| Characteristics of Sail Materials |
| Material |
Pros |
Cons |
Users |
| Dacron |
Strong,rotproof,relativity cheap |
Slight strecth;efected by sunlight |
All fore -and aft sails |
| Nylon |
Stronger than Dacron rot-proof |
Greater strech than Dacron |
Spinnakers and light-weather for sails |
| Kevlar |
Several timer stronger than stell |
Expansive;not durable when sharply bent |
In laminates for racing and cursing sails |
| Mylar |
Airtight thin polyster film with no bias |
Weaker and more elastic than woven Dacron |
In laminates lighter stronger than Dacron |
| Spectra |
Even stronger than Kevlar ; accepts bending chafe fatigure |
Tendecy to "creep"(elgonte) under very haavy sustained load |
Racing and crusing of all kinds |
