Sail Selection tips:
Sail Size - When it comes to sails size matters. Sizes are listed in the search results as “Percent Overlap” which refers to how far past the mast they overlap on your particular boat (if any). Our general recommendations for choosing the best sail size for your sailing conditions are as follows:
- If there are NO white caps on the water more than half the time (winds about 13 knots or less) then a 140% - 155% Furling Genoa is best.
- If there ARE White caps on the water half the time (average wind range 14 - 20 knots) then 125%-135% a Furling Genoa is best.
- If there are whitecaps on the water MOST of the time (for example 18+ knots) such as in SF Bay, Hawaii or the Caribbean then a 90% - 110% Working Jib or “Blaster” Jib work best. These sails are built heavier and somewhat flatter for this purpose.
Sail Features - Check the “Sail Features” column in the search results for these features:
UV Cover- All our furling sails have a UV cover on the leech and foot to protect it from the sun. Most stock sails have a white UV treated Dacron cover since it is a universal color. However we do stock some of our more popular sails in various colors of Sunbrella. These are listed in the “Sail Features” Column in the search results.
Foam Luff Pad - A foam luff pad is an upgrade on some sails to help flatten and give better sail shape while reefed. This allows you to run a larger sail on the furler and still reef it down to a small one without it becoming too baggy. Flatter shape helps the boat stand up and drive forward with less heeling. Check the “Sail Features” column in the search results for sails with this feature.
Product Tier - The construction techniques used in our sails are divided in 3 product tiers:
Standard OEM for boats up to 28’ used in daysailing and light cruising.
Coastal Cruising for boats up to 44’ used in average conditions.
Offshore Performance for boats of any size used in performance and demanding applications.
Please follow this link for a full pictorial description of each: Product Tiers
Product Code - Each sail is listed in the search results coded by it’s luff length. For example a product code “RF30.0” has a 30’ luff length. Using this you can perform a Sail Search by luff and locate that sail to see every detail of it along with comparably sized sails Note, any other sail may be substituted in a discount package to meet your specifications and the cost is adjusted accordingly. Fully custom sails are also eligible for discounts too. |
Furler Selection tips:
All the furlers we stock are good quality reliable units. Choose the one that best suits your type of sailing and budget. Click on the Mfgr link below for a complete description of each:
1. CDI
The Flexible Furler is the simplest and least expensive type. It is suitable for boats up to around 40’ and very popular on smaller boats and trailering because of its nearly indestructible plastic luff extrusion.
2. Profurl
Profurl units are well known around the world as reliable coastal and offshore cruising units. Easy installation is a big advantage as this unit normally installs right over your existing headstay without cutting it. The drum can be mounted low for performance or high for visibility and better anchor clearance. |