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Kelly-Hanson Sails... ?

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2011 : 11:43:01

Note that they have a huge presence on eBay in sailing accessories, I question their "loft" as an ongoing part of their business plan. I buy a lot from eBay and never bid on anything from them.

Edited by - on

Dan Greer
1st Mate

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USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 22:12:26

OK, so we've had a lot of negative feedback on sailmakers to stay away from.

There was one good recommendation for Ulman Sails.

How about the rest of you guys who have bought sails. How about a rousing recommendation for people who have treated you right?

I'm in the market for a new mainsail for my C-25 WK SR, so your recommendation could turn into immediate business for your friendly sailmaker.

Thanks, guys

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 02:48:57

I used a local guy, hit him up in early Dec, paid cash, got a great deal on a quality sail, built the way I wanted it.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3442 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 03:58:42

I acknowledge that one can buy decent stock sails from many reputable saimakers that sell thru their websites or over the phone. A search of past postings comes up with many such recommendations.

I went the semi-local route buying sails thru one of the big three - Quantum. My sails are now 2-3 years old and they are great. I bought a main sail and 150 furling rig genoa. I viewed what I could buy on the web and then I made some phone calls. I felt most comfortable going with a local sailmaker/distributor that would take into account the type of sailing I do,m used quality Dacron matl (there are different grades and weights) and would come down to my boat for a custom sizing. Quantum came down from Annapolis, Md to my marina on the Potomac River in Wash, DC. The sails were designed in their office and then electronically forwarded to have the sails made out of their Capetown, South Africa facility.

I won't get into another long Dacron Matl grade story but you can search past postings for that info.

Going with high grade Dacron matl and a local sailmaker that custom sizes the sails is going to add significant cost to the sails - In many cases, doubling the cost of stock sails you can buy by other means. It comes down to what you you want and how much dough you have to spend on it. Whether you go with a local sailmaker or a reputable sailmaker that supplies stock sails, there are plenty of good news stories out there. There have been very few postings that I can recall on this Forum regarding bad experiences with sailmakers.

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/30/2011 04:01:16

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 04:49:36

I'll give an equally good recommendation to National Sail Supply, Island Planet Sails, and The Sail Warehouse. I've bought from all three. Some other good options I've read about are North Sails Direct and FX Sails.
Also, there was a used C-25 main on Ebay, reportedly in good condition. They were asking $238 but got no bids. The auction has ended but it may be relisted.

Edited by - on

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 05:52:19

This year I bought sails from a local NJ loft - Skip Moorhouse of Moorhouse Sailmakers. I also purchased a CDI furler from him. I could not be happier with the service that Skip provided. He spent a lot of time talking to me about how I sail my boat. I'm not an expert in sails or sailmaking, so I did not really know what I wanted. Skip has intimate knowledge of my sailing grounds, took the time to understand how I was going to use them, measured my boat and then built a beautiful suit of sails. He also installed the furler and the sails. He knows that his competition is the offshore lofts therefore the price was quite reasonable considering the additional services provided.

Edited by - on

vholmstrom
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 11:38:37

I have a new boat and haven't needed any sails yet. I did have a stackpack made by Doyle Sailmakers and fitted to my original mainsail. I am very happy with the results. The stackpack is a very neat package and with the built in lazy jacks, reefing and putting the main away is very easy. I also bought a Jib Sock from Catalina Direct. When I need another mainsail, I will probably go back to Doyle and have another stackpack made. For just a jib, I will probably go to Doyle or Catalina Direct.

Edited by - on

SailAZ
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 15:52:11

We just put a new set of Hyde Sails a on a Catalina 25, 6 oz. main, $550, 6 oz. 135% furling Genoa $975. The owner is very pleased, it took 3 weeks to get them. Very nice quality and shape.

Happy Sails To You,
Tom Errickson
Sailboat Shop
Lake Pleasant, AZ
www.SailAZ.com

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2011 : 17:42:52

FWIW, I am always suspicious of companies that attempt to poach off the good name of established brands. I suspect that this Kelly Hanson company selected their name to sound like Helly Hansen, which is well known for high quality outerwear (including PFDs).

Even though they do not make the same products, consumers are likely to hear the name and subconsciously think, "Oh yeah, I've heard of them before."

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2011 : 07:46:19

A word to the wise....

The following message was posted in a Sailnet thread 3 hours ago, in reference to Kelly-Hanson sails:

"I ordered a new jib from Kelly-Hanson 10 months ago and still haven't received it yet. Now I'm trying to get my money back."

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2011 : 10:51:11

Sounds like they are having some troubles and need to clean up their act.

Edited by - on

Pony Keg
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2011 : 14:18:47

I would use a great deal of caution when contemplating purchasing any products from Kelly Hanson Sails. I purchased a CDI furling system and a new 150 headsail for a Catalina 27 tall rig. I placed the order in late May. I have yet to get someone to call me regarding delivery after several attempts to contact them via email and phone. I did receive one email for someone I did not know who told me nothing that I asked. Additional attempts to contact this person remains unsuccessful.

I was told the CDI system would be delivered somewhat in advance of the sail. I was told that about three weeks was okay for delivery of the sail, but no absolute promise was made for that date. My first phone calls to Kelly Hanson was to inquire about the delivery of the CDI furler. I could not get a reply to my phone calls. I was beginning to get nervous. Subsequest emails and phone calls brought no results. They absolutely ignored me. Finally, I reached someone in the office. I seemed to have awaken him from a nap. I was promised that someone would get back to me. Nothing happened. Subsequent to that, I received one email that told me nothing. I did not count the attempts to contact Kelly Hanson, but I have records. I can count them. However, I would estimate 12 attempts to contact Kelly Hanson over three weeks.

Now, today they are not answering their phones at all on a regular business day and during regular business hours.

I am beginning to believe someone needs a little jail time to think things thru. I am having my lawyer check into credit card fraud in interstate commerce. I am in Texas and Kelly Hanson is in the Denver area. I will contact both the Texas AG and the Colorado AG. I will have absolutely no problem flying to Denver to initiate proceedings against Art Kelly and his company. It's about time someone took him to school.[/b]

Edited by - on

kentwm
Navigator

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101 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2011 : 14:35:00

If you have an order that states when the delvery should have occured, the CC company will probably refund your purchase. I had a vendor (none sailing) not deliver an order and Bank of America refunded the $3500 deposit.

Edited by - on

islandplanet
Deckhand

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USA
11 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2011 : 13:38:49

Sailtim,

Sorry to hear about your experience. That sort of thing gives the industry a black eye which is not good for any of us. I'm curious about your choice of a storm sail. A true storm sail is generally not something we'd put on a boat like a Capri. It's a very heavily built and flat sail designed to be used in survival conditions not just a really windy day. We find that very few of our customers other than distance voyagers would have a need for a storm sail. Instead they need a good heavy air sail. Here's why....

A storm sail doesn't develop much power at all. In gale or hurricane conditions you're looking for steerage and as much positive control as you can have without going very fast. On a very windy day in choppy conditions you want a small sail with some power otherwise you find yourself without the ability to deal with the large chop associated with heavy air in protected waters. So you want a sail with a bit of shape, not something flat as a board. With headsails, modern thinking is fuller hoist offers power and reduced overlap (or LP if you will) reduces heeling. So we're building a high aspect jib with enough power to get you through chop without heeling a lot.

On an unrelated note....
To follow up on the cloth issues a bit I want to share something. A few days ago I got the usual quarterly or so advertisement from one of the major cloth manufacturers. It was divided into 5 categories:

Overstock (offered some reasonable discounts for stuff they have too much of)
Closeout (even better discount for stuff that's been discontinued)
Seconds/Rejects (huge discounts, 50-80%)
First quality with minor defects (discounts varied)
Short rolls (steep discounts on really small amounts)

I hope this glimpse into our business helps people understand that not all sailcloth is equal, even if it's the same brand and product. Caveat Emptor and rememember TANSTAAFL - there ain't no such thing as a free lunch

Feel free to contact me with questions or if you want to hear about the details of our acceptance testing, where samples of cloth from every shipment are tested to insure they meet manufacturer specs. I've got sample test docs for anyone really curious.

Edited by - on

sailtim
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2011 : 17:54:17

DON'T buy sails from these people.There is plenty of negative information out there and I wish I would have paid closer attention.Long story/ short. I ordered a very simple storm sail in April. They told me 30 days. I called 30 days later and was told that it would be another 45 days. I still don't have a sail. They will not answer their telephone or emails.

I charged it on Paypal. After 45 days, they won't help. Kelly Hansen has my money and NO SAIL.

Their web page looks legitimate. It is smoke and mirrors.

Tim Erwin

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2011 : 18:14:19

This thread is certainly unique from any other I've seen here . . .

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2011 : 04:35:59

Tim:

I would send a well worded letter to your state's Attorney General citing Kelly Hansen (interstate trade) and Paypal seeking assistance in getting your money back from either. Most states have people who will help. Call to follow-up two weeks after mailing the letter, which will get the staffers going. Best case, they will apply pressure that will get your refund (or sail) worst case you have put both on notice and on the radar screen of authority with teeth.

Edited by - bigelowp on 08/12/2011 04:37:13

kentwm
Navigator

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101 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2011 : 06:53:24

Did you fund your paypal payment with a credit card? I used paypal to pay a vendor with a credit card once. When the vendor did not deliver, paypals assistance(mostly documentation) was very helpful when getting the credit card company to cover the loss.

Edited by - on

aaron
Deckhand

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USA
23 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2011 : 08:07:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Pony Keg
 I would use a great deal of caution when contemplating purchasing any products from Kelly Hanson Sails. I purchased a CDI furling system and a new 150 headsail for a Catalina 27 tall rig. I placed the order in late May. I have yet to get someone to call me regarding delivery after several attempts to contact them via email and phone. I did receive one email for someone I did not know who told me nothing that I asked. Additional attempts to contact this person remains unsuccessful.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I noticed on the KH website (which has some big typos...) that they are a CDI distributer. CDI might be interested to know the very poor ethic and service being associated with their brand. An email to CDI customer support with some pointers to these terrible references might yank KH's ability to resell CDI, or at least get them to give KH a warning. It'd hit KH on the supply side.

Edited by - on

vholmstrom
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2011 : 10:32:54

I also noticed they sell Doyle Cradle Covers. A cc of the email to CDI, sent to Doyle might put additional presure on Kelly Hansen to get their act together.

Edited by - on

Ozsailer
Deckhand

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Australia
1 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2011 : 04:41:36

Hello everyone,
I have to admit that I am not a Catalina owner but was looking at your site when searching for any information on Kelly Hansen sails and came across your site. Unfortunately we had already ordered a 130% furling genoa through the internet site when I read all the negative comments. Prior to the purchase we had very good communication with KH but after one month no sail had arrived. After several emails of which none were replied I finally rang the company to be told that the sail had not be sent and was sitting on the floor packaged and they wanted more to post the Item. After some discussion they promised to post it that day and supply a tracking number. This did not materialise after a week so we lodged a complaint through Paypal who we used to pay for the item. After much to and fro we finally recieved our sail this week. I have to admit the sail looks as good and well constructed as any sail I was comtemplating over here. I have no issue with the quality or price but the service cerctainly leaves a lot be be desired. Had we not raised a a complaint with Paypal I doubt we would have our sail today. Its a shame really, they seem to have a good product but lousy service. Would I use them again, only if I could walk in to the loft, pick the sail up there and then, pay and walk out.Unfortunately its a long walk from Oz to the US of A :)

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 12/01/2011 : 20:03:55

I just noticed that [url="http://www.kellyhansonsails.com/"]their website[/url] currently says they are no longer taking orders. Sounds like their past history may be catching up to them.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/02/2011 : 15:16:15

Very sad turn of events.

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