#1 Genoa

[CaptCG]

I need to get a new genoa for my 1980 365 Sloop.  Will be strictly for cruising and be on a furler.  Suggestions appreciated for the best cloth wt, sail material, and cut. Do I need to go more than 110%?  Any sailmaker suggestions would also be appreciated.  Thank you.
Carl Neumann, s/v Sea Hiker

[Dale Tanski]

Carl,
Today's sails are nothing like sails from even 10 years ago.  I will try too answer your questions one at a time...

Cloth weight - Realistically anyone who is trying to sell you a sail based on cloth weight is suspect.  It used to be, that a cloths weight would be a good indication of the strength of that cloth and ultimately the durability of the sail that it was made from.  For the most part that is no longer a consideration.  Today's woven cloth could be manufactured from strand materials that are so strong that it could be as strong as a cloth weighing twice as much manufactured with inferior strand materials.  The way the cloth is woven plays a huge roll in cloth strength. The loads in sails are predictable and in specific directions. Sail designers engineer strand fibers into load paths to meet the required loads. In woven sails they often select cloth that has more or heavier warp strands than weft strands. The warp strands are the longitudinal strands of the weave and the weft strands go side to side often simply holding the load carrying strands together inline with each other.  Sails today often utilize different weaves and cloth strengths from panel to panel depending on the load.

Material - Unless you are a racer, the vast majority of "cruising" sails will be made from polyester.  Polyester is basically today's name for Dacron and today's Dacron is so much better than yesterdays versions, even race sails are being made from them. The big difference is the materials construction method being either woven or "panel" sails or string sails where the fibers are perfectly aligned with the loads and held together by a laminating film. 

Cut - The cut is determined by what you are going to do with the sail but more importantly what material that the sail is made of.  I am assuming you are going to use this head sail on the furler from its full size, to its minimum size and every size in between.  In the full position the sail will be very efficient. As you furl the geometry of the furler will reduce the effectiveness of the sail and it efficiency. As you furl the load paths change causing the shape to go away. 

Size - The size  of the sail you choose for your boat will be best determined by where you sail, the conditions most commonly found in that area and your comfort level.  A size (and construction) of a sail chosen for the Chesapeake bay area will be much different than the San Fransisco bay area for the same identical boat.  You may chose a specific size sail because you are not comfortable on your ear, or if the wind drops below 10 you tend to start the motor.

The future - One last subject that I will add and that is the future. What are your plans 2 years or 5 years down the road?  Buying a sail form day sailing around home will be different than buying one for a 5 year jaunt to the islands.  Be honest with your self and think longer term.

We get requests from many of the 365er's on this forum for sail quotes, thank you very much for thinking of us.  We are a North dealer and would be more than willing to help you out and provide you with a comprehensive quote.  Our goal is to provide you with the best selection from the basis of performance, longevity and cost.  What ever you do, make a wise decision because sail aren't cheap and today they last much longer than sails of yesteryear. 

Dale Tanski
Maruska, Hull #40 Ketch

[Jim S]

Well said!

[CaptCG]

Dale,
Thank you so much for the, "white paper" answers to my headsail questions.  You truly are a Pearson 365 guru!  All of us in the" club "must  find more respect for you!   
I sail on Lake Michigan solo.  Let me know your contact info and what numbers you need on my end for a quote.  I didn't know you you dealt w/ North Sails.
Fair Winds,
Carl Neumann,
s/v Sea Hiker #302

[Dale Tanski]

Carl,
Thanks for your kind words...
You would do best by contacting my son Eric, he is our loft manager and knows far more about sails, their construction, care and feeding and application than ever will.

His E-mail for all loft related items is - eric.tanski@northsails.com
or you can call him at the store - (716) 877-8221

Let him know you are from the P365 forum and an owner.

Thanks again...

Dale Tanski
Obersheimer Sailor Supply
Buffalo, NY