We shopped around for prices for a new main for our Tartan 27' over a year ago and found similar price differences from the various types of sail lofts.
After 2 seasons using our Rolly Tasker full battened, loose footed main I am quite happy with it. Happy enough to order a new head sail from them a few weeks ago.
Hey, a boat buck is a boat buck, right? If you can save $1000 (a boat buck) why not?

 

Boat buck, not heard that one. Sad but true!

For lake sailing I would get a RT without thinking. But for a year in the carib with maybe 75-100 sailing days.....

 

So you could buy 2 RT sails for the price of 1 name brand/local loft store. My RT sail was nicely stitched and I expect more than 75-100 sailing days from it.

 

I have a rolly tasker on my boat an islander 36...looks mighty fine and its been on the boat for 5-10 years or so...in the tropics

for whatever thats worth

I usually dont judge something solely by brand but current condition...if it looks and feels decent and stitching is strong and not uv degraded its good

ps. a rolly tasker sail will for sure outlive 1 year unless I dont know you like dumping your mast in mud or something with sails up...

 

I have talked to the rigger where I work about not RT but Lee Sails, a similar offshore company. Lee Sails: Sailmaker to the world
His opinion is that they are well made but not always of the kind of cut he likes - but he is a racer (I'm not) and I wouldn't expect him to sail in the Melges Worlds (as he did) with them. Any option available from any sailmaker is available - eg full/partial batten, loose foot, number of reefs optional etc.

For a cruising sail I think it makes sense.

 

I still see a boat we sold 9 years ago that remained local and the RT sails still look exceptional at 11 years old.

I am still a very happy RT customer and a very picky one to boot... There is also a guy in Annapolis who is a very good RT dealer though a tad more expensive than Dirk...

The RT main on our current boat is our 9th if I am not mistaken.. When I order a new 150% head sail it will be RT again..

 

I purchased a Rolly Tasker main and cover for my C27 last summer and it seems to be just fine. The stitching is nicely done and it looks great. Their customer service also was good and the transaction was dram free. I would easily buy another from them.

 

I purchased a RT mainsail several years ago. Price was $750 less than buying local. Dirk was great to work with. However by the end of the first season one batten pocket had come apart and 6 of the slugs had to be reintalled.... Nothing that a few hundred dollars at the local sail loft could not fix.

This year when pricing a new headsail, I did not even consider Roller Tasker.

I feel I got what I paid for...

Garner

 

I think it was about 3 years ago that I bought some sails from Dirk of RT. The first purchase was the staysail and it turned out fine so I ordered the main. It too was very well done and even incorporated an over the top leach line control that I had specified. It works great and I no longer have to hang over the boom to tighten up that leech.

 

IF RT supports their product, how's that shipping going to work for you? Long-distance communication? Sailmaker come aboard your boat to see how his product is working out/fits/etc?

Go local.

 

Go local.

For those of us on inland lakes that is not always a good option, if one at all.

 

the issue is local isnt necessarily local anymore...but I do agree if you have an issue its awesome to have live real help from the sailmaker or rigger etc...

 

The local lofts that are working with these factories don't charge prices that are $2.3k over RT, at least in my experience. I do agree with you that North Sails is expensive, but I think that they are about the highest priced option.

I've had two sails order through a small loft in Seattle. The first one was made by them, but the second one was imported and made by China Sail Factory. I just was buying a third sail (working jib) and priced it there, at Island Planet Sails (who also uses CSF), National Sail, and a few others. The pricing was within $100 in all cases. However working with the local loft gets the the advantage of having them measure the boat and to provide after sale service if necessary.

Island Planet did give me two quotes, one was for a sail delivered 6 months out. That one was the cheapest option of all quotes by far.

Here are some raw numbers from the quotes that I can find:
* Island Planet now: $1396
* Island Planet March: $1085
* local Loft built by CSF: $1450
* local Loft built in Seattle: $2037
* Mack Sails (built in FL, order online): $1592
* Rolly Tasker: about $1350 (seem to have deleted the email from them)

All prices are without taxes or shipping. That adds $50-$150. I also got quotes from a few other places, but they all ended up in this rough price range.

I ended up buying a "never used" second hand custom sail on eBay that had the correct dimensions for a working jib on my boat and which was made about an hour away by Halsey Lidgard. That one was $750. The fabric was a little heavier (8.5oz) than I wanted, but should help it last longer as a heavy weather jib. I'll be flying it tomorrow (in sub freezing temps...brr!) to verify shape and fit before knowing for sure if I did the right thing. I can verify from condition as delivered that it does look new, I don't think it has ever been installed on a furler.

For my dollars it has been worth buying local on new sails. I'll probably be buying a new mainsail sometime in the next few years and it will almost certainly be from one of the lofts operating near my marina.

 

I said nothing about who was actually fabricating the sails. I don't care. I care about service and quality.

In my experience, my sailmaker guaranteed a RACING sail over a YEAR after the sale. Jib clew tore out during a race. Sailmaker came to the boat, looked at the sail, said 'this wasn't done right,' fixed it overnight. No shipping, no back-and-forth, no problem. Done.

 

Great responses guys, but perhaps I can redirect, after all it's all about me =P

I'd be curious as to your thoughts as to my very specific context.

1. The local loft does make its own sails, employs local people, and is double the cost.
2. I only need the sails for one year cruising full time in the Caribbean. After that I'll be selling the boat (it has a set of racing sails I'll not be cruising with)
3. Because of the above, I'll be nowhere near the local sailmaker if something needs adjusting
3. We are on a budget. The $2k difference will come out of something like forgoing radar, or not taking paddle boards (I have three kids).

 

good specific questions

are you planning on reselling the racing sails and therefore dont want to use them?

I have seen plenty of cruiser racers that use old and semi used racing kevlar, mylar etc...sails, in fact I had a mylar jib on my crappy flexy flyer excalibur 26---did fine for over 3 years

that would save you from buying ANY sails...unless you want top $$$ on resale but racing sails on racing boats really dont add that MUCH value overall because they are often times thought of as disposible which is not always true

cheers

 

There is only a single loft in your area? We have a dozen or more in the Seattle area (including most of the national/big ones like North, Doyle, Ullman, Quantum, etc), which makes it easier to shop around for different levels of service.

Having the boat measured and fit locally is still a useful service. The chances of requiring service immediately is higher than requiring service once you are on your major trip. I'd argue that the chances of requiring immediate service also go up if your specific boat wasn't measured as part of having the sail made.

 

Another vote for RT (Dirk). Bought one furling headsail and I was so impressed with the quality and fit I ordered another. 4-5 years later they still perform like new, no problems whatsoever. The measuring (as Maine has explained) is a no brainer as long as you have someone like Dirk to guide you through it. I saved a minimum of $1750 on the genoa and staysail over the lowest priced local loft.

 

local lofts may be expensive but you can talk with them and get a better sail.

 

Well. I don't really want to cruise for the year with the racing sails. High tech laminates are not that durable, and can't be field-repaired.

My plan was to get a cruising sale, and then when I return, I'll have the racing sails to include in the sale inventory of sails.

 

ok thats what I thought so you get top dollar for the whole package

in that case buy cheap and good value rolly tasker is absolutely fine...if you want to sell that after the cruise you can too...Im sure many people would be interested in a 1 year old rolly tasker or similar

about the local lofts I understand you completely...I think that if you do have an issue with whatever sail you end up getting that ANY reasonable loft or rigger or sail reparairer in the are you are cruising would be more than happy to help you fix anything if need be

but unless you plan on sailing hurricanes and even then I think getting a good budget sail now is a nice reasonable option...

thats just me though

 

another option is go cheap cheap like a lee sail(rolly tasker is a significant notch above lee) and or pineapple sails in the san francisco bay area

buy cheap...then use it for 1 year then take off that sail resell that sail thats "new" or 1 year old and then sell the boat with the full compliment of racing sails

just another thought?

that way you recoup some of your $$$

 

another option is go cheap cheap like a lee sail(rolly tasker is a significant notch above lee

I'm not disagreeing, but what do you base this statement on?

 

FYI, Mack Sails make their sails in house, in the USA, at competitive prices with top of the line sail cloth

 

Given that you are on the east coast I wonder if it would be worth taking your chance with some used sails from Bacon. The shipping costs won't be as bad if you have items to return.

I've had great luck buying used sails for various boats, but normally do it in person so that I can check condition. I just bought one used online that was listed as never used, which made me more comfortable about it. That got me a roughly $1500-$2000 sail (you can see all of my price quotes up above) for $750, which is still half the price of RT.

 

Just to be curious I emailed both Lee and RT for a mainsail quote for my CS27. I asked for a loose footed main with 2 reefs and full battens. Here is the Lee quote which took less than 48 hours.



Certainly looks like a good price.

I will post the RT quote when I receive it.

 

damn see, that looks like a great deal...and has all the bells and whistles...1 buck for a new main is not bad at all

 

I priced a new light #1 from several lofts and went with a RT sail from Derk at National Sail supply. It was a perfect fit for the boat and I ended up winning more races in light air. It is still one of my favorite sails for that boat. I also have found used sails that were worth the $ on fleeby and used sail brokers, but you may have to search for a while to find a good fit, with a sail in adequate shape.

 

Used jibs and spinnakers are easy to find but mains are tougher. Many sell the jibs and spinnakers they don't use and they are often like new or lightly used. Most use the main until it isn't worth buying.

 

Nice