New Sails for Dragonfly 800

Mast, Boom, Standing and Running Rigging, Furler System, Reefing, Barberhauler, Lazyjack etc
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Dirk
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed 03 Sep 08, 21:50
Your Country: Germany,Rostock,Baltic

New Sails for Dragonfly 800

Post by Dirk »

Hi; I want to order new a new main and a new genoa for my Dragonfly 800 crusing version 1992.
Any recommendation of a good sailmaker ? (price, quality, e-mail address etc .) Preferebly europe, germany.
What is a "square top main sail" ? Should I go fo that ? (sorry, I´m just a beginner )
Thanks a lot in advance

Greetings

Dirk
tpaliwoda
Posts: 215
Joined: Fri 03 Nov 06, 3:05
Your Country: USA, Raritan YC, Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Post by tpaliwoda »

Dirk:
Welcome to the forum.
There is already a thread on the benefits of square top sails.
http://www.dragonfly-trimarans.org/phpB ... .php?t=111

If you look there, you will find your answer.
Welcome aboard
Ted
Ted Paliwoda
D'Fly 1000 ; HN #1
Nice Tri
Raritan YC, Perth Amboy, NJ, USA
johp
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon 08 Oct 07, 19:18
Your Country: Netherlands, Friesland and waddenzee

Sailmaker in the Netherlands

Post by johp »

Hi Dirk,
I ordered early 2006 new genua for my DF800CR of 1993 at Arjen Kooy in Haarlem in the Netherlands.
He is specialist in tri and cat sails. A small sailmaker who goes for quality and was a lot cheaper then the original sailmaker Elvstrom. I got the adress of the Dutch DF representative André Buwalda (http://www.dragonfly.nl/), who is always willing to help with his experience. Arjen Kooy seems to have made much more sails for DF's and 800. My experience was pretty good. A nice genua what did fit fine. I could tack higher with same speed (but comparison with a very old jib is maybe not fair).
Mainsail I have no experience with yet. I try to keep my old one as long as possible in shape.
If you need more info or photo's: please let me know.
Johan

Arjen Kooij Zeilmakerij, Langendijkstraat 14, 2013EM Haarlem, +31 (0)23-5318738
sungurl62
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon 15 Feb 16, 18:24
Your Country: USA, Rotonda West, FL

Post by sungurl62 »

We have DF800 and are looking to purchase new main sail. Here in the US the sailmakers are steering us toward a squaretop tri-radial carbon fiber sail. Does anyone have any advice or opinions on this recommendation? And what about using this new sail withour jib which is an older version tri-radial taffeta mylar fabric? Will performance be an issue with the new sail? UK Sailmakers here in Sarasota, FL are suggesting the tape drive PX10T, but we have heard that these sail tend to stretch and don't last as long. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Joanne
JoA W.
Double Horizon
Posts: 440
Joined: Wed 09 May 07, 0:18
Your Country: USA

Post by Double Horizon »

I'm not familiar with the tape drive PX10T. However I have another Tape Drive sail from UK (using external CF tapes that are stuck on to Aramid scrim within a Mylar laminate) for about 7 years and they do not stretch at all. The sails are a good shape and I think UK is a good company.

Despite what I'm about to say, the sails have held up well. When I took them in for cleaning/maintenance this Fall the sailmaker said they appear to have about 40% more useful life. I think that's good after 7 years of use, as it implies I may get more than 10 years from them.

I do not like the way the CF tapes are stuck onto the Mylar sail fabric with adhesive. The adhesive tends to separate at the flex points and it requires periodic off-season maintenance to stick them back on with a wider clear adhesive Mylar tape.

I would not get this construction again. If you get a tape drive or similar sail I would recommend a construction that embeds the tapes within the laminate, not external.

I would add that I bought a 3DL screacher from North Sails and I do not like the shape. I didn't get the impression they (North) know multihulls well.
Larry - Former Owner DF-1200
moilanen.a
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed 15 Jun 11, 9:18
Your Country: Finland, Turku

Post by moilanen.a »

We have Gransegel 25sqm squaretop main (top width 1,5m, technora membrane) and 15 sqm jib (carbon/technora membrane) on our DF800 cruising.

The main is really good and I would not change. Jib in other hand would need to be completely redesigned. Gransegel "standard" DF800 cruising jib cannot be flattened as flat as it should be on upwinds as the foot is around 15cm too long. Track is simply not long enough and there is no way to get it tight without modifications to the jib sheeting system. Our jib foot is 3.5m do not take that long foot!

I also think that DF800 would be a little bit faster with smaller jib on high winds but in the other hand you loose some speed on light winds.
Ex. DF800
gzahl
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed 21 Jan 15, 14:12
Your Country: Germany, Kiel

Post by gzahl »

Hi,
I am thinking about buying a DF800. Often the boats have quite used sails (e.g. 10 year old laminate/kevlar main and genua).

What did you guys pay for a new genua or new main sail?
So i can better calculate what i hav eto spend if the old sails break quick.

Thanks!
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