Well, an Opti sail is $500 a crack, Lasers more. Try to look at it from the dealer's perspective. A really active dealer might sell 40 sails in a season. IF they're making even $50 per sail, that's not going to keep the lights on. The sails are made of quality cloth. Yes, assembled in Sri Lanka, but then there's shipping, distribution, inventory control, storage, advertising, employee benefits, labor, and other miscellaneous costs. It's not just the sail, it's a product.
What other one-design can you buy a new sail for and be competitive for $400?
Wow - being a new owner of a new SF this thread has let the wind out of my sails (pun intended!) quite a bit. Has me thinking what boat I should 'trade up to'. My first day on the water, I grabbed the cockpit lip to pull my self back in from hiking and I heard a very audible 'crack'. I quickly glanced down looking for damage seeing none, I forgot about it. Obviously, my boat demonstrated something prevalent in all newer SF. A closer inspection is in order and a new search for a different one design that is well made - any suggestions ?
A closer inspection is in order and a new search for a different one design that is well made - any suggestions ?
My recommendation to Vanguard would be to go back to the deck with the aluminum edge around the periphery. The rounded edge on the new Sunfish does not enable you to get a finger hold for righting the boat after tipping - particularly since your hands are wet. Am I wrong here?