by beachboy46 » Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:42 pm
What is the useful life of a sail?
Moving the Boat is a ditty bag of variables.
Assume all the variables to be constant except the sails.
Sails convert the power of the wind to move the Boat.
Sail shape creates a foil; the wind flowing over this foil creates the force to move the Boat. The challenge is Sail shape.
I have sailed with brand new, direct from the loft, “Crunchy” sails. Some think this is when a sail is at 100% of its efficiency. I wonder if a little breaking in might smooth the foil shape, allowing for a better air flow across the surface, and increasing efficiency. I have sailed with sails so used, they came with my first DS, and were as soft as an old T shirt, no more “Crunch” than the last soggy corn flake in the bowl. I liked these sails for light wind, stretched beyond their designed shape; they had a little extra lift.
So how do you quantify the useful life of a sail?
If a new sail is at 100% efficiency and cost $700, is a sail at 50% efficiency worth $350? How about one at 80% efficiency?
I think there are incredible values in used sails, after all it is only one of the many variables involved in moving the Boat.
Brad Beach