Ballard Sails is now Doyle

[Paul Serafin]

From Sailing Anarchy today:

> So when Ballard Sails, one of the highly regarded lofts (Pacific Northwest), announced today that they are now Doyle Seattle, it was a bit of a surprise.

A surprise indeed!

Paul S.

[Jeff Oaklief]

Yep, a surprise indeed.

We are working on a time slot for an upcoming presentation from Ballard Sails and I will see if we can work in some questions about the transition as well as the rest of the content we have been working on.

Jeff
Your humble Vice Commodore


Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 5, 2026, at 4:58 PM, 'Paul Serafin' via Northwest Multihull Association <northwest-multi...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
> From Sailing Anarchy today:

>
>> So when Ballard Sails, one of the highly regarded lofts (Pacific Northwest), announced today that they are now Doyle Seattle, it was a bit of a surprise.
>
> A surprise indeed!
>
> Paul S.
>
>

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[Paul English]

Oh as long as we're talking questions I'd like to know more about emergency sail repairs underway. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/northwest-multihull-association/E5244700-8DC1-41EA-82A5-111817AF9154%40gmail.com.

[Duncan Thomson]

Interesting.  

Dulcinea’s Genoa was made by Ballard sails.  Her roller furlable mainsail and jib are from Doyle sails.  I forget the name of the Doyle rep, I think he had a shop up in Kirkland or Bothel, but I’m not sure where the sails were actually made.  Anyway, now I guess my sails are all Doyle.

Duncan

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/northwest-multihull-association/6586193a-d9c3-46da-8074-64f6848f391a%40app.fastmail.com.

[Tim Knight]

Doyle, Quantum and North are all owned by the same corporate entity
North Technology Group (NTG) owns North Sails, Quantum Sails, and Doyle Sails. In August 2024, NTG acquired both Quantum and Doyle, bringing the "big three" of sailmaking under one parent company. Despite this, all three brands continue to operate independently, managing their own lofts and sales teams.

[Jonathan Kallay]

Sounds like the FTC is doing a bang-up job preserving a competitive market.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/northwest-multihull-association/CAK4qjR8h-6__HOot620_tWFxcNkDspN89JpMiYj4E4M0z435tQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Jeff Oaklief]

Not sure how I feel yet.. and I have never considered myself completely knowledgeable in sails and lofts.  All things being the same (after budget considerations) I have always picked service.  My guess is that Ballard will still be good to work with. 

It does always make me concerned when one company slurps up an entire market.  Reardon comes to mind... but maybe that is an extreme example.

So... just guessing... NTG will morph their ownership group to arrange, hierarchically, quality and cost over the group and keep them there.  It would not make sense for them to provide the same product range across the board.  This, of course, seems artificial to me.  Maybe it will not come to that.

Dunno.  

Jeff

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/northwest-multihull-association/CA%2B3huWJVXRGm%3DoWCKpn6wfJzJ-WF%2BDS%2BwokRvV4Starx4DjyZg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Andy Inglis]

Do I see a SailRite sewing machines in the Association’s tool library’s near future?

On Mar 6, 2026, at 10:14 AM, Jeff Oaklief <jeffo...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Jeff Oaklief]

The Northwest Multihull Association Tool Library is always accepting donations.  

Well... just the other day, Bill Quigly donated a very nice single ratchet socket that matches Farrier beam bolts (driver suspiciously lacking... but who looks a gift horse in the mouth?).

Jeff

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/northwest-multihull-association/CC35FA91-08E9-4F51-A0C1-F7E044953B2A%40gmail.com.

[Paul Serafin]

Now also an article in Latitude 48

https://48north.com/news/ballard-sails-team-joins-doyle-sails-group/

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/northwest-multihull-association/CAOkF73aQthKpfLsoNSGHUhLamaH0StTguq8Q4bf3oNy911ohrQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Eric Lindahl]

A Sailrite would be cool.  I do sew alot of boat stuff on my Singer but it only takes normal, wimpy, thread.  The heavy stuff I have gets all balled up in it.  I'd like to try Technora to see if that works but its too expensive to waste if it doesn't go thru my machine well.

Eric 

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[Robert Hall]

I have a Sailrite I'd be happy to lend out. I don't know how the tool library works exactly but I'm not ready to permanently donate it yet :) I also have a much nicer non portable Juki DNU 1541(straight stitch only) that's awesome for non-sail canvas work. I'm always down to help on small projects as my time allows.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/northwest-multihull-association/1200515480.88554.1772856885904%40connect.xfinity.com.

[Eric Lindahl]

Robert, that is very kind of you.  If I come up with need that merits it I'll email you.   I'm in NE Seattle, what area are you in?  Thank you.

Eric 

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[ghislain devouton]

Not ready to give away my sewing machine but for what it's worth, I do own a Sailrite SLZ and I'm happy to lend it to anyone that needs it for a project.

[Robert Hall]

Eric, I'm also in NE Seattle, about 2 miles west of Magnuson park.

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[Eric Lindahl]

We are close then, I'm near Matthews Beach.  I'll let you know if I'm planning a sewing project.  It would probably be sunbrella boat cover based.  Thank you

Eric 

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[Paul English]

The driver has been added for a complete working tool. You'll note that the driver, like the socket is Craftsman branded.

Photo taken before the obligatory "don't drop the socket in the water" e-tape has been added.

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[William Quigley]

Socket $3.
Speed wrench $5.
Tool value: priceless.

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