Per Bob Neches request, I am writing about my sail buying experience.
I have Nonsuch 36, #3. I have been using what I think is the original sail made by Botts at Hood Sails when the boat was built in 1983. By 2020 it was more patch than sail. I had Butch Miller make me a sail cover (phony Doyle pak) this year. That did solve the issue of gathering the sail into the lazy jacks which was always an issue because we take the sail down in heavy winds in Hurricane Gulch where we keep the boat and the sail is a full batten sail. All I have to do now is drop the sail and it all goes into the phony Doyle pak. I have a strong track which I installed a long time ago. Shortly after I got the boat in 2004. After the sail cover arrived in 2021, we were sailing in about 12 knots of breeze and my 38 year old sail split on the fabric and not on a seam. So, after much discussion with she who must be obeyed, we decided to get a new sail. I had the sail made by Ullman Sails in Santa Ana California. The reason I selected them was they make the sail in their loft and not in China or the Philippines or some where else and they measured the sail on my boat, guided me through the process and came sailing with me after the sail was installed on the boat. It was a really good experience and I know that I paid more for the personal service but it was worth every penny. Several of my Nonsuch friends had sails made outside the country and they had major problems. The sail Ulman made is beautiful and we gained at least a knot in upwind speed. I did some consulting with Mark Ellis during the process and he was of course very gracious. The sail is a tri radial cut two reef full batten sail made of the better but not best available material. It is called Endurance and that was the material recommended by the sailmaker based on the sailing we do. There was cheaper fabric and much more expensive fabric available. The sail with the sailmaker was great and he gave us many tips on light wind sailing. He will probably become a regular crew person.
In approximately 2010, I asked Botts how much it would cost for a new sail and he quoted $8000. I paid $12000 for the new sail which is 750 square feet.
My boat came with an extra sail which we used occasionally when the replaced sail was being patched. It had a slight belly but the material was still in pretty good shape. I asked the sailmaker if it could be recut. He advised that he had not had great luck recutting sails but recommended that I convert the extra sail from a quarter batten sail to a full batten sail. We had that done at a cost of $1300 and changing the battens seemed to take the belly out of the sail. We only sailed it twice because the new sail arrived and the spare is in storage at home.
We are happy campers
Phil LeVine, MeSays, Nonsuch 36#3, San Pedro, California, Co-President INA
I briefly entertained purchasing “North Wind”, a 30 U in Maine, in 2020. No Dodger, Bimini or sail, but a lower price than others we looked at. I shopped for sails to see what I was dealing with. I wanted some kind of sail collection system (Sailpack, Stack Pack, etc).
Quantum (INA preferred) $5300-$6000 plus $2500 for a Sailpack.
Somerset Sails (Mom and Pop shop between Buffalo and Rochester, NY) $2260-$2650 Depending on options. I had them make sails for my former boat (Pearson 30) and was very happy. I know they sent me a quote for a collections system, but I deleted the email. Martin (owner) called me to say he found a used sail, fair to good condition, for $1500.
Doyle $4000 for the sail and $2500 for the Stackpack.
I had quotes from North and a few others, but if they fell outside my parameters, I ditched the emails. My wife, not wanting me to get into another project, put the kibosh on North Wind.
Chuck Garbarino
Might as Well (soon to be As You Wish)
1985 30U #282
Lansing, NY
I’d like to respond and clarify regarding one small part of Chuck’s post, " Quantum (INA preferred) …"
The INA has in the past received sponsorship from Quantum in the form of paid advertising in the Update. There has been some discussion among us Board of Directors members as to whether that could be interpreted as an endorsement on the part of the INA.
I think it would be fair to say that Quantum is a known entity who is regarded as providing a good product but charging at the higher end of the price range. In that sense, they’re probably a safe choice in that (at least in reported experience thus far) you can have fairly reasonable confidence that their sail will work out well.
That’s not the same as saying that they are the “best” choice. There is no such thing as a best choice. Each owner has to decide what factors they want to take into account in deciding whether they’re getting value for their money.
Personally, I’m uncomfortable with Quantum being described as “INA preferred”. I personally think it’d more accurate to describe them, as “INA vetted.”
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch 26U #233