I wanted to make you all aware of this email that I wrote to Sail Care. Has anyone else had similiar issues? To Customer Service, Bad News. I have received a call from my Sailmaker in Annapolis. I had my 3 year old sail cleaned by Sailcare two years ago. I have not been able to achieve sail shape since. I though it might be my rigging, so I had my rigging tuned. The rigger suggested sending the sail to get checked. The problem is that I can not trim my headsail. When I sheet in the sail and trim the lower third of the sail. With my genoa track all the way forward, the leach of the upper sail flaps in the breeze. The sailmaker asserts that Sailcare has unquestionably killed the fabric. They have seen it time and time again. I am in need of a new headsail. It is going to cost $1,500 plus. I wanted to let you have a chance to respond before I take a course of action. Please respond within the next five business days.
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R.W.Landau
Sorry,
I have only had good experience with Sail Care. Yes sometimes there is a bolt rope problem that it shrinks, but their process has never affected my sails other than stiffening them and making them white. r.w.landau
I have only had good experience with Sail Care. Yes sometimes there is a bolt rope problem that it shrinks, but their process has never affected my sails other than stiffening them and making them white. r.w.landau
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PA
Interesting...
...I know several people who have not had any problems with Sail Care. So I sent mine over the winter. Just put them on, but have done a shakedown yet. I will keep an eye on this posting.
...I know several people who have not had any problems with Sail Care. So I sent mine over the winter. Just put them on, but have done a shakedown yet. I will keep an eye on this posting.
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Jay Kent
I agree about the Sailcare Solution
as of this past winter, I have had a total of six sails done by them over about a 10 year period (off of different boats, of course). I have had excellent results and five of my friends have had theirs done, too, over the same period of time. Several of them have had one sail done, and then the others. Results are crisp, clean and full of life. The extension of the life of a sail is unbelievable, compared to springing for new sails! Sorry that your sail maker thinks the problem is with Sailcare's methods. Like going to a doctor, I suggest a second opinion!
as of this past winter, I have had a total of six sails done by them over about a 10 year period (off of different boats, of course). I have had excellent results and five of my friends have had theirs done, too, over the same period of time. Several of them have had one sail done, and then the others. Results are crisp, clean and full of life. The extension of the life of a sail is unbelievable, compared to springing for new sails! Sorry that your sail maker thinks the problem is with Sailcare's methods. Like going to a doctor, I suggest a second opinion!
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Paul Akers
Another thing...
When I put my sails on last week, I didn't notice any type of shrinkage on the luffs. My Dutchman control lines were on the mark and my genny halyard was set at the same place.
When I put my sails on last week, I didn't notice any type of shrinkage on the luffs. My Dutchman control lines were on the mark and my genny halyard was set at the same place.
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Gord May
What
exactly does your sailmake claim that the 'Sailcare' treatment has done to the sail? "Killed the fabric ..." isn't vey specific nor descriptive. Thanks, Gord
exactly does your sailmake claim that the 'Sailcare' treatment has done to the sail? "Killed the fabric ..." isn't vey specific nor descriptive. Thanks, Gord
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Paul K
sailcloth
Don't see why you would not expect sailcloth to stretch after using it for one or more seasons, resulting in "flappng in the breeze". If this is caused by Sailcare's "miracle cleaner, why isnt the entire sail shot? One day's outing in a heavy breeze can stretch a sail well beyond the optimum shape. Did you go out late in the season that first year in over 20 knots of breeze? Kevlar and other reinforcement materials can help to slow the stretching process, but even our mylar/kevlar #1 (Tape Drive by UK) has a loose leech problem now- it's over three seasons old, and we've had it out in 30 knots of wind... If your sail is made of dacron (your post doesn't specify), expect more stretch. If your sailmaker can't recut or fix it, it may simply be time for a new sail - perhaps built more strongly for the conditions it's likely to see. We don't like the flapping noise either, but fixing our sail would cut the kevlar tapes and result in ... more stretch! So we live with the flapping, or if we're cruising, with a cupped leech from pulling the leechline tighter.
Don't see why you would not expect sailcloth to stretch after using it for one or more seasons, resulting in "flappng in the breeze". If this is caused by Sailcare's "miracle cleaner, why isnt the entire sail shot? One day's outing in a heavy breeze can stretch a sail well beyond the optimum shape. Did you go out late in the season that first year in over 20 knots of breeze? Kevlar and other reinforcement materials can help to slow the stretching process, but even our mylar/kevlar #1 (Tape Drive by UK) has a loose leech problem now- it's over three seasons old, and we've had it out in 30 knots of wind... If your sail is made of dacron (your post doesn't specify), expect more stretch. If your sailmaker can't recut or fix it, it may simply be time for a new sail - perhaps built more strongly for the conditions it's likely to see. We don't like the flapping noise either, but fixing our sail would cut the kevlar tapes and result in ... more stretch! So we live with the flapping, or if we're cruising, with a cupped leech from pulling the leechline tighter.
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Peter Albright
What 5 days??
Isn't it premature to post your email here before you give Sail Care a chance to respond??? Have you considered calling them, instead of sending an email threatening to "take a corse of action."? Why did you need to have your 1 tear old sail cleaned? Why didn't you call Sail Care when you first noticed the problem? If your Annapolis sailmaker has "seen this time and again.", why haven't any of us heard about this problem? I have had old sails cleaned, and have bought s Strong Track system from Sail Care. Everything has been as promised, and customer service has been great. Based on the opinion of one sail maker, (did he make the sails originally?) you have defamed Sail Care before you have heard their side of the story. Forget the email and threats; call them up, Ask for their help, and then post their response.
Isn't it premature to post your email here before you give Sail Care a chance to respond??? Have you considered calling them, instead of sending an email threatening to "take a corse of action."? Why did you need to have your 1 tear old sail cleaned? Why didn't you call Sail Care when you first noticed the problem? If your Annapolis sailmaker has "seen this time and again.", why haven't any of us heard about this problem? I have had old sails cleaned, and have bought s Strong Track system from Sail Care. Everything has been as promised, and customer service has been great. Based on the opinion of one sail maker, (did he make the sails originally?) you have defamed Sail Care before you have heard their side of the story. Forget the email and threats; call them up, Ask for their help, and then post their response.
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Joe Hanna
Excellent results
Guess I will have to jump into the choir singing the praises of Sailcare. I had a very limp main on the ODay I previously owned, shipped it to Sailcare, and it came back in "like new" condition. I then shipped a jib from my almost new Beneteau to have Sailcare clean the sail, as it lacked a sunguard for the furling unit. Sailcare added the sunguard, cleaned the sail, and I have found it to be in excellent condition. I was a little disappointed in the amount of time it took to get the sail back, but Sailcare apparently ran into a spell of having several key employees out sick while my last order was being processed. Several other owners on my dock have subsequently used Sailcare and are equally happy with the product.
Guess I will have to jump into the choir singing the praises of Sailcare. I had a very limp main on the ODay I previously owned, shipped it to Sailcare, and it came back in "like new" condition. I then shipped a jib from my almost new Beneteau to have Sailcare clean the sail, as it lacked a sunguard for the furling unit. Sailcare added the sunguard, cleaned the sail, and I have found it to be in excellent condition. I was a little disappointed in the amount of time it took to get the sail back, but Sailcare apparently ran into a spell of having several key employees out sick while my last order was being processed. Several other owners on my dock have subsequently used Sailcare and are equally happy with the product.
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Bob
SailCare Satisfaction
I sent them a main and a jib in January, and they went to some extra trouble to get them back to me in time for the first race of a series. Both shape out pretty well for older sails and look terrific. I have noticed no undue leech flutter that won't respond to tightening of the cord. Maybe for racing they aren't optimum, but I didn't expect that, either. The big bucks remained in my wallet for another year or two until I decide whether to spring for a roller set up, so SailCare bought me some time. I intend to send them a grimy old genoa in the near future.
I sent them a main and a jib in January, and they went to some extra trouble to get them back to me in time for the first race of a series. Both shape out pretty well for older sails and look terrific. I have noticed no undue leech flutter that won't respond to tightening of the cord. Maybe for racing they aren't optimum, but I didn't expect that, either. The big bucks remained in my wallet for another year or two until I decide whether to spring for a roller set up, so SailCare bought me some time. I intend to send them a grimy old genoa in the near future.
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Dale I
Hey Mike,...Step in it a little did ya?
WELL,....with that kind of following I'll just have to see what they can do for my old rags... Can't seem to buy that kind of publicity now days....
WELL,....with that kind of following I'll just have to see what they can do for my old rags... Can't seem to buy that kind of publicity now days....
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Harry
They do what they say they will do
I've used SailCare every other year for about ten years without any problems. Their customer service has always been top notch, and the sails come back very clean, looking new and delivered when promised. I've been very happy with them and wouldn't hesitate recommending their process. I think their side deserves to be heard as well.
I've used SailCare every other year for about ten years without any problems. Their customer service has always been top notch, and the sails come back very clean, looking new and delivered when promised. I've been very happy with them and wouldn't hesitate recommending their process. I think their side deserves to be heard as well.
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craig
Whats an avg cost?
We need to send in our 110 head sail off our 34. what is an avg cost for cleaning/refurb? thanks. craig
We need to send in our 110 head sail off our 34. what is an avg cost for cleaning/refurb? thanks. craig
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Mike DiMario
Sail Care Response
Thank you all for your comments. I don't mind it a bit if my assessment is erroneous or incorrect. The posting was meant to be an objective report of what is happening. I am meeting with this sailmaker tomorrow evening to discuss a new sail. I am leaving for Cape Cod on this Friday for 3 weeks and didn't want to wait until I got back. The fact that you have responded the way you did gives me an idea of how I can handle this.. The sail is a Dacron UK 110 Genoa. They came with the boat, H376, in 1998. They are 5 years old, this being the 6th season. I had them cleaned due to all of the positive input about Sailcare. The sail really wasn't that dirty but I sent it on a preventative maintenance theme. Could the sails have blown out due to something that I did? Why is the main okay? It has never been cleaned. Why did I wait until now? I decide to follow up with rig tuning last year that never happened until this year due to some unfortunate circumstances. The reason I didn’t call them was that I was unhappy with the returned date initially. The sail came back minus the clamcleat that is used to tension the leech cord. My own frustration lead me to take care of this myself. The expert says the cloth went limp due to the chemicals. The top 1/3 if the leech is like a stitched out rag. I can not get it resemble sail shape even closely. I obviously need a new sail. Maybe I can have the experts examine the old one to make some sense out of this. I guess I can have the fibers of my uncleaned sail compared with the cleaned sail, kind of pie in the sky. Thanks for your all of your input. Mike D
Thank you all for your comments. I don't mind it a bit if my assessment is erroneous or incorrect. The posting was meant to be an objective report of what is happening. I am meeting with this sailmaker tomorrow evening to discuss a new sail. I am leaving for Cape Cod on this Friday for 3 weeks and didn't want to wait until I got back. The fact that you have responded the way you did gives me an idea of how I can handle this.. The sail is a Dacron UK 110 Genoa. They came with the boat, H376, in 1998. They are 5 years old, this being the 6th season. I had them cleaned due to all of the positive input about Sailcare. The sail really wasn't that dirty but I sent it on a preventative maintenance theme. Could the sails have blown out due to something that I did? Why is the main okay? It has never been cleaned. Why did I wait until now? I decide to follow up with rig tuning last year that never happened until this year due to some unfortunate circumstances. The reason I didn’t call them was that I was unhappy with the returned date initially. The sail came back minus the clamcleat that is used to tension the leech cord. My own frustration lead me to take care of this myself. The expert says the cloth went limp due to the chemicals. The top 1/3 if the leech is like a stitched out rag. I can not get it resemble sail shape even closely. I obviously need a new sail. Maybe I can have the experts examine the old one to make some sense out of this. I guess I can have the fibers of my uncleaned sail compared with the cleaned sail, kind of pie in the sky. Thanks for your all of your input. Mike D
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Paul Akers
Message to Craig
The cost last year was .85/sqft. Go to their web site for the details that you need. See related link.
The cost last year was .85/sqft. Go to their web site for the details that you need. See related link.
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cole
My sail care experience
I used SC for an old genny a few years ago. They did a great job replacing the sun stripe and cleaning my North deck sweeper. This year i sent my main to them and they returned it saying it couldnt be done. I didnt think it was in worse shape than the genoa. But they refused it. The sail had already been to SC 5 years ago, and I wonder if the process can only be done once? I will use SC again as I need to. They do beautiful work IMHO. Mike, Still at the FRB? cole
I used SC for an old genny a few years ago. They did a great job replacing the sun stripe and cleaning my North deck sweeper. This year i sent my main to them and they returned it saying it couldnt be done. I didnt think it was in worse shape than the genoa. But they refused it. The sail had already been to SC 5 years ago, and I wonder if the process can only be done once? I will use SC again as I need to. They do beautiful work IMHO. Mike, Still at the FRB? cole
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Doug Rodrigues
Good for the money.
The bottom of my jib sail still has a stain from rubbing on the bow pulpit but is otherwise clean. The mainsail looks brand new, if one can overlook the small reenforcement patches that Sail Care didn't even charge me for. I have no complaints.
The bottom of my jib sail still has a stain from rubbing on the bow pulpit but is otherwise clean. The mainsail looks brand new, if one can overlook the small reenforcement patches that Sail Care didn't even charge me for. I have no complaints.
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