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Submitted on October 21, 2004 by Pete Celone

Question: I am considering Marathon 3DL sails for a new 46 foot daggerboard catamaran we are buying. I would like to understand more about the life span of these sails prior to structural or shape problems. Your website mentions that there were no problems in the first 18 months on the market. Since the product has been out for at least four years now, this information is obviously dated. What guidance can you offer now after having more time on the water with the product? Also, you mention on the website that the lifespan of Marathon 3DL sails is approx. 2000 hours vs. 2500 for Spectra and 4000 for NorDac. Are these estimates still valid?

I look forward to your response.

Regards,
Pete Celone

Answer: Hi Pete, the first retail sales of the Marathon 3DL™ product were delivered in the Fall of 2000 so you are correct that we are just coming up on four years of product history, or five years from when the first prototype sails were sea trialed.

The durability of the Marathon sails has proven to be in line with the early estimates. Some of the first years sails are being replaced now, while most of them are still in service. We have built and delivered more than 1,000 Marathon sails and to date 38 sails have been retired. The sails that are being replaced have been in service on boats that sail from Europe or North America to the Caribbean and back each year. The Caribbean is a tough environment for sails and for sure the Marathon product will age more quickly there than in higher latitudes.

This Fall we are building Marathon mainsails for three Gunboat 62 catamarans. All three boats are replacing paneled spectra mainsails with Marathon mainsails. The Gunboat 62s cover a lot of miles each year and the sails are reefed much of the time. The captains have decided to switch to Marathon mainsails largely because the 3DL structure adresses reefed sail loads better than any paneled sails can, and all of the fatigue issues with the first generation Gunboat 62 sails were in the reef areas.

Marathon sails should be a strong consideration for your 46' catamaran. Before making your final decision about sail construction you will have to weigh the importance of sail shapeholding and weight aloft against your budget for sail replacement. Where you sail and how long you will be in remote locations will also play a part in the decision making. If you plan to use the boat seasonally, in higher latitude areas, the Marathon product is a great choice. The superior shapeholding will pay off especially on your boat with its high righting moment. The reduced weight aloft will help reduce pitching as well. On the other hand, if you are planning a slow circumnavigation in the tropics and don't want to have to think about sail care, Marathon is the wrong product for you.

My guess is that your plans are somewhere in between those two extremes. A meeting with a North Sails rep should help you sort out the choices.

Regards,
Dan Neri

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