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Kelly Hanson sails

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panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/09/2010 : 11:04:07

I sent Toby of Kelly Hanson a couple of E-mail and he has been very helpful. His sails are made in Barbados. I'm thinking about a new 150. One that is made for a furling system. KJ

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2010 : 13:22:40

John, several months ago I was looking into replacing my 110 with a 135. I check out everyone and decided on Ullman. The have great quality and price as well. I have not yet ordered it but will be sure to use them. They are also local for me.
Steve A

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2010 : 16:59:47

There have been many threads on sail mfg/suppliers and you should check them out. When I was looking a couple of years ago I ended up with Ullman/Ventura who are the Catalina suppliers and met or came close to meeting the best pricing I had on offshore (Rolly Tasker) sails via National -- who is also a great operation and whom I have purchased from. I think the important thing is that YOU feel comfortable with the sail loft you buy from -- and there are many good ones!

Edited by - on

panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2010 : 23:14:44

A 135 hank on is 585 and a 135 roller furling is 645

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2010 : 13:18:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">His sails are made in Barbados<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That's why I won't buy one from him.
What is wrong with American made sails?

Edited by - Happy D on 02/10/2010 13:18:59

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2010 : 15:06:50

Dan, I try as often as I can to buy USA made products like you might be. I think others say the reason they don't is that is costs more, which is probably true.
So where one buys is a matter of price/economics vs personal beliefs.
And although there are varying degrees of quality, I am sure some non USA sails are equal in quality to ones made in the US. And just as some feel strong about where their sail is made, others feel equally strong on buying the highest or high quality of sail material. It boils down to personal preference. Thats what makes us unique individuals, right?

That being said, I own a Toyota and an Audi. But I can't be all that bad owning a USA made Catalina sailboat!

Steve A

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2010 : 17:59:16

Always amazing where things are made. I own manufacturing companies that compete "globally" (read some made in the US some made elsewhere) and I have owned Subaru's -- made in Indiana and Fords and Chryslers -- made in Canada and Mexico respectively, so, maybe some of the "US" stuff is not so and some of the "foreign" stuff is not so. That being said, I have learned that I look for the best value and, if all else is equal or close to being so, buy US and Canadian first. When the value proposition is weighted to offshore, so be it, I have to live on a budget! I think we all share your frustration though . . .

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islandplanet
Deckhand

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USA
11 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2010 : 22:17:49

I hate to burst any bubbles but you will find that most new sails are being made in Asia. It doesn't matter if the local loft you are buying from is down the street - chances are the sail will be made in Asia. And it's not a bad thing in my opinion. The production lofts are much larger and far more efficient than most if not all in the US. From what I've seen as a loft owner myself is very consistent finish quality. I have spent a lot of time in Asia watching sails get built and have been impressed.

Here's an article by Nigel Calder that you may find interesting - http://www.proboat-digital.com/proboat/20071011/?pg=159

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2010 : 04:56:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">It boils down to personal preference.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Why buy anything made in the US? Everything can be purchased offshore for less money...everything!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I think we all share your frustration though . . .<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Probably not nearly as frustrated as the sail builder that is now sitting in the unemployment line.
Lets face it, the only people that are going to dig us out of the financial position we are in is us. WE need to buy American made products. We cannot buy everything from offshore companies.
What do you expect your kids to do for work? This is easy to see but we all seem to put our blinders on to this fact. I say, shop around for a sail loft that makes sails right here in America so that they have money to buy what you make. This is basic economics. Your not going to get rich saving $200.00 on a sail, but you might save someone's job. I call and email companies and ask, "Where is this made?"

Where are Island Planet sails made?
<soapbox>

Edited by - Happy D on 02/11/2010 04:57:44

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3442 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2010 : 07:41:38

Many of the sailmakers do make their sails overseas. But looking for one that makes it in USA is a bit more complicated as others have indicated. In this global economy, many companies make goods globally and market and sell goods globally. Many of the largest sail mfrs in the country make sails in the USA but ...not all their sails. Some make their racing sails in the USA but their cruising sails overseas.

Then their is the sailcloth itself. Dimension-Polyant is primarily a european sailcoth matl but i believe they also have at least one factory in the USA. Challenge is a USA sailcoth mfr headquartered believe in Connecticut but it is widely known and respected and has international factories as well.

As another indicated regarding cars - when you buy a car and want to buy american - Which is more american - a Dodge Caravan that had it's engine or maybe the whole car (not sure) built in Canada or a Honda Civic that was built in USA. How about the windshield and all glass in a Honda that was furnished by PPG, a USA company vs an American Mfr that imported the window glass ?

If you want to buy primarily american...then go with a sailmaker that uses Challenge Sailcoth - But if you pay a bit more for the goods...be happy...the sailcoth was probably made in the USA. Quantum, Mack and believe Ulman all sell sails with Challenge sailcloth but best to ask......and then where is the sailmakers shop for cruising sails ?

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2010 : 06:22:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">In this global economy, many companies make goods globally and market and sell goods globally.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree, if you make it in America, America is really the only market. But if you make it overseas using very cheap labor and with no environmental and safety rules at all, the whole world becomes the market. However, we need to lower our standard of living a lot to compete globally. It is the only way a global economy will work.
I know many people that have their kids and grand kids move back into their house because they can't afford a place of their own any more. We are becoming just like the countries we are competing with. It is basic economics.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">But looking for one that makes it in USA is a bit more complicated as others have indicated. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, preserving our way of life does take a little effort.
It is a matter of time before the sailcloth is no longer made in the US. They will shut down those factories and move it overseas as well. First build the plant overseas and then shut down the US plant and say we have always been a global company. Keep your eye on the steel industry.

Edited by - Happy D on 02/12/2010 06:23:52

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3442 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2010 : 10:14:53

I would think these days most would support the American Mfrs and/or local shops. But it is hard to make a stand on just buying american with many of these companies. For example, Honda is a Japanese headquartered mfr but if it has an American factory, it is employing probably hundreds of Americans working in that factory as well as the contracts they have in place for various miscellaneous components supplied by american mfrs that also employ many americans.

Taking this a step further to the producers of raw materials like fiberglass for making sailboats, etc - I use to work in the petrochemical/power industry. For many years, we designed and constructed many different type of chemical plants and primarily ethylene plants. These plants were in America and many were overseas. Some and in later years, many of the plants built overseas had stipulations in the contracts by their countries that a percentage of their workers were to be trained to do the (design/construction) work. A lot of the business overseas is now not done by american petrochemical design/construction companies. That plus the fact that very few if any new petrochemical plants have been built in america for the last....20 years or so. We have extremely aging plants and probably less efficient which compounds the issue. So.......where does the fiberglass raw materials for ur sailboats come from ?

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panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2010 : 11:00:05

What I,ve seen is that American companies are more concerned about keeping the stock holders happy and not about updating their factories. If you look at Japanese companies that have built in the U.S. Their factories are modern and kept up to date.

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MurphyPeoples
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2010 : 15:58:37

I tore my Standard Rig Mainsail last November when my out haul broke in heavy weather. It was so old and stretched that the luff had moved forward and made my C-25 heel pretty well in moderate wind even with the out haul tensioned. Anyhow - I shopped around and chose Joe Waters sails in Columbia. I watched as his crew was stitching sails for customers while we talked. Yes, I'm a newbie here, and I'm sure you guys all know about Joe, and that he's had some of his sails win the C-25 National's. I'm just a cruiser with a young family, and I know I paid more. But I kept my money local - except for material. I'll have to ask Joe where he gets his material from. I'm getting ready to purchase a new 155 hank on Genoa from Joe made of Poly. Again... I'll pay more, but name me another sail maker who'll come out to your boat and check your rigging and make suggestions. The guy is a doozie.
Murphy

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2010 : 19:53:10

Good for you Murphy!!!!!!!! You get it.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2010 : 22:17:33

Joe has made a lot of sails for C-22 racers, and put on some very good sail trim clinics. I have a set of his racing sails on our C-22 and like them very much.

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