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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Anyone have experience with Kelly Hanson Sails?

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Stuff4Toys
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/25/2010 : 15:10:07

Found this Main Sail on ebay for $495

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Catalina-25-Mainsail-Direct-Our-Loft-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4837a16ea1QQitemZ310170971809QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear

JOhn ><>

"We Two" 1982 Catalina 25 - SR - SK - Traditional Interior - Hull #2940
"High Voltage" 1976 Catalina 27 - Tall Rig - Dinette Interior - Hull #2247
-
John Lange - Port Charlotte, Florida
Association Member
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http://www.Stuff4Toys.com/
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Christmas Day 2010

Edited by - on

Stuff4Toys
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 15:27:32

on The Kelly Hanson web site they have this http://www.kellyhansonsails.com/apps/webstore/products/show/614746

Edited by - Stuff4Toys on 09/26/2010 09:31:54

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 15:55:23

Two threads:

http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21000

http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18827

Edited by - on

Stuff4Toys
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 17:12:40

I read those two links and a third one and get that the only real complaint may be that they are not entirely forthcoming as to the origin of the manufacture of their sails.

Checked the BBB and they now are rated B- with only 4 complaints that were resolved.

Thanks for your input.
JOhn ><>

Edited by - on

Stuff4Toys
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 17:16:23

Does anyone have a review for the performance, quality and usability of the sails from Kelly Hanson?

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 18:51:03

Message deleted, see comments above.

Edited by - dmpilc on 09/25/2010 18:53:10

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2010 : 19:30:38

I clicked on your sig link, maybe you should talk to them about selling their product.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 05:15:01

I wouldn't buy a sail from them. How many sailmakers are selling their sails on ebay? Why do they have to resort to selling them on ebay, when they're pricing them so cheap? Are they having difficulty selling them, even at a cheap price? How do you force them to stand behind their warranty when you have no local outlet, if they put the wrong sail slides on the sail, or if the sail is poorly or defectively made? Since the sails are foreign-made, do you have to ship a defective sail back to Kelly Hanson, and does KH have to ship it back to the Caribbean or Asia, where it might be repaired and shipped back to you, hopefully before the end of next summer? (Although North and other domestic sailmakers often have sails made overseas, nevertheless, they have their own US sail lofts around the country that can make and repair sails, without having to ship them back overseas. Does KH have it's own, US sail lofts, or are they merely US sales agents for Asian sailmakers?)

Edited by - Steve Milby on 09/26/2010 07:14:37

Stuff4Toys
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 07:37:35

So, looks like you would rather run this company down. If you don't have anything constructive or pertinent to say then it does not meet the subject.

Anyone actually have anything constructive to say?

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 08:35:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stuff4Toys
 So, looks like you would rather run this company down. If you don't have anything constructive or pertinent to say then it does not meet the subject.

Anyone actually have anything constructive to say?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I didn't realize you were only asking for positive responses in praise of the company.

I didn't say anything negative about the company. I asked questions about how the company conducts it's business and whether it is able to address warranty issues efficiently, and especially whether it has an actual sail loft in the US, with skilled sailmakers, who are able to repair any manufacturing defects without shipping the sails overseas.

I also asked whether customers would be dealing with expert sailmakers, or with salesmen sitting in front of a computer terminal and telephone, checking boxes on an order form, who don't really have expertise in sailmaking.

A sail represents a significant investment, and I wouldn't like to see any of our members waste their money, and I certainly wouldn't buy a sail from any company that didn't have US located sailmakers to address warranty issues.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 08:55:25

If what you're really looking for is some free advertising and not our honest opinions, you'll probably be disappointed here. It is "constructive" to raise those questions. That's the kind of stuff we do for each other here.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/26/2010 08:58:12

Stuff4Toys
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 09:22:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 If what you're really looking for is some free advertising and not our honest opinions, you'll probably be disappointed here. It is "constructive" to raise those questions. That's the kind of stuff we do for each other here.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I am not related to that company in any way, I just stumbled upon them in my search for sails for my boat.

I am not trying to dredge up the threads from the past or a political discussion whether you should buy sails made in the US, China or some other offshore location.

I didn't ask for <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I wouldn't buy a sail from them. How many sailmakers are selling their sails on ebay? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> I asked if anyone had any experience with that company, good or bad. If you have not heard of them, then say so or not. If you have heard good or bad, then that would be appropriate.

I simply am looking for feedback on this particular companies products and/or customer service.

JOhn ><>

Edited by - Stuff4Toys on 09/26/2010 09:30:10

Stuff4Toys
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 09:28:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby

I didn't say anything negative about the company. I asked questions about how the company conducts it's business and whether it is able to address warranty issues efficiently, and especially whether it has an actual sail loft in the US, with skilled sailmakers, who are able to repair any manufacturing defects without shipping the sails overseas.

I also asked whether customers would be dealing with expert sailmakers, or with salesmen sitting in front of a computer terminal and telephone, checking boxes on an order form, who don't really have expertise in sailmaking.

A sail represents a significant investment, and I wouldn't like to see any of our members waste their money, and I certainly wouldn't buy a sail from any company that didn't have US located sailmakers to address warranty issues.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I don't know any of these answers, THAT's why I posted here! Even with over 45 years boating experience, I am an absolute novice at matters regarding sail boats. I hoped that by posting questions here, I could get some feedback on these and other points about sailing.

You raised good questions, and I hope someone on this forum will have some REAL answers about your questions and mine.

JOhn ><>

Edited by - Stuff4Toys on 09/26/2010 09:34:50

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 09:46:16

If you followed the various links from the various links until you get to reports of actual experience with KH, you might have to conclude that their "Customer Service Department" is an attorney's office.

So, do you save or do you lose... Sounds to me like a roll of some weighted dice. Meanwhile, our members have some excellent experiences with people like Gary Swenson at Ullman Ventura and with various local lofts that build to your specific needs, and "good" experiences with North Direct (which used to be Cruising Direct) for off-the-shelf sails.

If it were me right now (although it isn't), I know which way I'd go. "You pays yer dough and you takes yer chances."

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 14:23:01

I have not had any experience with KH, other than to inquire about the cost of a TR main after I saw their ad on Ebay. Other comments I have read on this forum in previous threads and in another website were not too favorable, some good but more negative. Nevertheless, I am keeping them on my list for when I can buy a new sail.
Meanwhile, I have had good experiences with Rolly Tasker sails sold by National Sail Supply, The Sail Warehouse, and Island Planet Sails (covering both the C-22 and the C-25). They have been lightly used, so no service issues have surfaced yet, but I would use any of these 3 again without reservation.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3442 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2010 : 14:38:07

Agree with Dave's responses. If someone has current experience with that sail Mfr, then they will probably respond today/tomorrow. I know that there have been past postings in regards to this mfr and you would have to do a search within this Board to find those earlier postings. Buried in those postings are also my own opinions but not regarding KH. Bottom line is that a number of individuals on this Board have bought off the shelf sails (from other mfrs) and had good experiences. Dave mentioned Ullman Ventura and North (Cruising) Direct which there have been others that have in the past rated their sails very good. Then there are those (like me) that went semi-local and had custom sails made up by Quantum (one of the top 3 sailmakers in the country). They came down and took measurements on my sailboat. They also used Challenge High Aspect Dacron Cloth which is less prone to stretching compared to Challenge High Modulus and Challenge Performance Dacron Cloth. But my sails also cost quite a bit more than the Off the Shelf sails. (I am not going to bore everyone with details about sailcloth again - So everyone can relax. LOL

My thought is that you checked with BBB and they gave the mfr your interested in a B-. Almost everyone that has discussed the sails they purchased on this Board seem to always rave about their experience purchasing and using the sails. So...if there are any BBB flags against a mfr, that would be a warning sign to me.

Edited by - OLarryR on 09/26/2010 14:41:00

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