For those members, who like me are skin flints. I have just received a new genoa that I ordered from a sail loft in Hong Kong called Far East Sails.

Have now tried it out a couple of times and have been more that impressed with the complete package.

The saving is well worth it, in our case I was quoted $3,840 for the genoa in Australia and paid a total of $1,712 for it from HK.

Another member of the yacht club put me onto it after he purchased a spinnaker from them.

Usual disclaimer here. I have no connection with this company.

Dusty (KenM)

What do you do if you tear it or some stitching comes apart in 6 months time? Or you realize that the cloth used wasn't quite a speced as the one from Australia? Sorry but I've been both sides of the coin and the cheap stuff is NEVER as good as from a reputable sailmaker. Yes, I have a bias as I've been in the industry for 25 years but not for the last few years. Foreign doesn't mean bad but cheap usually does. Sorry but that's my opinion.

Sounds like a pretty good service to me.

GetaLife said...

I've been around sailing for 30 years, had a sail maker as crew for 2 years. By now I think I know a little about sails.

The cloth they use is of equal or better than local sail makers, they use Americam thread "triple stitched" not double stitched like the local sail maker.

It came with three set of tell tales up the luff, foam luff, tell tale windows, draft stripe and sheeting stripe.

The cost was "all inclusive" that includes shipping.

I did ask questions on other forums before parting with the money and had positive feedback from all who had dealt with them.

They are very thorough with the measuring technique required and ask you at least twice to check your measurements.

A detailed plan of the sail is sent to you to review before theywill go ahead with making it.

Dusty (KenM)

Can i get their web site off you.Tasker manages too sell sails from overseas much cheaper and i have heard he is one of the largest suppliers

As a result of this topic i asked Far east sais to quote me a new screetcher/code zero.The quote came back at Half the price of the Aussie Quotes i had and i found out the Aussie sails were to be made in Asia and sent over and a doubling in price to be added?. Im all for Far East Sails

I am now ordering a new main for an S&S34 from Fareast sails. $1400 Aus with full length battens, tell tales, 9.4oz Contender cloth (one weight up from the recommended), 2 reefs where I want them and bag. Delivered.
Taskers quoted $2800 made in Phuket.

Thanks for putting me out of a job.

Agreed Cisco,

Its not just the labour costs that kill off our own industries, it's the poor attitude and service!

As for putting you out of a job?

No problem, I hope I continue to put people who supply poor quality workmanship at over inflated prices, or worse, people who also buy overseas products and then stick their name on it (misrepresentation) to sell to unsuspecting suckers out of business.

I ALWAYS go into my local chandlery and give him the opportunity to compete.

He respects me for it and is often able to come close enough to make it a deal.

A win, win situation for both of us.

Dusty

For the record, I purchased a new main for our yacht last year from one of the biggest and well branded lofts in Australia.

The description I gave as "poor service could not be described in any other way, as for "poor quality" I strongly suspect that the sail was purchased overseas in "kit form" and then assembled at their loft for twice the price.

I was not having a go at the individual that posted, but he should think a little deeper. He didn't loose his job because of my posting, he lost his job because of poor management skills of greedy business owners.

The whole posting "a little harsh?"

No way! I have been in business for 40 years and I would expect the same treatment from anyone that I don't perform satisfactory for.

Dusty

twizzle4 said...

Well if you still think that a product from overseas is still a good deal. Then think of the reduced OHS laws on the factory worker. He crushes his hand he cannot work and he ends up a beggar. Nice attitude for a "cheap" sail. And you probably complain about paying for somebody on unemployment benefits. I used to work for the love of making sails, working in a great job in a sport I love. I guess I'll never be a millionaire without ripping somebody off with a great marketing strategy. Support your local sailmaker and boat builder, a dying breed of local manufacturers.

I didn't want just a "cheap" sail, I wanted service and a quality product.

As luck would have it, in todays paper the owner of the sail loft that I purchased my new main last year is pictured with theheading that he has closed shop and gone to work for the Marine and Safety Transport department here after being in the business for 25 years.

Where is the backup service for me now?

He was very well patronised by the local racing community, in fact, he is quoted as saying that he was "over worked" and had trained numerous people over the years. When I talked to him, he was always complaining that there was too much work for him "alone" yet he wanted to keep operating that way. "Greedy" maybe?

I work in and own a business in a job I love, I "give" the needy "free" service because I love the job and the look on peoples faces when I offer some free service. There are other businesses out there that are cheaper than me, funnily enough, they are always complaining of slack periods and being let down by their customers.

I can afford to be generous with my time, because I am nearly always booked out weeks ahead and make a good living by giving the best possible service I can provide.

And finally, YES, I do complain about supporting someone whois unemployed and sitting on there arse complaining that the world owes them a living. For the other 95% who want to work, I cannot do enough for them.

Dusty

Hi Twizzle4

I have been very interested in the debate going on into cheaper Asian made sails.
I am very conscious of buying Australian made product as these imports are killing the country. I do not blame the purchaser at all for making an offshore purchase but our inept government for allowing such a situation to develop through the over importation of products that could be and have been manufactured in Australia.

What can you do personally about this situation as a sail manufacturer...?

No need for personal attacks.
Fortunately or unfortunately we are in a global market place. I believe Oz sail makers will increasingly focus on the racing sailor who is willing to pay for a superb sail with after sales service. I don't need that quality and sail on a tight budget.
Yes, Asian countries often have lower employment standards than Oz. However if they don't get work they won't have anything. Having travelled to Asia numerous times since 1975, all the major countries are advancing human and employee rights pretty rapidly. They need opportunities to be able to advance their situations, and I need reasonably good sails at a low price.

One more thing on sails and reefing. I have to decide whether the reefing cringles on the luff on my new mainsail are grommets (hole through the sail with a stainless ring) or D rings on webbing straps.
Most boats use grommets but last weekend I was doing reefing drills on a boat that had D rings. I thought the D rings were easier to use as you don't need to pull the cringle down over folds of sail to get it on the hook.
Does anybody have any experience on D rings versus a grommet cringle? Is there an issue I haven't been able to see?
John

i've got rings on stropes onto horns, really good. But you need your winches on the mast, I have 3.

Otherwise, grommets and back to the cockpit.

In regard to Far East Sails I thank you Hangtime for the lead, I have had sails priced from the local sail lofts and as expected the prices were up there, I made sure that information given to each loft was apples for apples so as to keep manufacturers on the
same wave length. Have contacted F E S and will give you all an update on price difference when I have obtained the quote.

Hope you all are well and enjoying life to the fullest, sailing your arses off, P.S. there is no sailing allowed in Heaven so make the most of it...?

P.P.S. Guess who's back in town, the fish kisser BadInfluence, batten down the hatches.

MorningBird said...

One more thing on sails and reefing. I have to decide whether the reefing cringles on the luff on my new mainsail are grommets (hole through the sail with a stainless ring) or D rings on webbing straps.

In respect of the Grommets vs D-rings, I think you may be able to have both - I have seen a sail with grommets, and then a short 3-inch strap hanging from each grommet with a ring on both ends (rings selected large enough so they cannot pull through). So you can choose to use either.

In respect of the costs of local sailmakers, I think it's a difficult situation at best. Imagine you're a sailmaker living in Sydney/Melbourne; chances are your mortgage is well over $600k and to service that you probably have to charge an hourly rate many times the rate of a sailmaker in the far east, for doing exactly the same work. So the quotes from locales where living costs are much lower will have a huge advantage.

Some types of services are more exposed than others. E.g. if you're a Sydney marine mechanic fixing engines, you don't really have to compete with those in Asia, so your hourly rates are not under that pressure.

Those exposed to overseas competition are unlucky (like bookshops), and may eventually have to diversify or specialise to sidestep competition. Sounds harsh but I don't think there are too many options.