How does one tell if his / her sails are too old? I have the original sails for my boat with no rips or tears just a bit dirty. But I read that the performance can increase with less heel with new sails. How can I tell if I need new ones?
How Can You Tell Sail Age?
- Thread starter Windyway
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From the shape of the sail. The draft of a sail moves aft with age. If the greatest curvature of the sail is in the forward half of the sail its not so bad. If its towards the leech the sail is done. Also, if you cannot flatten the sail its tired.
Consult a sailmaker
If you can find a local sailmaker who knows his business, you can start a consulting relationship that will pay benefits throughout the life of your current and future sails. When the time comes, he will help you pick the best replacement sails for your area, your boat, and your planned use of the boat. My sailmaker has always been ready with advice about sails, running rigging, sail trim, and sail selection that has been a big help to me.
Having said that, other signs your sails may need replacing include:
- The fabric feels soft and pliable.
- There are worn out spots on the sail.
- There are places where sail threads have broken and come loose.
But shape is the key consideration.
When we replaced the baggy mainsail that cam e with Lady Lillie (on the advice of our sailmaker, that was our first move), we think it added a knot of speed and reduced heel by 5 degrees in moderate winds.
If you can find a local sailmaker who knows his business, you can start a consulting relationship that will pay benefits throughout the life of your current and future sails. When the time comes, he will help you pick the best replacement sails for your area, your boat, and your planned use of the boat. My sailmaker has always been ready with advice about sails, running rigging, sail trim, and sail selection that has been a big help to me.
Having said that, other signs your sails may need replacing include:
- The fabric feels soft and pliable.
- There are worn out spots on the sail.
- There are places where sail threads have broken and come loose.
But shape is the key consideration.
When we replaced the baggy mainsail that cam e with Lady Lillie (on the advice of our sailmaker, that was our first move), we think it added a knot of speed and reduced heel by 5 degrees in moderate winds.
All the other posters are quite correct about the fabric, etc. condition.
Here's a quick way to determine the 'shape' of the woven dacron mainsail (if it has a thick 'rope in a sleeve' at the luff) on a Spirit 23.
Raise the mainsail to 'just up', then specifically for your S23, increase the tension on halyard so that the halyard *additionally stretches* the luff exactly 2.0 inches. Then measure the angle that the topside of the boom makes with the mast. An S23 should have this angle at 88 degrees. Just use a 'perfectly square' piece of cardboard for 'good enough' measurement. If this angle is much MORE than about 90 degrees ... causing the aft end of the boom to be lower horizontally than where it meets the mast: then the boltrope has shrunken (happens a lot) and either needs to be 'adjusted' or replaced by a sailmaker.
Take a look at the thread "HOW TO PROPERLY RAISE A DACRON MAINSAIL" .... as that thread discusses probably the main cause of folks thinking they need new sails.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=120970
;-)
Here's a quick way to determine the 'shape' of the woven dacron mainsail (if it has a thick 'rope in a sleeve' at the luff) on a Spirit 23.
Raise the mainsail to 'just up', then specifically for your S23, increase the tension on halyard so that the halyard *additionally stretches* the luff exactly 2.0 inches. Then measure the angle that the topside of the boom makes with the mast. An S23 should have this angle at 88 degrees. Just use a 'perfectly square' piece of cardboard for 'good enough' measurement. If this angle is much MORE than about 90 degrees ... causing the aft end of the boom to be lower horizontally than where it meets the mast: then the boltrope has shrunken (happens a lot) and either needs to be 'adjusted' or replaced by a sailmaker.
Take a look at the thread "HOW TO PROPERLY RAISE A DACRON MAINSAIL" .... as that thread discusses probably the main cause of folks thinking they need new sails.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=120970
;-)
Years ago I was unhappy with my mainsail. I'm not sure why I was upset from a sail trim standpoint but it was a bit dirty and had some wear at the head and around the cringles. Actually, I was trying to talk myself (more importantly my wife) into a new sail. To seal the deal, I decided to take the sail and my wife to a Long Beach, Ca sail maker for an evaluation. My wife is a Long Beach gal and as my luck would have it went to school with the sail maker. They had "old home week" while I wanted to get on with the new sail purchase. One things leads to another and he takes a look at the sail and tells her he can do a "nip and tuck here and one there and a sail wash" and make that baby like new.
That is exactly what happened and it only cost about $150. I was happy with the sail when I got it back. My suggestion is try my route - have a local sail maker take a look at your sail and give you an evalution. Only one piece of advise - DON'T TAKE YOUR WIFE WITH YOU.
That is exactly what happened and it only cost about $150. I was happy with the sail when I got it back. My suggestion is try my route - have a local sail maker take a look at your sail and give you an evalution. Only one piece of advise - DON'T TAKE YOUR WIFE WITH YOU.
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