Have any questions?
+44 1234 567 890
2026-03-23 11:00
(comments: 0)
Parasailor
on Older Boats – A Review
Does the Parasailor work on older boats?
Many people associate the Parasailor with modern yachts or catamarans. Clean decks, plenty of space, up-to-date setups. The question that keeps coming up: Does it also work on older boats. That’s exactly what was tested off the coast of Sardinia. Together with Solovela, our dealer Ezio sailed a Parasailor on a Columbia 50 from 1966 – a boat with history, built long before today’s standards.
And that’s where it gets interesting. The Parasailor is not a typical downwind sail that simply “catches” the wind. At its core, it’s a system. Airflow is guided through the sail into an opening, where an integrated wing does the real work. This wing changes the airflow – and with it, the behavior of the entire sail.
The result is noticeable: The boat runs calmly, with stability and a steady, consistent pull forward. Instead of pressure peaks, you get a controlled, even drive. On longer passages, this becomes especially relevant – many crews leave the Parasailor up for hours or even days, often in combination with an autopilot.
What stands out: This behavior is not tied to the age of the boat.
Even on a boat from the 1960s, the principle works. What matters is not how modern the boat is, but whether the basic setup allows it. In some cases, small adjustments are needed – for example at the bow attachment points or in the line setup. Nothing unusual, but something to be aware of.
At the same time, the test also shows the other side: The Parasailor remains stable even in stronger winds. At a certain point, the limit is no longer the sail, but the crew – especially when it comes to taking it down. That’s not a drawback in the traditional sense, but it’s something to realistically consider.
And yes, price is part of the conversation. The Parasailor is not a low-cost sail. But it represents a different way of sailing – calmer, more controlled, and significantly more relaxed over long distances.
So if you’re wondering whether the Parasailor only works on modern yachts, this test gives a clear answer: No. The system also works on older boats – if you understand how it operates. In the video featuring Ezio and Solovela, you'll learn all the details about the construction, handling, and differences between the models.