COMPLETE ARTICLE

4/20/2010

New Sail Material - FLEX Technora Introduced

Source: Steve Haarstick

For the past two seasons, we have tested and used Dimension new Carbon/Kevlar “Fill” orientated “Flex” laminates. These “Flex” laminates are designed for maximum strength in the Fill (cross panel direction), instead of the panel direction that are necessary for Triradial panel layouts. These “Flex” laminates also have additional fibers laid up varying angles off the fill axis, needed to handle the loads that radiate out from the corners through out the body of the sail. These fabrics combine excellent strength, minimum distortion throughout the sail with the superior seam shaping capability that “crosscut” panel layouts allow (the normal panel orientation used for many years in Dacron sails). Crosscut construction also significantly reduces the time involved in cutting and assembly compared to the many additional radial panels required in a Triradial sail, and significant savings in cloth usage

We tested the full range of these “Flex” laminates before we selected the Carbon/Kevlar styles exclusively for our racing sails. This style had the best combination of strength over a wide range of loading angles, and the best “Impact Flutter” results, for extended durability. These laminates have allowed us to produce high modulus sails that are extremely smooth, lightweight, and fast. They imitate the structural advantages of a Triradial panel layout with a much simpler cross cut panel layout that can save up to 25% of the cloth yards, as well a similar amount of labor involved in the panel assembly process.

This past week, we received the first samples of the new all Technora version of the “Flex” laminates. We gave all the samples from the 3.8 oz to the 5.8 oz our full testing procedure: from new strips tests to “Impact Flutter” testing, tear strengths, and recording the amount of shrinkage after flutter. All the Technora laminates tested extremely well: they are very low stretch, both before and after our flutter testing with high tear strength, and low shrink rates. Technora fibers also have excellent UV resistance, much better than Kevlar.

These new Technora laminates will allow us to build light weight, low stretch sails that are just as durable as our proven Carbon Triradials, but at a price that is MUCH less, usually close to, or even less, in some cases, than our Pentex Triradial sails! These new Technora laminates not only test great, but they look great: All black – hard to tell that their not Carbon! Now’s a great time to get the look and performance of Carbon at the price of Pentex!! Give us a call or e-mail for a quote.

800-342-5033 585-342-5200 sales@haarsticksailmakers.com