Green Gunged Furling Sail !!!

[Rick]

Does anyone know how to SAFELY clean the green gunge, mildew spots, etc. from a furling genoa? I baught my Catalina this spring and am trying to clean it up after several years of neglect. The sails are in pretty good condition yet have grown ugly especially the furling genoa that was rolled up while exposed to all the elements. I've tried soaking it in a cold water bath tub with Cheer and non-chlorine bleach, but the green between the layers is still in there! Thanks!!

 

[Steve O.]

Sail Care

Send it to Sail Care, they will clean it and re-resin it. Costs a couple of hundred bucks but its worth it.

 

[Steve Dion]

Try do it yourself for the season.

Rick:You DO NOT want to send you sail off this time of the year! Remove the sail from the boat. Place in on the lawn if possible. This prevents the material from getting abraded. You can start cleaning it by using a mild liquid dish soap like Joy or Ivory. This will help remove much of the grunge. If you have other stubborn spots, you can either try Davis Foaming sail cleaner or one of the orange cleaners that you can get at a grocery store. Use a soft brush and go for it. Be sure to rinse you sail well when you are done. Be sure to inspect for any stitching problems when you sail is down. Get them fixed before you put the sail back on the boat. When the end of the season comes and you have a couple of hundred extra bucks and a couple of months, think about the Sailcare people. Like Steve O. says they do a wonderful job and your sail will be like new again.