Sail Cloth for new 16 sails

[finchm]

I bought my Genoa from National Sail a couple of months ago.  I like mine.  It cost me less than $200.  I seem to recall that it was in the $150 ballpark, but I can't remember exactly.

www.nationalsail.com

[idouglas]

Thanks finchm.

I have quotes for a Genoa from National Sail at $198 for a 3oz Dacron sail and from Cruising Direct/North Sails $246 for a 5 oz Dacron sail.   While the North Sails price is $48 more it is 2oz heavier.   Also North is more local to me as they are located in RI.

Does anyone have any opinions about the difference between 3 oz and 5 oz Genoas?  Both sails seem to be good products for the money.

idouglas

[multimedia_smith]

by nature, the genoa will be used in less air than your standard jib... therefore, you would want it to be made of a lighter material to gain its shape... think of the spinnaker... lighter air- bigger sail area- lighter material.
Dale

I highly recommend National... they have the correct measurements for our boats and their sails are great.

Dirk Sharland
National Sail Supply (Rolly Tasker Sails, Florida)
14042 Marquette Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33905
http://www.nationalsail.com/
Toll Free (within US) 1-800-611-3823
Outside US 239-693-1896
Fax 239-693-5504

[idouglas]

Thanks so much for the advice on the different weights for the genoa.  Makes sense to me.

idouglas

[mgoller]

The original genoa was a lighter material probably 3 oz.  I had a new one made of 5 oz. 
The discussion went like this with North.  'What type of sailing will you do mostly?'  I told them 'cruising, in light air sometimes, but I wasn't concerned with top speed'.  'In heavy spring and fall, cold heavy wind and I was concerned with shape in those instances'.  North suggested a '5 oz cruising dacron'. 
It is too heavy to fill properly in very light breezes.  But in heavier winds it shapes very nice, and I can furl it in and it still holds a nice shape.
Its a compromise like most things sailing are.  If the air is really light I use a spinnaker on almost all points of sail.
The other advantage to 5 oz cloth is that it wont wear out as quickly as 3oz.
I was sailing yesterday with my worn out original Johnson jib.  How maddening that was.  It is a lighter material but has no shape even related to a sail.  About all I could do with it was get a little air directed over my main.  Trimming the boat with that rag was impossible.
So if you mostly do nice day light air daysailing the 3 oz would probably be a good idea.

[idouglas]

Dear mgoller:

Thanks for the advice.  I'm working with Cruising Direct (North Sails) and they recommend 5 oz.  I sent them the earlier thread from multimedia_smith about 3 oz and they  are now rethinking the weight.  Your response is important info.  I sail in Nantucket Sound from May - September, not exactly light air.  I guess I should go with 5 oz instead of 3 oz. Perhaps a good compromise of 4 oz would work best, if possible.  I'll see what Cruising Direct comes back with as a recommendation.

I'll keep you posted.

idouglas

[mgoller]

Yeah, its tough to decide.  A genoa is used in moderate to light air usually, so a 3 oz makes sense.  But in my case I just wanted one sail since I furl to all points of reef.
If you hank on, get a 3 oz.  genoa, and a 4 or 5 oz jib.  If you don't mind the money.
I would say in retrospect my genoa is a bit heavy.  Sure is nice when winds pick up over 7 knots.  Anything over hull speed and the 5 oz fills tight.  Its like a rigid wing on an airplane with a sharp airfoil.  I make hull speed whenever winds are over 7 knots.