10 year old sail referbish?

[Mike Elmore]

I bought Windward Hull last season here is Chicago. She is a 1990 C28 STD.She came with the original main and 135 genoa. I seam was starting to go on the genoa at least.A heard of a friend through a friend (?) that a person had their sails referbished?True or False? If true, what is the procedure? Is it generally worth it? Does the referbishing process add enough to the sails to make it worth adding foam luff and a UV strip to the genoa and full battens to the main or am I better off starting fresh? Approximate cost range?I believe there is a Doyle loft a few blocks from my apartment here in Chicago. I'm basically interested in what I will hear from them in general when I walk in the door.Thanks,Mike ElmoreChicago, ILWindward Hull-C28 Hull #7

 

[Stan Rogacevicz srogacev@holycross.edu]

Sail Refurbish

I'm having a Banks loft in E. Greenwich RI do a foam luff on my c320 and thier price would be under $125 for your c28. I beleive you already have a UV strip on your factory 135 because otherwise I believe it would be in tatters after 10 years. I had a furled cruising spinnaker (much thinner) turn to swiss cheese in 2 years.Stan

 

[Eric]

Sail Refurbish

I had a 12 year old maisail refurbished by Sail Care in Penn. They have a much different process than most lofts. They clean and re-resin the sail. It looks and feels like a new sail. The real issue is whether or not your sail is stretched out, severly chaffed etc. Their process will not recut the sail but they do have that ability. If you go through this process, recut, add foam, full battens etc. it probably would be wiser to just get new sails. It all depends on the use and your pocketbook. I was pleased with my outcome but my sail still had a good shape and has at least 2-3 more years left in it. By the way I sail freshwater and that may help with the wear and tear.Try and get an estimate from a local loft along with an assesment of condition and then call for others. The fancy cleaning part may add too much to the overall cost. Happy sailing

 

[Bill Colombo]

Refurbishing Old Sails

Mike, Eric has hit the nail on the head. If you send you sail to Sail Care they will first clean the sail thoroughly and then apply a resin coating to firm up the worn cloth. I have seen some sails that look pretty good after this procedure. Unfortunately the process cannot improve the airfoil shape of an old sail. If your sail has stretched out of its original shape you would have to recut the sail first. If this is the case you would be better off buying a new sail rather than pay for a Recut, Reresin, Cleaning, Luff Pad, and Sun Cover. A 10 year old genoa typically doesn't have enough life left to justify this expense.Good Sailing, Bill C.