A friend has 10 year old sails and would like to have them cleaned, this fall. Who would you recommend?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
A
Alan
Nobody
Ten-year-old sails (if they've been used) are certainly trash by now. It's time to buy new. Old, tired, blown out sails are impossible to trim. Let's face it, sails have a life expectancy. Part of the cost of owning a boat is replacing worn out gear.
Ten-year-old sails (if they've been used) are certainly trash by now. It's time to buy new. Old, tired, blown out sails are impossible to trim. Let's face it, sails have a life expectancy. Part of the cost of owning a boat is replacing worn out gear.
D
Dan McGuire
Unlimited Funds???
I wish I had as much excess cash lying around as some of you. I would guess that mine are original equipment on my thirty year plus old boat. Badly blown? Yes. Still have fun? Yes. I clean my sails myself. I realize the original question was not how, but who, but I will tell how mine get cleaned. I clean my carport floor, lay out a tarp,lay the sails over them,take off my shoes, wet the sails down, scrub them with clothes detergent, spray them with a hoze and hang them over several clothes lines.
I wish I had as much excess cash lying around as some of you. I would guess that mine are original equipment on my thirty year plus old boat. Badly blown? Yes. Still have fun? Yes. I clean my sails myself. I realize the original question was not how, but who, but I will tell how mine get cleaned. I clean my carport floor, lay out a tarp,lay the sails over them,take off my shoes, wet the sails down, scrub them with clothes detergent, spray them with a hoze and hang them over several clothes lines.
T
Tim
Hot tub
I have heard of a guy who uses his hot tub. He lets the chemicals leach out of the water for a few days and then drops his sail in and runs the jets/bubbles and mixes them around. He then hangs them to dry. When finished he drains and refills the tub with fresh water. Could be a good reason to buy a hot tub if you don't already have one. Tim
I have heard of a guy who uses his hot tub. He lets the chemicals leach out of the water for a few days and then drops his sail in and runs the jets/bubbles and mixes them around. He then hangs them to dry. When finished he drains and refills the tub with fresh water. Could be a good reason to buy a hot tub if you don't already have one. Tim
R
RonD
Professional cleaning & inspection
I have mine cleaned, inspected, stored, and (if needed) repaired each season by a local sail loft. It's the small repairs they catch & fix before becoming big that can extend the working life. UV & wear appear to work on the threads & seams first. However, on a limited budget, if you clean them yourself just make sure they are rinsed thoroughly in fresh water to remove salt, detergent, bird poop, whatever. And, make sure they are thoroughly dried before folding & storing or you'll have serious mildew. I suggest you should try to schedule those old sails in for a professional job at least once every three years. A final note -- using 10+ year old sails is OK, but just remember thy are probably a lot weaker than new ones and can't take heavy use. Be tender with them! I used a rental boat a few years ago in a brisk wind & chop and the main suddenly split in half horizontally right across the reef line as I was tacking. The falling boom barely missed my head. The owner later admitted the sails were 18 years old!
I have mine cleaned, inspected, stored, and (if needed) repaired each season by a local sail loft. It's the small repairs they catch & fix before becoming big that can extend the working life. UV & wear appear to work on the threads & seams first. However, on a limited budget, if you clean them yourself just make sure they are rinsed thoroughly in fresh water to remove salt, detergent, bird poop, whatever. And, make sure they are thoroughly dried before folding & storing or you'll have serious mildew. I suggest you should try to schedule those old sails in for a professional job at least once every three years. A final note -- using 10+ year old sails is OK, but just remember thy are probably a lot weaker than new ones and can't take heavy use. Be tender with them! I used a rental boat a few years ago in a brisk wind & chop and the main suddenly split in half horizontally right across the reef line as I was tacking. The falling boom barely missed my head. The owner later admitted the sails were 18 years old!
A
Allen
Sailcare
I saw a demo at a boat show for this attached link. I've never used it, but it looks interesting.
I saw a demo at a boat show for this attached link. I've never used it, but it looks interesting.
J
Jeff
Sailcare
I've used them on 14year old sails and they have come back like new. They will quote your freind an estimate over the phone, and finalize the price after an inspection when they receive the sail. They are about half the cost of new sails. I plan to use them again this winter.
I've used them on 14year old sails and they have come back like new. They will quote your freind an estimate over the phone, and finalize the price after an inspection when they receive the sail. They are about half the cost of new sails. I plan to use them again this winter.
P
Paul Akers
I used SailCare...
...last year and very satisfied. The sails (main & genny) are original (1988 Legend 37) and came back like new. As stated earlier, Sailcare will quote a cleaning price, but will inspect the sails when they are received and provide estimates for all repairs. Last year, they offerred a 10% discount on cleaning if they received them by year-end. It covered the cost of shipping one way. Last year they had about a 6-8 week lead time and completed them in about 10 weeks. Be prepared for some delay. And remember to get them to them before the "rush" or you may not have them for the start of next season.
...last year and very satisfied. The sails (main & genny) are original (1988 Legend 37) and came back like new. As stated earlier, Sailcare will quote a cleaning price, but will inspect the sails when they are received and provide estimates for all repairs. Last year, they offerred a 10% discount on cleaning if they received them by year-end. It covered the cost of shipping one way. Last year they had about a 6-8 week lead time and completed them in about 10 weeks. Be prepared for some delay. And remember to get them to them before the "rush" or you may not have them for the start of next season.
L
Les Andersen
Sailcare
Miles, I had my 11 year old sails cleaned by Sailcare and the difference is remarkable. Pure white, stiff, new leathers, really a nice job. Main and jenny on a 38 sloop came to around $800. Much less than new sails. Not sure what the shipping would be. But, for those around the bay, Sailcare is just outside of Pittsburgh and about a 3 to 4 hr drive from DC. Les
Miles, I had my 11 year old sails cleaned by Sailcare and the difference is remarkable. Pure white, stiff, new leathers, really a nice job. Main and jenny on a 38 sloop came to around $800. Much less than new sails. Not sure what the shipping would be. But, for those around the bay, Sailcare is just outside of Pittsburgh and about a 3 to 4 hr drive from DC. Les
C
Chris Burti
Sailcare
I'm another satisfied Sailcare consumer, although I would characterize the result of their process on an older sail as rejuvination rather than "like new". The 10 years = trash comment may be true with regard to hard-used racing sails. Properly maintained and cared for sails can be literally 'like new' after 10 years. "Blown out" is more of a description of use rather than age in a sturdy cruising sail. High winds and long exposure to the sun will deteriorate the fabric but most owners don't put that kind of use on a sail. If your friend is a serious racer or extended cruiser, the money is better spent on new sails.
I'm another satisfied Sailcare consumer, although I would characterize the result of their process on an older sail as rejuvination rather than "like new". The 10 years = trash comment may be true with regard to hard-used racing sails. Properly maintained and cared for sails can be literally 'like new' after 10 years. "Blown out" is more of a description of use rather than age in a sturdy cruising sail. High winds and long exposure to the sun will deteriorate the fabric but most owners don't put that kind of use on a sail. If your friend is a serious racer or extended cruiser, the money is better spent on new sails.
B
Bill P.
Sailcare
I too used their services on my main and jib - they made excellent repairs to sails and sailcover - I was very satisfied - look like new - oh, and they replaced the numbers as well. Bill
I too used their services on my main and jib - they made excellent repairs to sails and sailcover - I was very satisfied - look like new - oh, and they replaced the numbers as well. Bill
- Status
- Not open for further replies.