[MHml] mainsails

[Ross Hobson]

  The current main is an 1100
> sq. ft. kevlar/mylar patch sail.  As I'm not a professional racer with
> sponsors, ultimate performance and light weight will have to compromise
> with life expectancy and cost. Any suggestions as to materials and
> construction?

Bill
the main looks small in size for such a big boat - Fingers Crossed mega main
(20m rig) was 98m2 (approx 1000 sq ft) and Mollymawk's (18m rig) main is
75m2 (approx 800sq ft) - both are 40 footers

re: materials -
with a race boat you have to look at the mega loads impossed on the mainsail
and this very much reduces your choice of materials.

It is VITAL to get a sailmaker who truely understands multihull sail
design - ie ask around and ask what racing multihulls they have actually
built sails for. you also need to consider what back-up the sailmaker will
provide eg re-cuts, tution on sail trim/use etc should be part of the
package


Kevlar/mylar is great for lack of strech , not too bad a cost wise but
durability is not too good.

Spectra (if you choose the right material - eg. bainbridge SCL) offers low
strech and exellent duarbility overall it is probably the the best for
durabilty/cost

Vectran - great durability (esp as they now have the original UV problem
well under control) low strech - excellent all round but more expensive than
spectra due to difficulties in obtaining the cloth

PBO - minimum strech. low weight, costly and a BIG problem with UV
durability (the sails are a lovely orange colour) some suggest they should
only be used at night...

Carbon - almost no strech, durabilty is vastly improving, cost - expensive
(plus black looks really sexy)

Cuben - the bees knees, the dogs B******, etc - very light, ulitmate low
strech and durability
cost - well if you have to ask...

other materails that may be suggested

pentax - forget it, it is really only a modified dacron with a black thread
to loox like carbon reinforcement

dacron - you must be joking - best resrved for making underwear and sail
bags

Ross