I was thinking about sending my sails off to Sailcare for cleaning but have been told by a couple of people that the process they use distorts the shape of the sails ...has anyone had any experience with Sail Cars and their cleaning process? Are you pleased od displeased with the service. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Jerry
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My Experience
I think the process they use is very good and may add some years to the life of a sail in reasonable condition. It will not cure baggy sails etc. but will give you a false sense of a new sail. Clean, stiff etc. Dependant on the age and condition of the sail you should probably do a cost analysis against the price of a new sail and how long you are going to keep the boat. ALso, how often and what you use the boat for should be factored in. If it is a 15 year old sail, you will get back a 15 year old sail that looks and feels good but still baggy etc. I don't think the process effects the shape one way or another.
I think the process they use is very good and may add some years to the life of a sail in reasonable condition. It will not cure baggy sails etc. but will give you a false sense of a new sail. Clean, stiff etc. Dependant on the age and condition of the sail you should probably do a cost analysis against the price of a new sail and how long you are going to keep the boat. ALso, how often and what you use the boat for should be factored in. If it is a 15 year old sail, you will get back a 15 year old sail that looks and feels good but still baggy etc. I don't think the process effects the shape one way or another.
Sail Care
Jerry I'm in the process of sending mine in. It's 19 years old, but in reasonable "shape" and needs to be cleaned and "buffed up." Their website is very good, and I've heard good things from dock mates here to folks back east. Given the cost, it's certainly worth a try, since their 'site has a new vs. cleaning comparison right there. Stu PS I'd guess an archive search on Sail Care would turn up some gems.
Jerry I'm in the process of sending mine in. It's 19 years old, but in reasonable "shape" and needs to be cleaned and "buffed up." Their website is very good, and I've heard good things from dock mates here to folks back east. Given the cost, it's certainly worth a try, since their 'site has a new vs. cleaning comparison right there. Stu PS I'd guess an archive search on Sail Care would turn up some gems.
This happened to me.
I sent my 1988 sails to Sailcare 2 years ago. They never told me that they were bagged out when they insprcted them. They did offer to do repairs. The work was great and the repairs were fine, but they never advised me about the bagginess. The other thing is that, like many of us, I was impressed with the results and the look of the "new" sails. My sails, in fact, were tired and the material was weak. The Sailcare process will not strengthen them. They will remain weak. This summer I blew out my mainsail. The sail ripped across a reef at boom level for 10'. When I had it repaired, the sailmaker enlightened me to the "impression" that I had assumed from the "new" sails. As soon as he touch my sail he said that they were "tired" and in need of replacement. I am in the process of having a new mainsail made, right now. Just make sure that they are worth keeping before making the investment. Moral of the story: If your sail material was weak when you sent them in, it will still be weak when you get them back. If your sails were "bagged out" when you sent them in, they will still be "bagged out" when you get them back.
I sent my 1988 sails to Sailcare 2 years ago. They never told me that they were bagged out when they insprcted them. They did offer to do repairs. The work was great and the repairs were fine, but they never advised me about the bagginess. The other thing is that, like many of us, I was impressed with the results and the look of the "new" sails. My sails, in fact, were tired and the material was weak. The Sailcare process will not strengthen them. They will remain weak. This summer I blew out my mainsail. The sail ripped across a reef at boom level for 10'. When I had it repaired, the sailmaker enlightened me to the "impression" that I had assumed from the "new" sails. As soon as he touch my sail he said that they were "tired" and in need of replacement. I am in the process of having a new mainsail made, right now. Just make sure that they are worth keeping before making the investment. Moral of the story: If your sail material was weak when you sent them in, it will still be weak when you get them back. If your sails were "bagged out" when you sent them in, they will still be "bagged out" when you get them back.
Sailbright
I just spread the sails out in the back yard and clean them with Sailbright. Gets the bird crap and what all off real well. The results are wonderful! The sails on my Pearson 26 are 10 years old and in good shape. To send them off to be cleaned by someone else and spend more than $20.00?? No thanks.
I just spread the sails out in the back yard and clean them with Sailbright. Gets the bird crap and what all off real well. The results are wonderful! The sails on my Pearson 26 are 10 years old and in good shape. To send them off to be cleaned by someone else and spend more than $20.00?? No thanks.
C'mon, Paul
"They never told me that they were bagged out when they insprcted them." You're kidding, right? That wasn't their job, it was & is yours. All they do is repair, your job to understand the shape. And I haven't even sent mine in yet. Stu
"They never told me that they were bagged out when they insprcted them." You're kidding, right? That wasn't their job, it was & is yours. All they do is repair, your job to understand the shape. And I haven't even sent mine in yet. Stu
They don't seem to
respond to their e-mail which always makes me wonder........Why put it on the site. Glad to hear they are reputable. I might try to phone them now. Later
respond to their e-mail which always makes me wonder........Why put it on the site. Glad to hear they are reputable. I might try to phone them now. Later
Sailbright? Where can I find it
Where can I find it? West Marine doesn't seem to carry it... Thanks.
Where can I find it? West Marine doesn't seem to carry it... Thanks.
They finally did
Gotta say 10 days later got an e-mail ........said they had a virus so I retract my earlier statement.
Gotta say 10 days later got an e-mail ........said they had a virus so I retract my earlier statement.
Sailcare Experience
You need to understand what SailCare's process is: first they essentially dry clean the sail, which removes the old resin and anything else such as glued-on numbers, insignia, etc. Then they replace the resin, which makes the sail stiff and crinkly like a new sail. They can inspect the sail for wear and stitching problems, but it is very difficult for them to tell if the sail shapes well - that is your job. A year ago I had them do a main and a jib for me - the sails came back looking beautiful and are decent cruising sails, but have seen too much use to be effective for racing. SailCare told me 10 weeks (busy winter season) and they lived up to that schedule. Later I sent them a genoa for an estimate - they sent me the estimate, at which time I decided not to have the sail done, as it was not really worth putting that much into a sail I couldn't use on my boat (I intended to sell it.) I let some time pass before informing SailCare I had decided not to have the sail done. They told me that because it worked into their schedule they had already cleaned and treated the sail, but would not charge me since I had not OKed the deal. That indicated a real interest in customer satisfaction to me. Of course I went ahead and paid them for the work, as the mix-up was my fault. In short, if you have a good sail that is grimey, SailCare is a good way to get it looking good. If you have a blown out sail, have a sailmaker check to see if it can be recut before putting big cleaning bucks into it.
You need to understand what SailCare's process is: first they essentially dry clean the sail, which removes the old resin and anything else such as glued-on numbers, insignia, etc. Then they replace the resin, which makes the sail stiff and crinkly like a new sail. They can inspect the sail for wear and stitching problems, but it is very difficult for them to tell if the sail shapes well - that is your job. A year ago I had them do a main and a jib for me - the sails came back looking beautiful and are decent cruising sails, but have seen too much use to be effective for racing. SailCare told me 10 weeks (busy winter season) and they lived up to that schedule. Later I sent them a genoa for an estimate - they sent me the estimate, at which time I decided not to have the sail done, as it was not really worth putting that much into a sail I couldn't use on my boat (I intended to sell it.) I let some time pass before informing SailCare I had decided not to have the sail done. They told me that because it worked into their schedule they had already cleaned and treated the sail, but would not charge me since I had not OKed the deal. That indicated a real interest in customer satisfaction to me. Of course I went ahead and paid them for the work, as the mix-up was my fault. In short, if you have a good sail that is grimey, SailCare is a good way to get it looking good. If you have a blown out sail, have a sailmaker check to see if it can be recut before putting big cleaning bucks into it.
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