As some of you may know, i'm hopefully about to buy my first sailboat! I was wondering if someone could please explain how i can tell if the sails are ok before i put an offer in on the boat? Thanks in advance, kevan
is there an easy way to tell if the sails are good?
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R
Richard Bryer
Put them up
Take the boat for a sail. Put all the sail up and take a look at them. We are having some nice weather these days- good for a sea trial.
This is not rocket science, Kevin. Get in and do it
Take the boat for a sail. Put all the sail up and take a look at them. We are having some nice weather these days- good for a sea trial.
This is not rocket science, Kevin. Get in and do it
P
porsche
crisp
New sails are real crisp to the touch and sound maybe feel hard, ratty sails will feel like your bed sheets, soft and floppy. Any one agree ? or disagree? Alan
New sails are real crisp to the touch and sound maybe feel hard, ratty sails will feel like your bed sheets, soft and floppy. Any one agree ? or disagree? Alan
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marc
Use your fingernail
and pick at the thraed, if it breaks EZ, the sail may be ready for resewing.
Marc
and pick at the thraed, if it breaks EZ, the sail may be ready for resewing.
Marc
R
Ross
A local dealer in used sails
uses a sail sewing needle. Just push it through the cloth and listen for threads breaking. There should not be any. Then try to pull it side ways it should hold with no broken threads.
uses a sail sewing needle. Just push it through the cloth and listen for threads breaking. There should not be any. Then try to pull it side ways it should hold with no broken threads.
B
bffatcat
Sails???
First look at them. 2nd Ask the owner how old they are. If the owner says he dosent know be suspicious. Are they crisp? Good: Are they limp? Not good: Next take or a trial sail. Sheet the main sail in. If its got a big belly in it thats bad. If it has lots of wrinkles and poor shape in general, a fluttering leach thats bad. If the mail lays even no wrinkles, no belly, no fluttering leach, no ripped batten pockets thats good. Now the Jib. This is a little harder. Sheet it in any bubbles or bulges? Any fluttering on the leach or foot. If the answer to these questions is yes this is not good. Finally if possible have someone take a picture. of the boat under sail. One picture is worth a thousand words
First look at them. 2nd Ask the owner how old they are. If the owner says he dosent know be suspicious. Are they crisp? Good: Are they limp? Not good: Next take or a trial sail. Sheet the main sail in. If its got a big belly in it thats bad. If it has lots of wrinkles and poor shape in general, a fluttering leach thats bad. If the mail lays even no wrinkles, no belly, no fluttering leach, no ripped batten pockets thats good. Now the Jib. This is a little harder. Sheet it in any bubbles or bulges? Any fluttering on the leach or foot. If the answer to these questions is yes this is not good. Finally if possible have someone take a picture. of the boat under sail. One picture is worth a thousand words
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Warren Milberg
If the sails look and feel
as soft as an old flannel shirt, they are probably at or near the end of their useful life. While the needle test that Ross suggests is used by a number of used sail brokers, you'll need a seller's permission prior to poking a hole in his sails before you buy his boat. Sails, like tires on a car, are a "wear out" item and that eventually you'll need to replace them. When I bought my boat in 2003, I knew the sails were OEM and pretty much shot. I added up what a new set of sails would cost, divided by two, and subtracted that from the asking price of the boat....If the boat is in otherwise good condition, don't let the condition of the sails influence your decision to buy.
as soft as an old flannel shirt, they are probably at or near the end of their useful life. While the needle test that Ross suggests is used by a number of used sail brokers, you'll need a seller's permission prior to poking a hole in his sails before you buy his boat. Sails, like tires on a car, are a "wear out" item and that eventually you'll need to replace them. When I bought my boat in 2003, I knew the sails were OEM and pretty much shot. I added up what a new set of sails would cost, divided by two, and subtracted that from the asking price of the boat....If the boat is in otherwise good condition, don't let the condition of the sails influence your decision to buy.
i think the sails are shot...
becausse the broker said that they are in fair condition so ill offer 2k-2.5k less than the asking price-kevan
becausse the broker said that they are in fair condition so ill offer 2k-2.5k less than the asking price-kevan
D
Deadline
Blown out?
You might want to have a sailing friend look (while sailing) to see if the sails are blown out in the belly. This is a subtle thing.
If so, and if the cloth is good, you can have them nicked and tucked like a facelift, but don't mention it to your wife or she'll want one too.
You might want to have a sailing friend look (while sailing) to see if the sails are blown out in the belly. This is a subtle thing.
If so, and if the cloth is good, you can have them nicked and tucked like a facelift, but don't mention it to your wife or she'll want one too.
T
tommays
Sails
FWIW i bought my current J24 over others because the value of the sail inventory was so much better
My local North service loft PUT reef points in each main and gave them the once over for 200 dollars each ,which stopd all the minor things from turing into BIG problems , it is well worth having them gone over as my main sails have a 1600 dollar replacement cost each
If the Cloth and Stiching is in good visual shape they should be OK
The big issue will be if UV has damaged the Dacron cloth to the point of tearing easy it is DEAD
I have and over 10 year old Mylar 150 with more hair from chafeing than Big Foot that is still my everyday sail
Tommays
FWIW i bought my current J24 over others because the value of the sail inventory was so much better
My local North service loft PUT reef points in each main and gave them the once over for 200 dollars each ,which stopd all the minor things from turing into BIG problems , it is well worth having them gone over as my main sails have a 1600 dollar replacement cost each
If the Cloth and Stiching is in good visual shape they should be OK
The big issue will be if UV has damaged the Dacron cloth to the point of tearing easy it is DEAD
I have and over 10 year old Mylar 150 with more hair from chafeing than Big Foot that is still my everyday sail
Tommays
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