I just raised my sails for the first time. They came with the boat and I was told they were brand new. They feel, look, & sound brand new. except 1 batten pocket has a hole in the end that isnt supposed to have a hole. it's about an inch big. and the batten is pointy at that end, thats why it tore a hole. I dont think its supposed to be pointy is it? the point looks kinda irregular. I know nothing about sail repair. although it looks like it would be in a difficult spot to repair. its right at the end of the pocket, right before the stitch. wish it had just popped the stitch instead. any ideas for a diy'er? or should i get somebody to fix it?
new sail has a small tear in batten pocket
- Thread starter luvitt
- Start date
- Status
You can hand sew a patch on the pocket, but if you have a local sailmaker, they can fix it for a very low cost. while the sail is at the shop, get them to look it over and call you with recommendations and cost estimates. Replace the pointy, broken batten. For a very temporary repair, sail repair tape would get you by.
Batten pocket holes near the 'ends' definitely need correct and 'strength' repairs. Can be done DIY but best left to a sailmaker with the proper sewing machine.
A temporary repair: Take a piece of polyethylene cut from a gallon plastic milk bottle, cut it so that the plastic when folded covers the ends of the batten and extend back about 3/4"-1" .... apply/tape to the batten end to hold the polyethylene in place on the batten end. This will provide a cushion and will protect the sharp end of the batten from causing further damage .... but the temporary 'protector' should be larger than the tear.
What caused this ... probably the batten was inserted without a plastic batten "end cap protector" and the sharp edge of the batten quickly abraded its way through the fabric.
An example of a batten end cap protector: http://www.sailrite.com/Batten-End-Caps-1-5-16
:-D
A temporary repair: Take a piece of polyethylene cut from a gallon plastic milk bottle, cut it so that the plastic when folded covers the ends of the batten and extend back about 3/4"-1" .... apply/tape to the batten end to hold the polyethylene in place on the batten end. This will provide a cushion and will protect the sharp end of the batten from causing further damage .... but the temporary 'protector' should be larger than the tear.
What caused this ... probably the batten was inserted without a plastic batten "end cap protector" and the sharp edge of the batten quickly abraded its way through the fabric.
An example of a batten end cap protector: http://www.sailrite.com/Batten-End-Caps-1-5-16
:-D
Get a sailmakers needle and some waxed marline and sew it up. You said you can barely see it . So its no problem if it dosent look perfect. As long as its repaired solidly. Also you mentioned the batten is pointy at the end. Dosent sound right to me. Either file the end of the batten until its smooth and rounded or get a new batten
A small tear can create a big problem
I am not sure we have any way of knowing how new your boat is, however if you have inmast furling, I would suggest you have a look at this promptly.
If the sail is new and not home made, I would take the sail back down and request nicely that the sail maker fix it at no charge, that is, if you know who the sail maker is. Why should you have to fix someone's poor workmanship.
Those of us who have inmast furling can certainly atest to the fact that a small tear, can lead to disasters long term! With inmast furling the tear will grow with time from the sliding of the sail in and out of the mast to the point it will start getting stuck where you will find yourself out at the mast, hand taking down the sail.
I am not sure we have any way of knowing how new your boat is, however if you have inmast furling, I would suggest you have a look at this promptly.
If the sail is new and not home made, I would take the sail back down and request nicely that the sail maker fix it at no charge, that is, if you know who the sail maker is. Why should you have to fix someone's poor workmanship.
Those of us who have inmast furling can certainly atest to the fact that a small tear, can lead to disasters long term! With inmast furling the tear will grow with time from the sliding of the sail in and out of the mast to the point it will start getting stuck where you will find yourself out at the mast, hand taking down the sail.
The sails were new from Doyle. They have been stored away for about 15 months, but they still look new. luckily, the tear went throught the pocket, not throught the sail. I do not have inmast furling. Its a 86 hunter legend 40'. I know the exact sailmaker but he is about 6 hours north of me in Oriental, NC. I dont have a receipt or anything, so he would probably laugh at me anyway. besides, he built the sails almost 2 years ago, even though they have only been flown once (according to seller). Guess i will just find a local to fix it.
thanks
- Status