Neil Pryde is listening...
Kevin Ozee
So here's a golden opportunity : what would you do to improve the
quality of Neil Pryde sails? Let's start with specifics...materials!
There has been a thread complaining about the quality of monofilm on
Neil Pryde sails. Yet, many of the other sail manufacturers get their
materials from the same factory as Neil Pryde, so why has Neil Pryde
been singled out? What could be done differently? Or are they fine as
they are? Please, comments from both sides...
Any other construction details that need improving? Who's doing it
better? Why?
Anyone who wants to be constructive, please post a reply. Neil Pryde is
listening...
Concept
very nice to see NP have the same guarantee or better for start. To show they are
made to last.
http://www.north-windsurf.com/products/index.html
Ed Scott
Nothing about NP specifically (although I had a V8 a few years back that
unstitched itself, the monofilm got brittle and fell apart, and a Mk IV that also
managed to come unsewn), but I urge all manufacturers that if you're gonna use
monofilm, do no use it right up to, or very close to, the end of the clew. Once
it deteriorates, the whole sail, imho, is effectively trashed. If I was a
manufacturer, I would have a minimum of five inches or so on the trailing edge of
the sail that's super-durable, like a polyester or other bomb-proof multiple-layer
material. Then, if the material does deteriorate, the shape and structure of the
sail is not compromised overall, you're just talking about replacing a single
panel.
As I said before, large areas of monofilm are not a good idea for a recreational
sailor, imho. If you're buying a sail, unless you're a pro or racer, buy one with
a vinyl window. The mostly monofilm sail design trend which was happening for
awhile appears, if nothing else, to be planned obselesence and
performance-oriented, and of little use to most recreational sailors.
-Ed
Vaughan James Sanders
writes
>Aloha all,
> Any other construction details that need improving? Who's doing it
>better? Why?
>
> Anyone who wants to be constructive, please post a reply. Neil Pryde is
>listening...
It's the Z1 that interests me. If a reduction in performance was the
price of beefed up durability, I am happy with them as they are.
If I wanted a Tank, I wouldn't buy a Ferrari.
I also like the lightness of the big Z1's but not the price.
Jamie
Jamie Sanders
Chalkwell Windsurfing Club
http://freespace.virgin.net/ken.rosier/cwc.htm
--
Vaughan James Sanders
jfe...@ix.netcom.com
own a 6.5 V8 (~1997) and a 7.8 VX3. I also own Ezzys (4.2 to
5.9), and have, in he past, owned Norths.
In general I have been happy with the NP sails. I especially
like the way the race-type sails handle, they seem to fit my
style of sailing. My VX3 is lightly built, but it is a great
sail. I have some small holes in the luuf sleeve.
I think that a lot of problems with luff sleeves result from
sand and gravel getting in the sleeves, this is also hard on
masts. In New England, most beaches are quartz sand/gravel.
Anytime there is even a moderate shore break, there can be a
lot of suspended sand in the water, which ususally finds it's
way into the sleeve and gets trapped between the mast and the
sleeve. a small piece (2-3 mm) of gravel can make a hole very
quickly. You don't need to drag your rig over the beach, or
drop it right in the shore break for the sand to get in there.
Of course it would be great if the sailmakers could anticipate
this and use a material that is more resistant to abbrasion,
but perhaps the trade-offs are unacceptable. I find my Ezzys
are slightly better in this regard, but they are not race sails.
As far as vynil windows go, I have found that they give the
sail a very soft, rather than crisp, feel. Of course the Ezzys
may be cut that way and might be soft even with mono windows.
Not everybody likes the soft feel. To me, sails with vynil
windows are somewhat less pumpable.
More than once I've done serious damage to my sails, either
from being washed up on to rock jettys in big waves, or from
bad wipeouts in shore break etc. Twice, my NPs (4WDs) were not
repairable, but the Ezzys were always repairable.
Although I don't race windsurfers (i do race dinghys and keel
boats), I am quite interested in professional racing. I am not
bothered that some sailmakers spend r and d money, and marketing
money, on race teams. Any way, t seems that sails from lofts
without big pro teams are often more expensive.
jeff feehan
Kevin Ozee wrote:
>
> Aloha all,
>
> So here's a golden opportunity : what would you do to improve the
> quality of Neil Pryde sails? Let's start with specifics...materials!
> There has been a thread complaining about the quality of monofilm on
> Neil Pryde sails. Yet, many of the other sail manufacturers get their
> materials from the same factory as Neil Pryde, so why has Neil Pryde
> been singled out? What could be done differently? Or are they fine as
> they are? Please, comments from both sides...
>
Craig gsogh Goudie
Vaughan James Sanders <j_sa...@custom1.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <36A7CB...@maui.net>, Kevin Ozee <maui...@maui.net>
> writes
> >Aloha all,
> >better? Why?
> >
> > Anyone who wants to be constructive, please post a reply. Neil Pryde
is
> >listening...
>
> price of beefed up durability, I am happy with them as they are.
> If I wanted a Tank, I wouldn't buy a Ferrari.
> I also like the lightness of the big Z1's but not the price.
It occurs to me that this may be the crux of our very di-polar thread.
Flat water speedsters, may have less durability problems than 3-D types.
They want light, they need light. Bump and wave guys tend to spend more
time on and in the water and crash in more contorted positions. Even if ya
don't see any damage, the sail is getting stressed a lot more than if
yur sailing in a straight line. I sail Naishes, there's no doubt that the
sail construction is heavier duty than NP V8s. The mono is thicker, as are
most of the other materials.
If ya bought a Ferrari to use in Desert Storm battle conditions, I bet you'd
break it. If ya bought a Tank to run an SCCA slalom course, I bet you'd lose
every race.
The right tool for the right job. It would be unfortunate, and a little
misguided, to build a tank out of paper machee, and then market it to
the American housewife though. Ergo, a V6 with thin momofilm may be
a poor product to market. But I think purchasers of Z1s understand the
animal, don't they? The MPRs I've seen look "reasonably" durable.
Also, I, like many of the Utah Surf Rats, will never buy a $650 sail.
But we will wait for a year or maybe 2 to purchase that $650 sail for
$400.
just another .02s worth of rambeling by,
Craig (Go Short or Go Home!) Goudie
Sailing the high desert lakes of Utah on my:
Star 288, Gem 8'10" Bailey 8'6" with
Naish Sails and Meritex Fins
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Phil Morgan
the same thicknesses. I've always LOVED NP sails. Thought the designs and quality
were tops. More importantly, they just had a better "feel" than some of the other
sails I've owned. Find it perplexing that in an effort to save overall sail
weight, they would use thinner lighter monofilm while, at the same time, adorning
the battans with the "batcams" a couple of years back. When my race sail fell
apart I cut it up to dispose of it. Holding all the batcams (the endings)in my
hands was a considerable amount of the sails weight. Make a couple of different
lines: one for "pros" with the saran-wrap monofilm and one for recreational folks
who appreciate using a sail for a few years, or more. I'll come back to NP.
Kevin Ozee wrote:
> Aloha all,
>
> So here's a golden opportunity : what would you do to improve the
> quality of Neil Pryde sails? Let's start with specifics...materials!
> There has been a thread complaining about the quality of monofilm on
> Neil Pryde sails. Yet, many of the other sail manufacturers get their
> materials from the same factory as Neil Pryde, so why has Neil Pryde
> been singled out? What could be done differently? Or are they fine as
> they are? Please, comments from both sides...
>
Randall Rainey
Kevin Ozee wrote:
> Aloha all,
>
> So here's a golden opportunity : what would you do to improve the
> quality of Neil Pryde sails? Let's start with specifics...materials!
I don't know where you get your monofilm but I have had a Windwing sail
repaired at a local sail loft and the material was not of the same thickness as the
original material. If there could be some uniformity by the manufacturer of this
material and even distribution of the material to all sail lofts for repairs then I
think you would find not as much complaining about the material. I still have a
sailable NP Warpspeed 7.0 sail that is delaminating a little and had some minor
repairs. but For trying out a sport if I had to replace a sail or at least pay
shipping and repair equal to 1/4 of the original cost then I probably would not be
sailing. Mono film is great for someone that has to have the best performance but
make some sail with either RipStop Mylar or even Dacron for beginners so as not to
bust the wallet with fear of costly repairs that with different material a piece of
Duct Tape or go to a Marine Supply Store and use some sail repair tape.
> There has been a thread complaining about the quality of monofilm on
> Neil Pryde sails. Yet, many of the other sail manufacturers get their
> materials from the same factory as Neil Pryde, so why has Neil Pryde
> been singled out? What could be done differently? Or are they fine as
> they are? Please, comments from both sides...
>
> Any other construction details that need improving? Who's doing it
> better? Why?
I had considered 1 of your race sails just this past summer... but after
seeing that I would have to buy a complete new mastand a special mast piece not
including my current mast extension at a cost of $300-500, I opted for a Gastra Pro
Race 9.0 that
would fit on my current equipment at no additional cost. I believe the sail was a
7.9m sail. The reason given for the extra mast costs
was that I would need both the NP Mast and NP Mast Extension to make it work as my
North mast would not have the needed reinforcement
in the right place and would risk mast breakage. This is hard to except that a
Sail maker has to make a sail that if you dont get the mast and sail together
youv'e waisted money. I just don't have $1000.00 to lay out for 1 sail. But I do
like to race with the Baltimore Area Boardsailing Assoc.
I hope this helps....
>
>
> Anyone who wants to be constructive, please post a reply. Neil Pryde is
> listening...
--
Randy
May the wind be always @ your back! (:-))
My Email address is blue...@toad.net
My Webpage is http://www.toad.net/~bluefrog/
Jaime Torres
against NP in this newsgroup? I don't think so. I like North Sails,
don't get me wrong but the warranty is a marketing gimmick. Maybe NP
should have the same warranty gimmick with the same disclaimers.
personally I'd be happy selling you either.
Jaime
--
----------------------------------------------------------
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Kiteboarding Shop
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Locations: 2434 Loiza St., Punta Las Marias • 5737 Isla Verde Ave., Carolina
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http://www.velauno.com • mailto:Ja...@velauno.com
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Sails by: Neil Pryde • North • Naish • Aerotech • Sailworks
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ma...@my-dejanews.com
Couldn't agree with you more. Unfortunately, I see a ton of people using V8's
and Z1's that would be way better off (and probably sailing faster plus
making more of their jibes) on something a little more recreational (my
favorite would be a Retro or similar sail).
>It would be unfortunate, and a little
> misguided, to build a tank out of paper machee, and then market it to
> the American housewife though.
Geez, that description kind of reminds me of some of the more popular sport
utility vehicles. Same motivation on the part of the buyer, though (i.e.; buy
it cause it's cool, not because it's suited to what you're doing) :)
>Ergo, a V6 with thin momofilm may be
> a poor product to market. But I think purchasers of Z1s understand the
> animal, don't they? The MPRs I've seen look "reasonably" durable.
>
There is a valid niche for light (not flimsy, though) recreational sails. That
niche is light sailors, using them on flat water. My wife sailing in a place
like Bird Island, TX, would be a perfect example. She'd never put enought
stress on it to make the performance/handling penalty worth it. Since we're
sharing sails, however, that's not an option. Our smaller sails (which she's
likely to use) need to stand up to my 200# and misguided illusions of aerial
grandeur. A good trade-off is to use high quality wave sails (we're using
Revos) that hold up to the abuse while still being reasonably light. Add a
light mast and a reduced diameter Chinook boom for her, and you're set.
Andreas
MTVNewsGuy
I bought a V8 7.5 in May. I rig only on grass (it's a sweet launch) and I
am very caring with my gear (some would say anal). After one season, however,
the monofilm is quite creased, and the luff sleeve has several wear holes. My
sailing buddy on North Spectros and friends on Sailworks have faired much
better than I, and they don't take the care that I do with the gear. My
previous Sailworks 7.5 gear had held up better as well.
The sail is great on the water, but it was too expensive to wear out as quickly
as it is.
Michael
US5613
Slalom
homework. He must be a Tom Sawyer fan!
My constructive advice: Do your homework (while we switch to the
competitors sails).
On Thu, 21 Jan 1999 14:49:50 -1000, Kevin Ozee <maui...@maui.net>
wrote:
>Aloha all,
>
> So here's a golden opportunity : what would you do to improve the
>quality of Neil Pryde sails? Let's start with specifics...materials!
> There has been a thread complaining about the quality of monofilm on
>Neil Pryde sails. Yet, many of the other sail manufacturers get their
>materials from the same factory as Neil Pryde, so why has Neil Pryde
>been singled out? What could be done differently? Or are they fine as
>they are? Please, comments from both sides...
>
> Any other construction details that need improving? Who's doing it
>better? Why?
>
Brian Mckenzie
posting! :-)
Save Ray!!!! Tell Judge NP that he has done his time!
just having fun...don't take life too seriously....
B.
Vaughan James Sanders
>>better? Why?
>>
>> Anyone who wants to be constructive, please post a reply. Neil Pryde is
>>listening...
>
Could you confirm the sizes of Z1 above 9.3 for 99. I hear rumour of a
10 and a 10.7
thanks
Kevin Ozee
A 9.9 and 10.6 are in the works...
Alain Dumesny
first of all let me say that I have been using NP sails for many years
now and enjoy(ed) those sails a lot.
I now do half of my sailing (about 70+days/year, 185lbs) in the waves,
the other half in bump&jump conditions. After having used my sails for
about 2 years, 96 4.7/5.3 MPR, I looked into getting new gear last year.
I was very disturbed to see NP trend for the last 2-3 years of "light is
right" for non race sails. The new MPR and NR for example are pretty
much all monofilm when they used to have some X ply. Unreinforced
monofilm will crease pretty easily, at which point your sail is a lot
weaker. All you need is a wave or fall in your sails to blow a panel
away. I've had my harness hook rip those sails twice while being in the
rinse cycle...
Even you're "bombproof" new wave sails, Core and Zone, look very lightly
constructed to me. monofilm has no place for a hardcore wave sail
(unless you're sponsored and get new stuff all the time). It is not just
the monofilm (or cheap x-ply material you use) but also the stitching. I
had panels rip right along the stinting which is way too close to the
tape's edge. Bottom line: do your homework !
I ended up keeping my smaller size Combat (3.7/4.2) because of $ and
cause I don't use them as much, but replaced my mail sails with Ezzy
waves, and also got a 5.7 Nalu for those lighter wave days. Their
construction for wave sails look a LOT better - material thickness where
needed - taping and non or little monofilm. I'm also using RDM mast
cause those are the most durable in the surf. Tired of breaking
mast and blowing panels...stuff isn't cheap.
Kevin Ozee wrote:
>
> Aloha all,
>
> So here's a golden opportunity : what would you do to improve the
> quality of Neil Pryde sails? Let's start with specifics...materials!
> There has been a thread complaining about the quality of monofilm on
> Neil Pryde sails. Yet, many of the other sail manufacturers get their
> materials from the same factory as Neil Pryde, so why has Neil Pryde
> been singled out? What could be done differently? Or are they fine as
> they are? Please, comments from both sides...
>
> Any other construction details that need improving? Who's doing it
> better? Why?
>
> Anyone who wants to be constructive, please post a reply. Neil Pryde is
> listening...
--
*------------------------------------------------------------------*
Alain Dumesny |\
Platinum Technology | \
Cosmo Lab - VRML architect | o ---
|-=|> ----
|_//_\ ---
-=========- ...shredding San Francisco...
*---- Please remove XNO_SPAMX before replying to email -----------*
William Fragakis
challenged) from "South Park". In each thread, Ray gets blotted out, too.
:-)
William
In article <36aa4e3f...@news.rdu.bellsouth.net>,
JohnMic
Al(Chainsaw)Dunlap appointed CEO at NP.
First day at the office singles out THE TEAM as being responsible for NP's
monofilm problems.
Sacks THE TEAM.
Appoints Ray as QA MANAGER and Kevin as PR Manager.
Dinkum.
JohnMic
with a pack of sharks on his tail.......
Dinkum
RobSm
ROFL
RobSm
RobSm
What...using one of those allegedly fragile low quality 'new' sails?
RobSm
Marc A. Lefebvre (US-775)
> Aloha all,
>
> So here's a golden opportunity : what would you do to improve the
> quality of Neil Pryde sails? Let's start with specifics...materials!
> There has been a thread complaining about the quality of monofilm on
> Neil Pryde sails. Yet, many of the other sail manufacturers get their
> materials from the same factory as Neil Pryde, so why has Neil Pryde
> been singled out? What could be done differently? Or are they fine as
> they are? Please, comments from both sides...
Phil Morgan wrote:
> Manufacturers may be buying all their monofilm at the same place, but certainly not
> the same thicknesses.
In regards to monofilm thickness I have to disagree with you. The tinsel strength of
monofilm does not vary much in thickness as you might think. Most people think
(bigger, thicker == better). Well, when it comes to monofilm this is NOT the case.
Believe it or not but THICKER mono gets brittle and falls apart MUCH quicker than
thinner mono. What TRULY makes a sail more durable over another is the quality of the
seem construction, kind of glue, amount of stitching and thread, etc... This is what
makes a sail last, not mono thickness. I have been trying to kill this myth for SOOO
long. What makes Ezzy sails indestructable is how many times they stitch their seams,
quality of seem materials, and amount of glue used. If you look at Neil Pryde's wave
sail's like the Combat wave, you will see they same kind of construction as the
Ezzy's. How ever, if you look at Z1, it is not the same for obvious reasons. The
right tool for the right job.
---
Marc Lefebvre (US-775)
Cape Cod Windsurfing Association, President
US Windsurfing Northeast Regional Director
Gear: AHD/NeilPryde/Fiberspar/Finworks
Email: lefe...@ultranet.com
URL: http://www.ultranet.com/~lefebvre/
Motto: "Windsurfing is life, the rest is just details!"
Marc A. Lefebvre (US-775)
responsive, they are being jerks, and then when they open the door and ask for your
comments and critisms of how they can improve the product, they are jerks too.
Seems a little short sighted if you ask me. I think this is a huge opportunity to
make an impact in the sport we all love. How often do manufactures open themselves
to public comment? Not often... And believe me, Kevin can make a difference
because he works in the loft where the sails are designed, tested, and protos
made. I think we should all take advantage of this opportunity and let them know
what you like and don't like.
Slalom wrote:
> This guy is funny. He wants our money and also wants us to do his
> homework. He must be a Tom Sawyer fan!
>
> My constructive advice: Do your homework (while we switch to the
> competitors sails).
>
> On Thu, 21 Jan 1999 14:49:50 -1000, Kevin Ozee <maui...@maui.net>
> wrote:
>
> >Aloha all,
> >
> > So here's a golden opportunity : what would you do to improve the
> >quality of Neil Pryde sails? Let's start with specifics...materials!
> > There has been a thread complaining about the quality of monofilm on
> >Neil Pryde sails. Yet, many of the other sail manufacturers get their
> >materials from the same factory as Neil Pryde, so why has Neil Pryde
> >been singled out? What could be done differently? Or are they fine as
> >they are? Please, comments from both sides...
> >
> > Any other construction details that need improving? Who's doing it
> >better? Why?
> >
> > Anyone who wants to be constructive, please post a reply. Neil Pryde is
> >listening...
---
Slalom
In an ideal world you would be right. But this is not an ideal one. I
am pissed because my 2 years old NP V8 looks really crappy. And for me
that is more crappy than the joke I have made. And do not be naive.
They EXACTLY KNOW how long is their stuff going to last. They don't
want to sell you a 5-600$ sail every five years. They want to do it
every two years or maybe even better, every year! Luckily, instead of
wasting my time giving them "advice" I can still buy sails from some
of the other manufacturers who build products that not only perform
but last too. And those are the manufacturers who WILL have a positive
impact on the sport.
Slalom
Jaime Torres
>
> In regards to monofilm thickness I have to disagree with you. The tinsel strength of
> monofilm does not vary much in thickness as you might think. Most people think
> (bigger, thicker == better). Well, when it comes to monofilm this is NOT the case.
> Believe it or not but THICKER mono gets brittle and falls apart MUCH quicker than
> thinner mono. What TRULY makes a sail more durable over another is the quality of the
> seem construction, kind of glue, amount of stitching and thread, etc... This is what
> makes a sail last, not mono thickness. I have been trying to kill this myth for SOOO
> long. What makes Ezzy sails indestructable is how many times they stitch their seams,
> quality of seem materials, and amount of glue used. If you look at Neil Pryde's wave
> sail's like the Combat wave, you will see they same kind of construction as the
> Ezzy's. How ever, if you look at Z1, it is not the same for obvious reasons. The
> right tool for the right job.
>
Thank you Marc for hitting the nail in the head. Good going
Daddy
>
>I think this is a huge opportunity to
>make an impact in the sport we all love. How often do manufactures open
themselves
>to public comment? Not often...
>I think this is a huge opportunity to
>make an impact in the sport we all love. How often do manufactures open
themselves
>to public comment? Not often...
I fully agree Marc. Personally I have not had much luck with the durability of
NP sails in the past. I like durable sails rather than lightweight, racy ones.
I have been really happy now that I have been sailing for Naish but I have to
admit that dealing with the distibutors has been less than ideal. Other than
contacting the Naish group directly (and Don Montague has been very helpful and
eager to talk about the products) there is little route for feedback from
Naish.
I think that if we want our products to be better we need to be able to get our
concerns to those who make the decisions. Look who their regular testers are.
The pros. Who pays for 99% of their products? We do (not pros). They need OUR
feedback. I wish all the manufacturers would openly solicit the feedback from
us. Maybe we all do not want lightweight materials, maybe we all do not want
thin mono, maybe we don't care, maybe we want "easy to rig" sails that really
are easy to rig.
I applaud Kevin and NP for listening to us and encourage open dialogue. Without
us they all lose.
Vaughan James Sanders
>The right tool for the right job. It would be unfortunate, and a little
>misguided, to build a tank out of paper machee, and then market it to
>a poor product to market. But I think purchasers of Z1s understand the
>animal, don't they? The MPRs I've seen look "reasonably" durable.
>
>But we will wait for a year or maybe 2 to purchase that $650 sail for
>$400.
This is where the problem arises with local club racing at the moment.
In slalom racing, wave, or speed events you could be competitive at
local level with equipment that was a couple of years old.
In course racing there was nothing even a year older that could come
close to a 9.3 Z1. This caused a lot of moaning with comments like "it's
not worth racing if you only have a 7.8". Now of course we are getting
calls from some to restrict sail size to around 8.3 for this year. But
then the nucleus of our club fleet are hard core BWA racers who are
going to want to use the big stuff. With a 10.6 on the way I can't see
the problem getting any better this year.
I really can't see an answer to it. At least until the rate of
development in the light wind course racing equipment slows down.
ma...@my-dejanews.com
"Marc A. Lefebvre (US-775)" <lefe...@ultranet.com> wrote:
> UIgh!! I think this is such a crappy thing to say. Gee, when Neil Pryde is
non
> responsive, they are being jerks, and then when they open the door and ask
for your
> comments and critisms of how they can improve the product, they are jerks too.
opportunity to
> make an impact in the sport we all love.
Interesting Catch-22, isn't it? I guess it's part of being perceived as the
biggest guy around - people automatically assume there's some insidious reason
and that you must be a jerk. I guess we all love rooting for the underdog, and
NP doesn't quite fit that description.
>How often do manufactures open themselves
> to public comment? Not often...
WRONG! As an avid participant in this newsgroup, you've seen tons of posts
(and most of them being very substantive and not all that promotional) from
Bruce Peterson (Sailworks) and Bill Hansen (Windwing). That suggests to me
they are listening to what's going on in this forum. John Twelker chimes in
for Naish Sails quite a bit. These smaller players also solicit a lot of
feedback from their dealers, based on what I've been told by some of those
dealers.
Just because NP, North, and Gaastra don't seem quite as responsive does not
mean none of the viable manufacturers are. You're not taking a performance
hit when you buy from one of the smaller players (local racing, as well as
what you see in freesailing spots like the Bay Area, the Gorge, or Waddell,
bear this out. You're not paying a premium (check the prices for yourself).
You're gaining VERY responsive customer service (heck, I got some advice from
Bruce Peterson on selecting sails for my race quiver next season - I doubt
that you get the same from the bigger companies). In the end, people buy
sails based on what their local dealer can offer them - that's where the bit
companies' numbers come from, as they built a dealer network a long time ago.
If you live in a place where a good local dealer can support one of the
smaller brands, give it some consideration.
>And believe me, Kevin can make a difference
> because he works in the loft where the sails are designed, tested, and protos
> made. I think we should all take advantage of this opportunity and let them
know
> what you like and don't like.
>
Kevin Ozee asking for our input is a great thing. This NG carping about
perceived problems long enough to blip up on Kevin's radar screen is a great
thing. Information in general can be a great thing. Which brings me back to
one of my favorite topics (and one of yours, too, Marc): the right tool for
the job. NP has more than a half dozen lines of sails. Same with North and
Gaastra. Sailworks has three (4 if you count the trainer sails). There's a
fine balance between providing the right tool for the job and drowning
consumers in too many choices, each of which is a little too specialized. If
you read through the North Sails web site, you get information overload. They
have to come up with incredible prose to distinguish some of their sails from
each other. Sounds to me like niche marketing gone berserk.
Just my two cents...
MTVNewsGuy
(LOVE the trainer gear...something designed for newbies!)
Regardless of how manufacturers have or haven't used this venue in the past, I
agree with Marc that coming out here and inviting feedback is great. I posted
my own complaint about NP gear, and it was much more satisfying to know it was
being read by NP than hoping it would be.
Now...can we all get together and petition for a reduction in the number of
finboxes? It seems to me that we should lose the Powerbox (because the Trim
offers adjustment. I own F2 so I'm hurting myself with this suggestion but I
like adjustability) but anyway, perhaps if we can have an impact on finbox
insanity we can really accomplish something in 1999!
Michael
US5613
Concept
work 9-5 Monday to Friday.
Mark 'cecil' DeFriest
> UIgh!! I think this is such a crappy thing to say. Gee, when Neil
Pryde is non
> responsive, they are being jerks, and then when they open the door and
ask for your
> comments and critisms of how they can improve the product, they are jerks too.
> Seems a little short sighted if you ask me. I think this is a huge
opportunity to
> make an impact in the sport we all love. How often do manufactures open
themselves
> to public comment? Not often... And believe me, Kevin can make a difference
> because he works in the loft where the sails are designed, tested, and protos
> made. I think we should all take advantage of this opportunity and let
them know
> what you like and don't like.
Here here!! Well said.
--
__ /\ May the wind be at your side
Mark 'Cecil' DeFriest / \_/ \ since it's no good coming
ce...@netspace.net.au / \ from up front or behind
Windsurfing Obsessive \ ___ /
Melbourne Australia \_/ \*/ Windtech 9'4" custom carbon
__ HiTech 8'6" carbon/kevlar
\/ Pryde V8's (6.0, 7.0, 8.5)
Pryde NR's (5.3, 6.0)
http://www.pb.com.au/pb/homes/12000.htm Pryde Combat's (4.7, 4.0)
Allan Lochert
message...<g>
-Allan
The 1999 season kicks off with the
first official news of our brand
new racing sail. The Spanier
designed Z1 is to be replaced by Nils
Rosenblad's first World Cup Racing
sail, named the RX1. After
several months of sea trials in
Maui the Neil Pryde design team are
said to be very excited by the new
sail. Trials have shown the RX1
to be clearly faster and more
stable than the highly successful Z1,
which sold in record numbers,
dominating racing around the world
for the past season. The RX1 has
been developed around a brand
new, top-of-the-line racing mast
called the Race Pro, also to be
launched at the same time as the
RX1. Using 100% Carbon and a
new innovative fibre orientation,
the new Race Pro mast is the
lightest ever offered by Neil
Pryde. The bottom sections of the
Race Pro have integrated ferrules,
for added strength and durability,
lighter weight and a smoother
bending curve. The top sections have
been developed to further improve
the Light Tip Technology
performance charac-teristics we
have been exploring in previous
models.
The Z1 had
pushed the
performance
envelope of the
CK95/Race
mast about as
far as it was
possible to go.
The final Z1
prototypes were
using extreme
luff curves to
make best use
of the
performance
character of the
masts. With the
new Race Pro,
we've been able
to reduce the
luff curves and
use more seam shaping. Although
the RX1 is still compatible with
the CK95/ Race masts, we are
recommending the Race Pro as the
ideal mast for competition racing.
The design team has mainly
focused on giving the RX1 a wider
wind range than the Z1. Last
year our team riders were often
seen using noticeably bigger sizes
of sail compared to other riders
on the world tour. With the RX1,
our designers have been aiming to
get more power and control from
smaller sized sails. In short, be
as good or better overpowered than
a Z1, but with more low-end power.
As you can see, the RX1 has a
similar outline to the Z1. There's
still the Shear Tip, but this has
been given a steeper angle and has
completely new working parts
to ensure cleaner rotation and to
reduce friction. Further changes
include a slightly different
batten layout with the battens above the
boom being pushed higher up into
the sail, a modified leech shape
and a new generation of Supercam
to give the forward sections of
the sails greater stability and
cures last season's problem of cams
popping off. The RX1 and Race Pro
Masts will be on display at our
Neil Production stock is scheduled
to ship early April.
RX1 / Race Pro - New Sizes &
Lengths
The RX1 will be launched in the
following sizes:
- 5.8 / 6.1 / 6.4 / 6.7 / 7.0 /
7.6 / 8.0 / 8.4 / 8.8 / 9.3 / 9.9 / 10.6
Smaller high wind sizes will be
introduced later in the season on a
pre-order basis. The Race Pro Mast
will be launched at the same
time as the RX1 in the following
lengths:
- 430 / 460 / 490 / 520 (cm)
Kevin Ozee wrote:
> Vaughan James Sanders wrote:
> >
> > In article <KrhjtBAB...@custom1.demon.co.uk>, Vaughan James Sanders
> > <j_sa...@custom1.demon.co.uk> writes
> > >In article <36A7CB...@maui.net>, Kevin Ozee <maui...@maui.net>
> > >writes
> > >>Aloha all,
> > >> Any other construction details that need improving? Who's doing it
> > >>better? Why?
> > >>
> > >> Anyone who wants to be constructive, please post a reply. Neil Pryde is
> > >>listening...
> > >
> >
> > Could you confirm the sizes of Z1 above 9.3 for 99. I hear rumour of a
> > 10 and a 10.7
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > Jamie
> >
> > Jamie Sanders
> > Chalkwell Windsurfing Club
> > http://freespace.virgin.net/ken.rosier/cwc.htm
> >
> > --
> > Vaughan James Sanders
>
Concept
think I need one in my quiver!
Jaime Torres
>
> Does anyone have proof the RX1 is true? I want to know more about them....... I
> think I need one in my quiver!
Only time and race results will tell. It does come with a good pedigree.
11 world championships.
jaime
--
----------------------------------------------------------
VelaUno-Puerto Rico's Largest and Most Complete Pro Windsurfing &
Kiteboarding Shop
Snail Mail: 2305 Laurel Suite 1011, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00913 USA
Locations: 2434 Loiza St., Punta Las Marias • 5737 Isla Verde Ave., Carolina
Tels: 787-728-8716 & 787-791-7355 • Fax: 787-726-0778 & 787-727-0328 •
Tel/Fax 787-727-0883
http://www.velauno.com • mailto:Ja...@velauno.com
Sales • New • Used • Consignment • Rentals • Service • Repairs •
Instruction
Sails by: Neil Pryde • North • Naish • Aerotech • Sailworks
Boards by: AHD • Protech • Mistral/Naish• F2/JP Australia • Tiga/BIC •
Starboard • North Shore Maui
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Allan Lochert
Kevin Ozee
>
> Does anyone have proof the RX1 is true? I want to know more about them....... I
> think I need one in my quiver!
Aloha,
Yes, it's true. I've sailed several generations of prototypes, and it's
all good...it may not look much different on paper, but believe me, it's
Neil Pryde's best racing sail yet! Available from dealers April/May
1999.
Best regards, Kevin
Martin Frankel
> Yes, it's true. I've sailed several generations of prototypes, and it's
> all good...it may not look much different on paper, but believe me, it's
> Neil Pryde's best racing sail yet!
Uh... we believe you...
> Available from dealers April/May 1999.
One of those dealers happens to be... maybe just perhaps... YOU???
PLEASE note your commercial affiliations in your posts, be it a
dealership,
sponsorship, what have you. Particularly when posting your opinions on
the
relative merit of different gear.
To do otherwise is irresponsible and potentially misleading.
It's not even that hard, most mailers will add a signature
automatically.
"Everything is just money, money, money. All I want to do is play
basketball, drink Pepsi and wear Reebok." -- Shaquille O'Neal
--
Martin Frankel |||| m...@sgi.com |||| (650)933-6191
Dimitar Bojantchev
>Kevin Ozee wrote:
>> Yes, it's true. I've sailed several generations of prototypes, and it's
>> all good...it may not look much different on paper, but believe me, it's
>> Neil Pryde's best racing sail yet!
>
>Uh... we believe you...
>
>> Available from dealers April/May 1999.
>
>One of those dealers happens to be... maybe just perhaps... YOU???
>
>PLEASE note your commercial affiliations in your posts, be it a
>dealership,
>sponsorship, what have you. Particularly when posting your opinions on
>the
>relative merit of different gear.
>
>To do otherwise is irresponsible and potentially misleading.
>
>It's not even that hard, most mailers will add a signature
>automatically.
Martin, Kevin is well known as a proprietor at Maui Sails, which to
many is synonymous with Neil Pryde -- I do not think that he has
hidden it in this forum, in fact he has made it apparent on numerous
occasions. Perhaps though too much is assumed here and there should
really be big enough signatures identifying affiliation in order to
eliminate disturbance to those who feel very strongly about the
possibility of confusion.
D.
Kevin Ozee
> PLEASE note your commercial affiliations in your posts, be it a
> dealership,
> sponsorship, what have you. Particularly when posting your opinions on
> the
> relative merit of different gear.
>
> To do otherwise is irresponsible and potentially misleading.
>
>
You are correct. I am very new at posting on Newsgroups, and therefor
made an error in proper Newsgroup etiquette...I will post a "signature"
with any further responses. My apologies if I mislead anyone...
Regarding my RX-1 performance statement, that's just my opinion, I
could be wrong.
Best regards, Kevin
Allan Lochert
signature line would
be nice though...
-Allan
Martin Frankel wrote:
> Kevin Ozee wrote:
> > Yes, it's true. I've sailed several generations of prototypes, and it's
> > all good...it may not look much different on paper, but believe me, it's
> > Neil Pryde's best racing sail yet!
>
> Uh... we believe you...
>
> > Available from dealers April/May 1999.
>
> One of those dealers happens to be... maybe just perhaps... YOU???
>
> PLEASE note your commercial affiliations in your posts, be it a
> dealership,
> sponsorship, what have you. Particularly when posting your opinions on
> the
> relative merit of different gear.
>
> To do otherwise is irresponsible and potentially misleading.
>
> It's not even that hard, most mailers will add a signature
> automatically.
>
TomBuckOb2
Concept Wrote:
>Does anyone have proof the RX1 is true? I want to know more about
>them....... I
>think I need one in my quiver!
Don't forget to order the really new really fast XP3 and of course the world
cup winning GN7. For the fastest lightweight shear tip, self adjusting batten,
auto-downhaul model, try the NB6.
Tom - Chicago
Steven Swann
Geez, did they drop the S L O W 69 from the range?!
SS.
Jaime Torres
No, they sold the design to ART
jaime
--
----------------------------------------------------------
VelaUno-Puerto Rico's Largest and Most Complete Windsurfing &
Kiteboarding Shop
Snail Mail: 2305 Laurel Suite 1011, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00913 USA
Locations: 2434 Loiza St., Punta Las Marias • 5737 Isla Verde Ave., Carolina
Tels: 787-728-8716 & 787-791-7355 • Fax: 787-726-0778 & 787-727-0328 •
Tel/Fax 787-727-0883
http://www.velauno.com • mailto:Ja...@velauno.com
Sales • New • Used • Consignment • Rentals • Service • Repairs •
Instruction
Sails by: Neil Pryde • Gaastra • North • Naish • Aerotech • Sailworks
Boards by: AHD • Protech • Mistral/Naish • F2/JP Australia • Tiga/BIC •
Starboard • North Shore Maui
Accessories by: Neil Pryde • Fiberspar • HPL • Powerex • Streamlined •
Dakine • Windsurfing Hawaii
Cris Pavloff
>Concept:
>Concept Wrote:
>
>>Does anyone have proof the RX1 is true? I want to know more about
>>them....... I
>>think I need one in my quiver!
>
>
>Don't forget to order the really new really fast XP3 and of course the world
>cup winning GN7. For the fastest lightweight shear tip, self adjusting batten,
>auto-downhaul model, try the NB6.
haha
that's a good one
What the hell do all of those Neil Pryde sail model names mean anyway?
MPR?
NR?
Z1?
Jaime Torres
>
>
> that's a good one
>
> What the hell do all of those Neil Pryde sail model names mean anyway?
>
> MPR?
> NR?
Nils Rosenblad, the name of the designer
> Z1?
Nothing
Cris Pavloff
wrote:
>> What the hell do all of those Neil Pryde sail model names mean anyway?
>>
>> MPR?
>Multi Purpose Rig
wow. i was thinkiing something like Matt Pritchard Rules.
>> NR?
>Nils Rosenblad, the name of the designer
for this one i thought it was the answer to a question like: who is
the #1 windsurfer now? --> *N*ot *R*obby
>> Z1?
>Nothing
>