Luff, Leach, Foot, Head, Tack, Clew, Roach and Battens? See Measurement Page.

Ratings

New/Unused
Our top rating in the rating tier, these sails have never been used and are brand new. Sails that populate this category come from any number of sources. Many, we have made ourselves to fill voids in our dimensional inventories. Some come from lofts around the country when orders are canceled or if sailmakers have made mistakes in measuring that can not be rectified to the customer’s satisfaction. Regardless of the source, most are from name-brand sailmakers and these sails represent one of the best values in that they are available for a fraction of the cost of having brand new custom sails made and yet the are brand new sails.

New/Used
The sail is in New condition. It may have gone to a boat to fit for a “try-on” and for whatever reason, is now at Bacons.

Excellent
Although sails in this category have seen some use, raced part of a season or cruised for a season or two, they are expected to have most of their lives remaining.

Very Good
Sail still has approximately 2/3rds of its life left also possessing a wide variety of cosmetic appearances termed as either ‘minor’, ‘moderate’ or ‘heavy’ staining or soiling. Sails are typically better than ‘average’.

Good
Sail is expected to have roughly 1/2 of its life remaining and displays a variety of cosmetic profiles. The majority of our sail inventory falls in this category best described as ‘average’.

Fair
Sail is still usable, typically showing signs of wear and possibly in need of some repair – either do-it-yourself of professional work, which we can do for you.

Poor
Very few sails of this rating are listed. The sails are likely to need repairs. They are well below average but may have some applications for some folks. Do not expect much.

Sail Terms

Adjustable Luff
Wire inside luff of sail is attached at one end only, usually at head. Draft of sail can be increased or decreased by drawing sail to of from thimble on free end (as draw string of wire.)

Cloth Weight
Weight of a piece of cloth 28 1/2” x 36.” When selecting a sail from the list, keep in mind the use you intend and be sure the cloth is of sufficient strength for the purpose.

Cunningham Hole
Extra cringle set near the tack and used to control sail shape.

Dacron, Terylene and Teteron
Are trademarks respectively American, English and Japanese, for sailcloth made of POLYESTER threads.

Double-stitched (standard)
Sails have two rows of stitching along each panel seam. Some sails are TRIPLE-STITCHED

Draft Stripes
Dark bands on sail to reveal its shape. Some are sewn on, painted on, stick on.

Jackline
Line running along lower luff of sail to which slides or hanks are attached. Facilitates reefing and furling of sail.

Leach Line
Drawstring in edge tabling of sail to tighten against flutter or to bag sail slightly for lighter air.

Foot Line
Same except on foot of some sails.

Loose Footed
On main or club jib, foot is attached at tack and clew only, loose between.

LP (Luff Perpendicular)
On headsail, length of line running from clew to luff, meeting luff at a 90º angle. The LP of a 150% genoa is 1.5 times the ‘J’.

Pendant, Pennant, Stretcher
Wire extension, usually detachable to stretch between sail and stem tack fitting or between sail and halyard shackle.

Reefpoints, Jiffy Reef
Methods of reducing effective sail area.

Reshaping
The adjustment of sail shape by changing the overlap of panel seams, for improvement.

Roller Furling
Used on jibs, genoas and mains. Sail has special luff wire or tape so sail can be rolled, furled and reefed.

Shelf Foot
Very full shaped foot panel, usually of lighter cloth, which can be made fuller or flatter by adjusting outhaul tension. Some sails have a zipper along the foot for the same purpose.

Sleeved Luff
Sail has a wider than usual tabling to fit around the mast or stay, as a sleeve. Jibs with a luff sleeve can easily be converted to wire and hanks.

Slotted Stay
A special headstay with grooves to accept jibs and genoas with a mating luff tape.

Stretch Rope
Used on headsail luffs and luff and foot of mains. Increasing rope tension flattens the sail for brisk winds, relaxing the rope increases the fullness of the sail.

Tack Setback
Distance between mast and tack pin on mains, usually to allow for roller reefing gear.

Sail Types

Jib or Lapper
Working headsail, usually has an LP of 95% to 115% of the ‘J’.

Genoas
Made in various sizes depending on the wind the sail is to be used in. Most use a 150% genoa most of the time. Others use a larger genoa, 160% up to 180%, for lighter winds. Some boats also have genoas in the 125% to 140% range for medium to heavy winds.

Drifter
Genoa-like sail made of very light sail cloth, usually ripstop nylon. (In our genoa list.)

Drifter, Reacher, Spinnaker
Combination sail made of very light cloth, usually ripstop nylon. Used to best advantage when on a close to broad reach.

Poleless Spinnaker / Asymmetrical (single luff) Spinnaker
Handles much like a genoa. For close reaching to a dead run. Does not require a spinnaker pole. Also know as FLASHER, THRASHER, MPS, etc.

Staysails
Can be confusing, as many sails are called “Staysail.” We call a sail a staysail when it is of racing type, used with a spinnaker, as a Reaching Stays’l, Tallboy, Blooper and including Mizzen Stay’ls. Boats with a double head rig will find staysail jibs listed as jibs.

Spinnakers
Large balloon like sails. See the sketch below for the common type of cuts.

Tripple-Stitched
Sails have three rows of stitching along each panel seam.

Sail Cuts

There are several ways of cutting sails (the laying of the panels.) See the sketches below for the basic types.