Sail Repair Question

[Ducati]

My hi-tech mylar laminate sails (Quantum) are starting to show their age.

There are a few holes + rips and I would like to fix them before they become big holes.

Question? What should I use to repair them?

Thanks

 

[Big Windy]

Find a local sail maker and let him/her do it. I tried making some sail repairs, they never held up. Ended up taking the sail to the pro...his repairs are still fine several years later.

 

[rardiH36]

.... Or if you do want to try the DIY route, you can buy mlyar/kevlar repair tape at this url:

http://www.sailrite.com/Kevlar-Mylar-Repair-Tape-3-Wide-9-75-Long

The people at Sailrite can probably give you tips on its suitability for your type of damage. I don't know about mylar/kevlar repairs, but for normal Dacron sail material, sail repair tape is generally recommended for temporary repairs only (although it does seem to hang in there pretty well.) Sewing in real sail cloth is the permanent route.

 

[Joe]

I'd call Quantum first... see what they suggest.

 

[Ted]

Most laminate sail panels are assembled using adhesive specifically designed for this purpose. The adhesive is stronger than the materials it is bonding. I good sail maker will be able to make repairs by replacing the damaged panel so that you will never notice that a repair has been made. A DIY repair will probably be a temporary repair and if it fails will likely cause more damage to the rest of the sail. Get a pro to do the repairs.

 

[livelydc]

There is a DIY repair that is my design that you can use on any fabric sail.
It's simple, inexpensive, flexible and will stand 30+ knots wind regardless of the repair location on the sail.
Lay out the repaired area on a flat surface and if it's a rip place the ripped pieces close together.
Take drywall repair tape (a fiberglas mesh tape) cut the needed length to cover the rip
and apply over the rip or hole. Then squeeze a line of GOOP down the length of the mesh and spread it out to the edges with a plastic spreader.
Apply clear packing tape, (MYLAR TAPE) over the mesh and roll out any bubbles.
Let stand overnight and use the next day. You may use it almost immediately if needed however the goop sets completely in 24 hours.
Repeat the same proceedure on the other side of the sail. You won't be disappointed.
Any questions you can email me at livelydc@gmail.com.
Dave Lively

 

[larryw]

If you had a Ferarri, would you be willing to take on a crumpled fender or a ripped seat? If you would, do your own repair on a Mylar sail. JMTC

 

[COOL]

Like with everything, the answer is 'it depends'.
It depends how large the 'holes and rips' are,
and where they are in the sail. Laminate sails generally
break down first on the leech and foot where they drag
across the rig and deck while tacking. Cracking in the mylar film
along horizontal fold lines is also common.
Small tears in the foot are often of little consequence, while tears
in the leech, especially near the clew reinforcement may be more
problematic. Usually, the smaller holes will be only in the mylar film
and can be patched with a heavy mylar 'packing tape',
such as the product marketed as 'Sail Bandage'.
If the rips are through the fibers of the laminate
on the leech, a sewn repair may be required.

 

[Absolutely]

First I would have the person who does the survey to learn how to spell "Sail."

 

[rardiH36]

Going back to Ducati's original post, his question is what repair product should he use --not whether to DIY repair or get a professional to do it.

Along the lines of Cool's "it depends" observation, maybe Ducati can post again with more information about his situation and goals for his sails. It seems to me that:

- If the mylar sails are long in the tooth (Ducati said "starting to show their age") and they're cracked/worn all over/all around (not just in one/two panels) and he's not planning to rely on them for demanding duty such as open ocean distance sailing, then maybe the goal is only to keep them going for just a few more seasons without expectation that they will win races for him. This might well be Ducati's situation. If so, the most cost effective way probably is to get the proper repair tape/glues, etc, learn how to do it, and patch them up. Maybe Ducati is looking for a boat project. If a DIY result isn't great, oh well, new sails are needed anyway. The one time that I looked at and contemplated buying a pre-owned mylar type sail, I noted how fragile this fabric seems to be (compared to a more conventional Dacron sail) at areas subject day-to-day wear-and-tear such as creasing and flogging. For this reason, my dock neighbor who has a high-tech mainsail for racing his J-105, has his crew carefully roll it around a tube held parallel to the boom after each race as it is carefully removed off the mast. The sail is not flaked. Then the whole roll, keeping it straight without folding or creasing, is carefully stowed away.

- However, if Ducati'ssails are showing wear in just a few places, but the rest of the areas are in good shape with lots of life left, then spending the money to have a professional do the repair is probably well worth it; rather than risk a poor result from a DIY attempt.

 

[tommays]

At between 5K and 7K per sail DIY would be my last resort and a bad one at that



J105 class mains are still dacron

 

[rardiH36]

J105 class mains are still dacron

tommays:

Correction noted. Yes, could be mistaken about the fabric type. Thinking back (upon your challenge), the one time I saw the roll up method I really didn't particulary note the sail material. In my memory, I just assumed it was to protect a hi-tech sail from damaging creasing.

 

[PaulK]

Not easy

My hi-tech mylar laminate sails (Quantum) are starting to show their age.

There are a few holes + rips and I would like to fix them before they become big holes.

Question? What should I use to repair them?

Thanks

Repairing mylar laminated mylar sails is tricky. The original materials have gotten fatigued from being used. This is normal. If you repair the rips and tears with new materials, it is very easy to create "strong" places where the repair is, and overstress the older materials nearby. This will cause new rips and holes at the edges between the new and old materials. It's a bit like filling a hole in an asphalt road with a concrete patch. It will work for a while, but after a few trucks go by, you're going to have another hole right around the harder concrete. The best solution is to use the same material as the original, so as to maintain the same characteristics throughout. Finding the "same" materials in your case would mean looking for used mylar, and carefully spreading the repairs out in such a way that they load the areas around them evenly. With the sail continuing to deteriorate in other places as you continue to use it, it may simply be time for a new sail. We tried to wring another season out of a kevlar/mylar laminate and ended up running out of rip-stop, and then duct tape, in the middle of a windward leg.

 

[Winkfish]

Re: Not easy

Depending on where the damage is, you could consider making that sail into a smaller one, as a spare or a storm jib, then get a new sail of the size you're replacing.

 

[AnthonyB]

Try some duct-tape

Around here we call it Mexican welding...

 

[Jeff Shaw]

There is a clear sail repair tape that you can get from some boat stores. It is a heavy soft mylar that has a strong adhesive. A small roll runs around $15 and the roll is about 3 inches wide. This stuff is better than going to a sailmaker, I know I am a sailmaker. The problem with mylar is once it starts to go it is only a matter of time befor its gone. Dacron gets a little tired but it lasts forever. This tape works great on mylar and colored sails where it is hard to match the colors.