Hi all

What are Aerotech sails like ? - quality, peformance, etc. Can't seem to find a great deal of info on these apart from what's on their website. Is there a dealer in Australia or better still Victoria? Anyone care to explain what Pentex is, is it better than monofilm and/or Xply. Cheers all.

I have 2 Aero's -
There best feature would have to be that there bomb proof!
They probably don't spend as much, in advertising and pro sailors, as some of the leading brands, but the're not far behind (if at all) in design and the benifits are passed on to the buyer. A lot of there reaserch is done in West Oz. I'd put them on par with Ezzy's and Loft's.
As far as pentex goes it a reinforced film of some sorts greater UV resistance and tougher to rip, and if it does it usually dosnt take out the whole panel. The feel isn't quite as crisp as Monofilm but that doesnt bother me.

Aero did have a design glitch with there VMG's last or season before last, and from memory did the right thing and withdew that line for the season.


Not sure of any retailers down Victoria, but you can buy online from:-

http://www.caloundracitysailboards.com.au/

in QLD
OR

www.shoalhaven.net.au/~macsurf/drsurf.html#anchor494636

In NSW

I've delt with both before and there both good people.


DavMen

Hi ejmack ive been using using Aero's for 10 years now.
Ive been very happy with there Performance and Quality.
I especially like the Pentex they use in there sails.
I currently use 2005 Vmg's and have been very happy with them.
Like Davmen said they did have probs with the 2006 VMG but they have sorted that out now with the new 2007 model which I have tried.
This is a awesome looking sail. Hope this helps.
ta Vando

I had a couple of 94 models last century and they were great. I had a couple of wave sails from early this century and they too are fine. However I have also a Saber (sic)(just before the Rapidfire) from 03 I think and the seams fell apart. Didn't get any joy from Steve Gottleib either. I've never heard anyone else complain about this but I wont be buying another until I'm confident that it wont happen again, and I don't see how I can be.

Just for the knowledge base, Pentex or Pentax is a high tenacity polyester. If you think of dacron spun into threads then pentex would be a super dacron. It's stronger with less creep but from a sail cloth point of view it is now where near Kevlar or even Spectra. It is good for tear strength but then anything that goes between mylar film is better for tear than monofilm. It's all marketing really as the threads will stop the tear from travelling but only provide a little extra strength. The load path for windsurfer sails can not be covered with radial construction and this is why they use monofilm, because is is equally strong in all directions so it handles the loads as they move around with changing downhaul and outhall loads.

So endeth the sermon.