New Sails?

[Fly4hire]

I'm curious how long one can normally expect to get as useful life out of OEM sails? I realize there are a lot of variables, however does there reach a point where a combination of age and use make further rehab good money after bad?

My 356 is a 2002 with original sails (~2500 hours freshwater use) that I don't beleive have ever been re-cut or otherwise maintained. I have read reviews of www.sailcare.com and they seem mixed. I'd prefer not to spend the $$ if not needed, but have a very good quote on OEM replacement sails from UK-Halesy.

I guess the bottom line is how long could I reasonably expect to get out of old sails with pro-active repair and restoration?

 

[tommays]

As mostly racers we have race sails and everyday sails both of which are always repaired as required BEFORE it becomes a big issue

We have many sails in the 20 year old range that are fine for everyday sailing that being said not all OEM sails were all that well made but I would be suprised if 2002 sails we in need of more than some TLC

 

[Stu Jackson]

Those variables are very important in answering your question. Someone I knew had 25 year old (not OEM but better local loft) sails on his boat, did some racing successfully when they were almost 20 years old and still uses them, but he agrees they are way blown out. Now he's cruising and doesn't care. So lots depends on how you use your boat. New sails make any boat sail a lot better.

 

[higgs]

I would think that 10 years at 250 hours a year is about it. If performance is not important, go longer. The big issue for non racers is that as those sails stretch out, they cause you to heel more. Since it happens slowly, you won't notice it from year to year and eventually your boat sails like crap, but you don't notice until you sail someone else's boat - or someone else sails your boat.

 

[Fly4hire]

Are you saying they might be blown out at this age/use? If not blown out they can be reshaped, no?

 

[s sauer]

Are you saying they might be blown out at this age/use? If not blown out they can be reshaped, no?

Why not take them to a local sail maker every couple years for inspection, any necessary repairs and evaluation? I've had a mylar 155% Genoa last 15 years till it was literally delaminating but still winning races. My OEM 110 jib is still in great shape but we hardly ever use it. The 140 Genoa is a dacron / mylar laminate and holds its shape well but all sails are folded and rolled and put away after every use. The main was replaced after 17 years, so the 'new' one is 8 years old. Sail shape is relatively easy to evaluate if you have draft stripes. Too much leach flutter and over tightening the leach cord may be an indicator that your main needs work. If you can't flatten it out for higher wind speeds it probably needs to be re-cut.

 

[John Nantz]

It depends....

It will depend on several things.

It'll depend on how hard you press onward with an overpowered main (or jib). If you sail San Francisco Bay in the afternoon with a full main all the time it won't take long before it, and the jib, becomes blown out. Mainly, it's how hard the sail is worked. The OEM sails are made with a "competitive" sail cloth and a fabric weight that will "work"... for a while.

When I got new sails I discussed the cloth weight with the sailmaker (North) and since it wouldn't cost that much to go to the next heavier weight, after weighing the pros and cons (weight aloft), I opted to go one up and it has been a very good decision. Just a couple hundred bucks more and it has held up for about 15 years very, very well.

The heavier weight cloth did make it a little harder to hoist toward the end and perhaps slightly more work to flake. Oh yes, no in-mast furling. Went with full-batten main.

Another issue is the shrinking bolt rope. They do shrink and this will affect draft and shape. Even if one doesn't over-stress the sails this shrinkage will have an affect on shape.

Leach adjustment - if the leach has been left to flutter it will destroy the fabric in that area.

 

[John23883]

Get an expert to look at them

I have a 1995 H26 that I bought in 2005. That winter I sent them to Doyle in Chicago (the original maker) and asked them to clean and repair the sails. I talked to them on the phone after they received them and told them that if they felt they were worn out I would puchase a new set from them and place the order that day. They said they would look them over and let me know. They called and the gentleman asked me if I was going to do any serious racing. No. He said, we'll clean them and do some small repairs and they'll be fine. No need to buy new. I sent my jib in last winter for new sunbrella and told them the same thing. They put the sunbrella on it and said it was fine. I trust them. One of these days they'll tell me I need new sails and I'll believe them.

 

[Juice6576]

Re: Get an expert to look at them

It depends on a lot of things, how well you clean them, do you keep them under the sail cover when not used, how long your season is and how often you reef. On average, they say 12-15 years for the way we sailed our 1996 H26 on Lake Michigan. After 13 years there were spots where the fabric was getting thin, some of the holes for the stitching was starting to stretch and a few threads were starting to break, so I went out and bought a new set from JSI. The difference was amazing! Heeling was reduced, the boat pointed up wind better and carried more speed. One of the things that happens over time is stretch, especially frrom reefing, so although still servicable, there is a loss of performance over time. I was really happy with the sails from JSI, I used a slightly heavier,durable cruising cloth, added a second reeef point and hull numbers. The Jib was cut a little lower and the batten pockets on the main sail were a much improved design compared to the OEM sails.