Answers to Common Questions

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After the sail design is drawn onto the sail, the custom graphics are hand-painted onto the sail and the image is mirrored exactly on the other side. No high-tech printers or computer applications, just the artist's hand, it's a labor of love. 

I use industrial inks and paints, UV stable, super thin, and incredibly flexible. Environmentally safe, and water-based, these pigments were developed for high-contact, high-traffic outdoor applications, idea for creating works of art on the water. Fresh and Salt water are not detrimental to the images. Keep in mind that sails are constantly in motion, stretching, sometimes luffing, and rubbing on rigging and themselves, and as such the images will experience some wear over time. Fear not, with every sail, I include a set of touchup pigment so that you can touch up high-wear areas and keep them looking great for years to come.  

Take care of your sails as you would any high quality sail, keep them rolled and store in a cool, dry place when not in use. I offer high quality, double zipper top sail bags, complete with vented ends should you need a new bag. 

After looking over my portfolio of past designs you may be inspired and find the perfect image, or you may find inspiration for something a little different. Share your ideas, I love to run with a new theme or image idea, no worries if you can't draw or supply a ready made image. After 36+ years as a commercial graphic designer, it's my job to distill a great idea into a great visual. We will work together to find the perfect fit. If I can come up with a "Queso Cat", I can come up with something to fit your personality on the water! 

Excellent question and one I am asked often! You can absolutely send me your own Dacron sails to image. If you have good quality sails I can apply the design of your choice on them, new or old. Sometimes customers will have older, stained or well loved sails that are just in need of some new graphics to get the wind back into them. In some cases, older sails make for a better canvas then new, they absorb the pigment more thoroughly, allowing the pigment to bleed into the older Dacron fibers.  

Most all of my sails are designed by world renowned designer, Sandy Goodall. Sandy co-owned Elvstrom Sails and has been one of the key architects of several computer design software programs used worldwide today.   Like most of the major US sail lofts, I source high quality sails from a loft in Asia, where the digital designs are laser cut and assembled by experienced sailmakers. My goal has always been to design and build quality sails at truly affordable prices. I am happy to package a new sail with a custom design at a fair price possible. 

I don't have fixed costs for sail designs as there are several factors that come into play. The complexity of the design, the size of the image, the number of colors and my clients flexibility are all factors. I started Flying Fish Arts because I needed new sails for my own boat and found the prices across the board pretty steep for my budget. Quality sails, quality design and application are my golden rule. I paint every sail as if it is going to be my own! Let's work together to develope a great sail at a fair price with or without graphics!