Before reading on, please take a moment to fill out this week’s survey so we can share your knowledge and experiences with the Cruising Compass family. Thanks.
Do you go up your mast to check the rig and make repairs?
Many thanks to everyone who replied to the last survey on sail cloth for long-range cruising. The majority of readers voted for Dacron as being the most reliable, long lasting and least expensive. But 20% of readers opted for mor exotic fabics like Hydranet, North 3Di and Dynema all of which hold their shape better than Dacron and are all more expensive.
Asked which qualities in cruising sails are more import, readers commented that durability, longevity and ease of repair worldwide were their top three. They also mentioned shape retention, tight weave and UV resistance. Quite a few readers noted that laminated sails were inappropriate for long range cruising.
