Spinnaker shortages

and what caused it in the first place?

Bob,

According to GG's website, there was some sort of error in the production of the fabric. I would guess that both GG and MLD use the same supplier?

If no one here knows, I'll email Ron @ MLD or GG directly and report back.

I think it all went to the disaster victims in China.

Warning: Economics Lesson to Follow

The spinnaker/Spinntex.97 we use is a very very specialized fabric that requires both a very high quality woven fabric to start with and a very complicated and costly silicone coating process. (Silicone coatings vs PU type coating require a lot more labor hours for the finisher to keep the machines clean and working well.)

If this type speciality spinnker were easy to make, lots of companies would be doing it! But as it stands there is only one and their market to outdoor product companies is relatively small.

Keep in mind spinnaker fabrics were not designed for backpacking shelters but were adapted from sail making fabrics. Most sailcloth that is super light is not waterproof for rain- the main feature for a sail is air permability or air resistance – not waterproofness so it's a special weight and coating that makes the stuff we use in this industry rain proof.

Over the last year lots of companies that make coated products we all know like silnylon, various spinnakers, etc, have been trying to do it for less money with tweaks all along the manufacturing process including the coating when possible and not diminishing quality.

Many US based UL/SUL companies came a nats booty away from a silnylon shortage earlier this year; disaster avoided but that's another story.

Remember, silnylon is primarily a parachute/parasail material and is designed as such- not a backpacking shelter fabric. Although a very very few companies do coat it a bit different for lightweight backpacking gear and that's the type we use at MLD as well as most of the other small UL companies- special first quality stuff that is expensive….

The manufactuer of the spinnaker we use was trying to maintain quality while controlling cost and in the process made a few runs that did not meeet the water resistance needed. So, a long delay was needed for them to rever to the old process that worked. That is , hopefully, coming in Aug or Sep. Everyone Pray At this time to baby backpacking Jesus…..

Wait, you said they tried to control cost and then had to revert- won't that push up the cost of the fabric? You're freakin scooter right on that one!

In the lat year I have seen my costs for all fabrics go up a LOT. Add on the skyrocketing shipping prices ( were talking hundred of pounds per shipment here…) especially if from overseas plus the falling dollar against other currencies if it is made overseas- and almost all of it is now.

In the last year Silnylon went up 18%, If/When Spinnker will be almost 25% and Cuben Fiber just jumped 15% before any shipping cost increases.

Summary:
The spinnaker Mfgr was trying to hold the price but the quality could not be done at that price and so it was back to making the orig. material at a higher price. That transition, in progress, is taking time.

Thanks for the detailed explanation Ron; it makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the explanation Ron. Good to hear there's a good possibility of seeing it available again pretty soon.

Of course a 25% cost increase leaves a big lump in my throat but it's just a hobby for me and the quantities are small … not my livelihood like it is for gearmakers like you … so got no right to complain.

.

Ron,
willing to share the story on the sil-nylon shortage earlier in the year?
This reminds me a bit of the story which could be read for a while on the website of Britisch tentmanufacturer Lightwave: how they had problems with orders not being delivered in time, orders that came through were faulty, etc… A few months ago I was talking to their rep and he explained that they were probably going to change manufacturer because of this but they needed to have a supplier who could offer the requested quality. I also learned that also Hilleberg had already decided to change manufacturer, despite the long relationship they had with it, because of delivery and qualityproblems.