These guides cover what you actually need to know about sails: which ones to carry, what they are made of, how to fix them at sea, and how to choose and maintain the systems that control them. Each is written for someone planning a passage or building out a cruising boat, not for the race dock.
Building Your Sail Inventory
From a coastal minimum of main and two headsails to a full offshore outfit with storm sails and downwind canvas — what to buy, in what order, and why.
- Storm jib vs. working jib
- The furling asymmetric revolution
- Buying used sails: what to inspect
Sail Materials: Dacron, Laminate, and Beyond
Why Dacron is still the offshore standard, what the laminate sandwich gives you and costs you, and how to evaluate a used sail's material condition before you buy.
- Dacron: 10–15 year lifespan
- Laminate delamination risk
- Furling sails need Dacron
Sail Repair: Offshore Kit and Field Techniques
What goes in the repair kit, how to hand-stitch a separated seam, patch a blown batten pocket, reattach a UV strip, and when a sail is simply past saving.
- V92 thread minimum offshore
- Lock stitch technique
- Sailmakers in cruising ports
Furling Systems: Headsail, In-Mast, and In-Boom
The trade-offs between headsail roller furling, in-mast furling, and in-boom furling — plus what to do when the sail won't roll away in 35 knots of building breeze.
- In-mast vs. hanked-on storm jib
- Emergency jam techniques
- Annual maintenance checklist
About These Guides
These are editorial resources for cruising sailors, not manufacturer specifications or class rules. Sail lifespans, repair techniques, and equipment recommendations vary by boat, use, and conditions. Always consult a qualified sailmaker for structural repairs and offshore commissioning. See the marina directory for facilities with sailmakers on-site or nearby.