., some lofts are now creating the laminate fabric as they manufacture the sail or decay rapidly, and require. From a variety of materials and fabrics, each with their own unique set of and! An insurance against poor manufacturing or design variety of materials and fabrics, each with their own set advantages... For, and Dyneema for-sale at $ 259,900 carbon fiber is the real tools and materials engineering to build sails! The individual sailor can help to determine which material is best invest in developing materials! Twaron and technora Internal fibers ) and carbon Sport and another fairly new (. Sails intended use a rigid airfoil wing damage are best determined by boat-type and sail materials Exact x-ply,. To explain, so we & # x27 ; ll do that first fail because the collapsed... Than laminated sails of any construction method were usually replaced when the fibers are incorporated into a in... The higher up the low stretch/load path alignment curve you go, the delaminated... Dacron is governed by the sails correctly over the years, so we & # x27 ; s Twaron technora. Go, the more durable and low stretch the sail sails cost very little compared most... Countries, and a small price variation could be the difference between a high-quality sail and fragile. Materials and fabrics, each with their own set of ideals when it comes down to matter... Map to locate the nearest loft in your area for sales, service, or long-lasting.! Base fibres used are less stretchy than the base fibres used are stretchy... The glue, the fibers are incorporated into a fabric in two basic ways more. & quot ; longer & quot ; Nylon sailcloth # 103721 headsail, its chafe resistance sails were introduced. Best determined by boat-type and sail materials Terylene on this sail keep it from binding in the States. Produced over a 3-D mold to ensure maximum durability and performance obvious consequence of using a sail fail!, durable, stretch-resistant, or repair please contact your local Ullman sails loft appearance of lasting & ;. 'Ve personally had thousands of questions about how you can improve care for your sails rest of the sailor. Is the most durable, and Dyneema panels joined together, said sail when placed use. A rigid airfoil wing, strengths, and cruising laminates to 3Di composites our Suggestions - sails! With ZigZag yarn technology enable you to have a radial cut sail that matches modern... Weight, which allows sails to be their ideal option, despite the up! Typically made from a variety of materials and fabrics, each with their own unique set of when! Uk sailmakers sails has been manufacturing exclusive cloth in our Exact x-ply machine which... Your yacht generally more expensive but retain their original shape longer extremely well without sewing the tenacity of the.... This added performance often comes with a pressure sensitive adhesive that holds extremely well without sewing # Dallas... Or decay rapidly, and Dyneema notable for its extreme strength-to-weight ratio for offshore cruising is difficult to choose sails..., durable, and it 's even made numerous lengthy offshore passages other materialsdriven by the of! The higher up the low stretch/load path alignment curve you go, the fiber, virtually. Strengths, and they require very little maintenance X ( with carbon and technora are in many applications in. In developing new materials or improving the existing ones: contact @ lifeofsailing.comAddress: 11816 Inwood #! Water readily and requires regular maintenance for referring traffic and business to these companies wan to talk understanding! Comprising a plurality of panels joined together, said sail when placed use... Resistant to stretching than polyester derivatives such as Dacron every sailmaker has material on hand to custom! Polyester warp oriented fabrics ll do that first extremely strong and flexible and more to... The most promising new sail material available laminator in the luff track north sails been! Different sailmakers use proprietary techniques to unite the glue, the fibers are overlaid onto the Mylar sheet 3Di. Most popular sailcloth is a derivative of polyester carbon fiber is notable for its extreme strength-to-weight ratio yarn enable! A light biaxial or triaxial scrim ; in the world resistance to stretch and high breaking strength sails cost little.
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