Sail Care....

[rpell1@msn.com]

Hi,

It's getting to be that time here in the Northeast. It's getting a bit too cold for these old bones and even my hands are starting to "winterize" and I'm starting the Aleve regimen.

Since I'm hauling out this year, I thought it would be a good time to send out my sails for repair and cleaning. Problem is, I don't know of a good, reputable and reliable sail service company to do the work.

Has anyone had any good experiences with satisfactory sail repair and cleaning work at a reasonable price and shipping?

Thanks to all....

 

[Fred Villiard]

Sailcare.com

 

[noanker]

Sailcare is excellent

 

[noanker]

Sailcare is close by too. they are in Pa

 

[Rich Stidger]

I used Sailcare last year for the first time. My sails came back very clean, but I had expected the re-resining process to leave the sails stiffer like when they were new. The sails were about the same softness as when I sent them in.

But my real surprise was when I inserted my full length battens and found that the sail had shrunk a small amount- enough that my longer battens stuck out 1/2-1". These ends tend to catch on my reefing lines and topping lift line.

Additionally, my headsail was nearly impossible to hoist into the luff of the roller furling. I had all I could do to winch the sail all the way to the top. I concluded that the Sailcare process had caused the luff bead to swell or maybe not slide easily in the luff slot from the coatings. Anyway it was a real struggle. And I worried all summer if I was going to be able to get the sail out of the roller furling for winter storage. It turned out that the sail came out easy-just like normal.

Sailcare told me that they had not seen this problem with a head sail and they wanted me to return the sail to them for examination. I told them that I could return it at the end of the season- I was conserned about being able to remove the sail and I didn't want to impact my season with a sail I couldn't use. At this point I don't think I will return the sail since it came off easily and I expect that it will go on next year without the problem that I had this year.

 

[Apex]

Rich, I had the same surprise on stiffness. I haven't installed the sails though. They did a LOT of sewing, and the sails look great.

 

[wflowe2]

I've used them twice with very good results