Cruising dacron cloth choices

[Zonker]

Our sailing co-op has purchased a Catalina 30 that needs a new genoa. Roller furling 130-135%.

Sailing around Vancouver, year round. Some total beginners who will thrash the sail. Longevity is important rather than good long term shape (and hey it's crosscut dacron).  Sailmakers have offered the following options. (Marblehead is probably off the table due to delays/shortages in getting it.)

Of the remaining 3 are any of them "best" cloth?

NPC Cross-Cut NorDac ND72MA

Challenge Newport 7.03 LA         

Challenge Marblehead 7.77 LA    

Dimension/Polyant AP LA 320 7.3oz

 

[notallthere]

D/P AP LA 320 is a clear winner on this one. 

 

[nota]

STOCK BOAT COMMON SAIL

why not get a used sail for the crew to learn on

and in a few years after the used one is beat to death

get a better one that has a better chance of lasting ?

 

[CriticalPath]

D/P AP LA 320 is a clear winner on this one. 

I agree. 
 

Cheers!

 

[Livia]

Hood Vectran if you find some left.

 

[Zonker]

why not get a used sail for the crew to learn on

and in a few years after the used one is beat to death

I would consider a GOOD used sail. Haven't found anything I like and shipping to Canada is not very cheap for bulky heavy items like sails. Precision sails has 3 very similar new/unused sails on their "Used" part of their site. I think they tried 2 or 3 times for the same owner

The co-op has 6 boats and 75 members of varying ability. It's not like we're teaching people to sail. Lots of members who can sail well. 

 

[JL92S]

I would add Contender Fibrecon Pro to that list too. It’s our cloth of choice for customers looking for a cross cut dacron sail

 

[MRS OCTOPUS]

I would add Contender Fibrecon Pro to that list too. It’s our cloth of choice for customers looking for a cross cut dacron sail

Yep, Fibrecon Pro low aspect has been great for me. 9.46 and 12.46.

Fantastic product.

 

[sailman]

I have a 135% constructed from Contender Pro Radial 344.  It sets up well, the down side is that it is a bit stiff fabric so changing out the sail is a bit more effort.

 

[Zonker]

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback. No love for the North product huh? (I sort of see it as a medium quality cloth but haven't asked for a spec sheet)

 

[OCS]

The Marblehead and DP AP probably shade the Newport a touch, but all would do ok in that role.

The Nordac is a bit different, it is exclusive by North sails and does not come under the scrutiny of the others by the greater community of sailmakers outside that group. I did hear one anecdote about a sailmaker ordering a roll of Challenge HMW ( a middling cloth) and it came wrapped in a Nordac covering (oops).

 

[Slick470]

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback. No love for the North product huh? (I sort of see it as a medium quality cloth but haven't asked for a spec sheet)

Not the crosscut product, but I've been pretty happy with the North furling 145% tri-radial using the Radian NorDac product that I got last year. It's pretty stiff with the rope luff so a pain to take on and off, but it has a good shape and furls nicely. 

 

[axolotl]

Not the crosscut product, but I've been pretty happy with the North furling 145% tri-radial using the Radian NorDac product that I got last year. It's pretty stiff with the rope luff so a pain to take on and off, but it has a good shape and furls nicely. 

+1 on NorDac.  I have a crosscut NorDac main and although design shape is only on par with other Dacron mains it does hold its shape better when the wind pipes up, but it's still essentially Dacron so doesn't compare with composite membrane racing sails concerning stretch.  Agreed it's much stiffer than Dacron and is a pain to fold on the boom.

I wonder what the NorDac secret is,  more tightly woven fibers, a balanced warp/weave layout, heavier calendering  or more resin impregnation?

 

[SailSailSail]

Most of the manufactures of sailcloth make several different options for crosscut dacron.  

DP is a great manufacturer but are better for laminates

Contender and Bainbridge are great.

Challenge.... not so much

 

[Bucket Mouth]

I have a 135% constructed from Contender Pro Radial 344.  It sets up well, the down side is that it is a bit stiff fabric so changing out the sail is a bit more effort.

The 344 Pro Radial is a Dimension Polyant product. We have sold thousands of meters in Aus this year alone. 

 

[SailSailSail]

I am pretty partial to Challenge. It's a US company with HQ in Connecticut.

Sails built with Marblehead are going to last.

Alternatively, if you are above the Mason Dixon, Warp Drive is a performance/cruising cloth and is less expensive than Warp Drive.

There should be plenty of it around. The only shortages I am aware of is the higher weights.

I've been getting quotes and sail makers are telling me that Warp Drive is back ordered but they can get Newport Radial.  Anyone know if this is the same thing but different name?

 

[notallthere]

I've been getting quotes and sail makers are telling me that Warp Drive is back ordered but they can get Newport Radial.  Anyone know if this is the same thing but different name?

Not at all the same. Newport Radial is a bit more balanced (so more stretch), but seems like a nice cloth for a value oriented radial construction. I have found it only slightly more expensive than a mid range crosscut Dac like Contender Supercruise. 

And North has been buying cloth from the other guys for a while at this point, they just change the name to confuse clients. Their Radian is even available to all the sailmakers via Contender who actually weave it...

 

[SailSailSail]

Not at all the same. Newport Radial is a bit more balanced (so more stretch), but seems like a nice cloth for a value oriented radial construction. I have found it only slightly more expensive than a mid range crosscut Dac like Contender Supercruise. 

And North has been buying cloth from the other guys for a while at this point, they just change the name to confuse clients. Their Radian is even available to all the sailmakers via Contender who actually weave it...

You seem to know alot about sail cloth.  Are you in the sail making industry or cloth making industry?

 

[notallthere]

You seem to know alot about sail cloth.  Are you in the sail making industry or cloth making industry?

25 years as a sailmaker for various lofts from small independents to a stint with big blue and plenty in between.