What Are Sailboat Sails Made Out Of?

Sailors prefer sails made from various materials for different reasons. Some fabrics, such as polytarp, are limited in color selection. Racers might prefer a lightweight material to maximize speed.

  1. Dacron

    • Dacron is a trademark name for a polyester fiber-woven fabric. This material varies in thickness and strength, depending on its weave. It is used for sailboat sails because of its resistance to stretching.

    Laminate

    • According to Jeckells, a European sail-production company, laminate is a combination of fabric and film. Laminate sails are expensive and are used primarily for racing. Designed for speed, laminate sails are lightweight.

    Polytarp

    • This is the most common type of sail, according to the website Messing-About. This material is inexpensive and available at home supply stores. The strength of polytarp is average among sail material; if protected from sunlight, it will last several years.