Banks Sails Carolina, Inc. in Oriental, Pamlico, NC

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Banks Sails Carolina Inc.
Custom Sails and Canvas

Banks Sails Carolina Inc. provides the finest in racing and cruising sails; full service on repairs, re-cuts, conversions and furlers; also custom canvas products for both on deck and below.



Banks Sails Carolina in Oriental, NC is owned by Mark Weinheimer and  LuAnn Parins.
Mark, who is a Purdue University graduate, has worked as a sailmaker all his adult life. Mark grew up on Lake Erie racing dinghies, going through the ranks to SORC boats and high performance catamarans. While with Competition Sails, St. Petersburg, Florida, Mark sailed with Peter Wormwood on Stiletto catamarans winning six national titles, initially in stock class then in the modified Stiletto 30 Mirage. LuAnn discovered sailing as an adult, through Mark, and it's been full immersion ever since.

They first worked for Tony Johnson at Competition Sails, in St. Petersburg, Florida, building racing and cruising sails. In 1985 they joined Dennis Connor's Stars and Stripes America's Cup Challenge campaign, culminating in Dennis' 1987 win in Freemantle. After a short stint at North Sails/Chesapeake, Mark and LuAnn moved to the West Coast and took over the management of Randy Smyth's loft in Huntington Beach California. While there they made the Pro 40 catamaran sails for Randy's winning 1988 and 1989 campaigns. While at Sails by Smyth they built and installed the wing covers for the victorious Americas Cup catamaran defense in San Diego.

In 1990 the East Coast called them back. Eastern North Carolina won them over in just two days, and now Mark and LuAnn call Oriental, NC home! Mark opened the loft here in 1991, and after over eight years working at Down East Canvas, LuAnn rejoined the business fulltime in January 1999.
      After years in a nice, but cramped, upstairs space, Banks Sails has moved into a brand new custom building just out side the village. The new loft has about 80% of the space taken up by a raised wooden floor, allowing the machines to be set in pits at floor level. With the available workspace almost tripled, there is now plenty of room for Mark and LuAnn to work on any project without crowding each other. The added convenience of the workspace, along with the comforts of a modern building makes the new loft a pleasure to work in. Stop by to say hello and check out the new digs.

"At Banks Sails Carolina we believe that the quality and durability of our sails and canvas products, combined with our own years of racing, cruising, offshore and live-a-board experience enable us to give you the best value and service available."

"We'd be most happy to discuss any aspect of your sailing with you. Afterwards, you might want to join the growing number of local sailors who have become happy Banks customers. We'd be glad to refer you to any of them to see how they feel about the operational philosophy of Banks Sails Carolina Inc."

Contact us at: sailscanvas@pinelink.org or call (252) 249-3001
    ... to prep your boat for fun!

Custom boat cushion covers

For racing or cruising sail specifications click here.

Banks Sails/Carolina
112 Straight Rd.
Call 252.249.3001 Fax 252.249.3002
Contact us for a quote at sailscanvas@pinelink.org

CHECKFURL GENOAS

The Checkfurl genoa has become one of the most popular sails with our cruising customers here on the North Carolina coast, famous for its extremes of wind and water conditions. If you're looking for a single sail to minimize your sail inventory then the Checkfurl might be the sail you want to consider.

For more information click here.

LOCAL BOATS LOOKING GOOD!!

Directions to Banks Sails Carolina Inc.

From the North: Take I-95 south to US 64 east at Rocky Mount, NC. Turn on US 17 south and follow to NC Route 33 east, just south of Washington, NC. Follow Route 33 to 306 and make right onto 306, then make left on Route 55 east and follow to Oriental. As you approach Oriental, at Moore's Corner, turn left onto Straight Road. On your right, you will see Banks
Sails, 112 Straight Road.
From the South and West: Take US 70 east to NC Route 55 east at New Bern and follow to Oriental. As you approach Oriental, at Moore's Corner, turn left onto Straight Road. On your right, you will see Banks Sails, 112 Straight Road.
From Atlantic Beach/Morehead City: Take the NC ferry at Cherry Branch near Havelock to Minnesott and follow signs to Oriental. Cross the bridge into Oriental and stay on Broad Street (NC HWY 55) through Oriental for about 1.3 miles. At Moore's Corner, turn right onto Straight Road. On your right, you will see Banks Sails, 6531 A Straight Road.

Oriental

If you are on the Intracoastal Waterway, turn into Oriental and moor at the free Town Dock and call Banks Sails

Banks Sails/Carolina
112 Straight Rd.
Oriental, NC 28571
Call 252.249.3001 Fax 252.249.3002
Contact us for a quote at sailscanvas@pinelink.org

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