Can anyone suggest either a method of repair and/or a sail repair kit for a small tear on my tack section of my mailsail (front boom corner)? I believe this is quite repairable and since I moored for the season, I don't want to stop sailing nor do I want to purchase a new mail yet. Suggestions appreciated, thank you.;
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Take it to a sailmaker
There is a lot of force exerted on the tack of the sail. Not knowing much about the tear, the best advice is to take the sail to a sailmaker for repair. The last thing you need is for the tack to rip out due to an inadequate repair resulting in loss of the sail (and other potential consequential damage). The next time you leave the boat, take the main with you and drop it off at your friendly, local, neighborhood sail maker. Unless the rip is very bad structurally, you should get the sail back in time for your next weeks sail for a very reasonable price. I had a 20 year old sail on my previous Cal 27 that ripped out along the reef points. The local sail maker (currently a Doyle / Boston loft) cut out the damaged portion of the sail, sewed in a new bit of cloth, reinforced the reef points, and I was back in business for the next week of sailing. It's important to get the tack properly reinforced. Steve Alchemist C-320
There is a lot of force exerted on the tack of the sail. Not knowing much about the tear, the best advice is to take the sail to a sailmaker for repair. The last thing you need is for the tack to rip out due to an inadequate repair resulting in loss of the sail (and other potential consequential damage). The next time you leave the boat, take the main with you and drop it off at your friendly, local, neighborhood sail maker. Unless the rip is very bad structurally, you should get the sail back in time for your next weeks sail for a very reasonable price. I had a 20 year old sail on my previous Cal 27 that ripped out along the reef points. The local sail maker (currently a Doyle / Boston loft) cut out the damaged portion of the sail, sewed in a new bit of cloth, reinforced the reef points, and I was back in business for the next week of sailing. It's important to get the tack properly reinforced. Steve Alchemist C-320
Got a picture ?
I assume you have a woven DACRON fabric sail. The tack section of a mainsail needs to be quite robust for the stress that can be applied. Small repairs can be affected by laminating with sailcloth and glueing with FLEXIBLE 3M 5200 (sailmakers grade of 5200). Alternately, you can 'laminate' with non-tubular white nylon webing and flexible 5200. Another alternative (if you have access to a sailmakers twine and a smalll brass ring) is to sew a ring to the sail and 'interlace' the twine through the original grommet and the new ring. A tear between the tack grommet and the 'boltrope' is not usually significant; but, a tear not on the same side as the 'edge' (boltrope) can be a real weak point and can possibly propagate into a real 'ripper'. If you can post a digital picture of the tear, It will help. Also - sail size and weight of material, etc. You can obtain FLEXIBLE 5200 from www.sailrite.com, etc.
I assume you have a woven DACRON fabric sail. The tack section of a mainsail needs to be quite robust for the stress that can be applied. Small repairs can be affected by laminating with sailcloth and glueing with FLEXIBLE 3M 5200 (sailmakers grade of 5200). Alternately, you can 'laminate' with non-tubular white nylon webing and flexible 5200. Another alternative (if you have access to a sailmakers twine and a smalll brass ring) is to sew a ring to the sail and 'interlace' the twine through the original grommet and the new ring. A tear between the tack grommet and the 'boltrope' is not usually significant; but, a tear not on the same side as the 'edge' (boltrope) can be a real weak point and can possibly propagate into a real 'ripper'. If you can post a digital picture of the tear, It will help. Also - sail size and weight of material, etc. You can obtain FLEXIBLE 5200 from www.sailrite.com, etc.
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