Washed My Sails

[Squidd]

Noticed it this winter when I laid out the #4 that I made (reconstructed) on top the Genny I got off e-bay just how dirty and rust stained my sails were...

I wanted them to look "presentable" on the lake considering all the work I did to spruce up the boat...More like this...

I looked at the main and laid a "comparison patch on it at the head and the reef point

Then went to work following the suggestions I gleaned from RichH and others...

Big Tub (about the size of cockpit floor) and small bucket of Sodium Silicate Detergent...Soaked sails on at a time for 3 days..Stirring a couple times a day with a canoe paddle ((Just weren't clean enough after a couple hours or even overnight)...

Dumped tub and rinsed with clean water...Then to get rid of rust stains, I mixed a bucket with a gallon of water and half a small bucket of Oxalic Acid and scrubbed the "rusty" ares with the brush on a tarp I laid out on the lawn...

Then back in the rinse water for another day to let the rust remover do it's work...

Rinsed one more time and hung out on a line to dry...

Sails look much more presentable cleaner whiter and no noticeable rust staining, but still a little "wrinkly"...I'm still tempted to "iron" them but will wait to see what stretching them out sailing on the lake does...(they'll just get wrinkly when I put them in the bag anyway..)

Whole project less than $50...

 

[Ray Bowles]

That is truly an amazing difference. How many sails did you wash with that batch of chemicals?
Ray

 

[Squidd]

I did 4 sails for the Paceship and 1 for my Venture Cat...Each one got a fresh batch of water and cleanser...

I did do my #4 and VC sail in one batch so 4 sets...

They are all older sails, but they all pass the "pin test" except the VC...that ones a little soft at 40 yrs old...

 

[All U Get]

Hi Squidd,
Those sails look great.
All U Get

 

[Joe]

Squidd........ if you fold your sails properly they won't get "wrinkly" in the bag.

 

[Squidd]

Flake from the foot and roll from the clew...?

No...no matter which way you fold it it's gonna develop wrinkles...

 

[Joe]

Flake from the foot and roll from the clew...?

No...no matter which way you fold it it's gonna develop wrinkles...

Creases may develop if folded the same exact way, but not wrinkles. If the sails have lost their stiffmess, then they will easily become wrinkled. A sail that still has a resinous, stiff quality will develop minimal wrinkles if folded or rolled loosely. Leaving your sails in a bleach like solution for 2 days will make them white, but in all likilhood will soften them also. Another way to wear sails out quickly is to let them flog or flap unecessarily.

I"ve been told that some professional companies, like Sailrite, will try to restore the crispness to a sail after cleaning. I would be interested to know what product they use to accomplish that end. Perhaps ironing them with Niagra spray starch would help...Otherwise soaking my sails for a few hours in anthing other than a mild detergent is as far as I will go.... I'd rather they be stiff than white as a bedsheet and soft as one also.

 

[RichLan]

I thought you washed your sails by putting the rail far underwater.

 

[RobertLangdirect]

I thought you washed your sails by putting the rail far underwater.

I NEVER put my rail underwater.

 

[Kermit]

I NEVER put my rail underwater.

Looking at your avatar, it appears your policy only applies to your port rail. ;-)

 

[Merlin Clark]

Great job Squidd!

 

[Squidd]

Thanks... For "old" sails they still have a crispness about them (as compared to a bed sheet) and pass the pin test with a "pop"...

I don't think the washing "hurt" them any...but then they are well over 5 years old, so I'm just working with what I got...

 

[Cayennita]

There is a company in Portsmouth, NH that uses a vacuum barrel system to wash the sails. The chemicals will go through the weave and really make them white. They also give it a Teflon coating that will make them crisper and in the case of a furling genoa or in the mast main, they will make tighter more slippery roll. The owner is Jeff Andersen. I have mailed my sails to him. Not cheap but they look brand new.