Taking sails off

Winkfish · Oct 21, 2013

I'm not a winter sailor (our winters are pretty mild), but do you have to take the sails off, or can you just wrap them and leave them up?

Fred Villiard · Oct 21, 2013

There is a current thread on winter sail care on Don Guilette's Sail Trim forum.

Fred Villiard

nola2172 · Oct 21, 2013

We just took the sails off of our boat a few weeks ago. Not that hard (hopefully) to do. For the main, just lower it down, detach the tack (the right-angle corner of the sail near the mast) from the mast, detach the head from the main halyard (make sure to connect the halyard to something on the deck so you don't lose it up the mast) and remove the plate or whatever it is that keeps the sail in the track on the mast. Remove the sail from the track. After you are done with that, if the foot of the sail is not attached to the boom with a bead in the sail, you can just disconnect the outhaul and you are done. If the foot is attached to the boom, you disconnect the outhaul and just pull the sail toward the mast until it comes out. It is a lot easier to fold the sail where you have some space, so just keep it in a ball for a bit until you can get it to space. For your size boat, the sail should not be that heavy.

To take off the jib, the process is somewhat similar. First, unfurl it all the way (best to do this in very light air if possible) and disconnect the connection to the tack (lower corner near the bow). Next, lower it on the halyard and collect it as it comes down. Depending on how stuck it is, you might have to pull the sail down. There should be an opening at the bottom of the track - as the sail comes down, just pull the bead out of this opening until you have the entire sail. Disconnect the jib halyard and attach it to something on the deck. Disconnect off the jib sheet(s). Folding is more or less the same as with the main.

kappykaplan · Oct 21, 2013

Best to keep the jib sheets attached as you lower the jib. Once the sail is on deck, then take the jib sheets off.

nola2172 · Oct 21, 2013

Thanks for the catch on the jib sheets - put that in the wrong spot, now it is fixed.

kappykaplan · Oct 21, 2013

Don't disconnnect the tack of the sail until it's on deck.

gpd955 · Oct 21, 2013

Winkfish said:
I'm not a winter sailor (our winters are pretty mild), but do you have to take the sails off, or can you just wrap them and leave them up?

Personally, I recommend they come down and, especially if he just bought the boat, get them to a sailmaker for inspection. I take mine every season and have him look them over. It's a good way to catch any issues before they happen. Taking them off also gives you a chance to inspect halyards, sheets and other rigging a little closer. With the jib on a roller furler, the only time you see the hardware on the jib halyard is when the thing comes down.

If it is going to be stored outdoors on stands, removing the sails also makes the boat a little more stable. I also remove my boom for the same purpose.

If it's the first time you'll be doing this, take your time and remember each step. I also take each piece of hardware that I remove and put them in their own Ziploc bag with a label so I know exactly where it belongs come spring. And if you can take the sails down before the boat is hauled, it's easier and safer.

Scotty C-M · Oct 21, 2013

Take photographs of everything you take apart. It's suprising how that helps me put things back together.

Gunni · Oct 21, 2013

What Jack said. This is your opportunity to have sail inspected and small problems fixed before they become big issues. And you do need to know how to get your sail down and stowed. If those aren't enough reasons, then know that a sail that comes unfurled during a winter blow can take the boat off the jack-stands.

Which is why no yard I would ever store my boat in will allow a boat with headsails furled or mains bagged to be hauled and stored on jacks.

kmart · Oct 21, 2013

gpd955 said:
Personally, I recommend they come down and, especially if he just bought the boat, get them to a sailmaker for inspection. I take mine every season and have him look them over. It's a good way to catch any issues before they happen. Taking them off also gives you a chance to inspect halyards, sheets and other rigging a little closer. With the jib on a roller furler, the only time you see the hardware on the jib halyard is when the thing comes down.

If it is going to be stored outdoors on stands, removing the sails also makes the boat a little more stable. I also remove my boom for the same purpose.

If it's the first time you'll be doing this, take your time and remember each step. I also take each piece of hardware that I remove and put them in their own Ziploc bag with a label so I know exactly where it belongs come spring. And if you can take the sails down before the boat is hauled, it's easier and safer.

Definitely take sails down while still in the water. Much easier if you position the boat head to wind as well. The jib will come down much easier if it's luffing.

DougM · Oct 21, 2013

Its not rocket science. With a roller furling jib, it's easier if the wind is calm. Unfurl and leave the sheet on a winch on one side to keep the foot from flogging. Leave the tack attached. If you have help, let them ease the halyard while you slid the luff down the track. Accordion fold the sail as you go. Wrap sail ties around the folded sail. Detach the halyard and secure it. Detach the tack, release the sheet from the winch. Bundle up the sheets with the sail and bag the works.

As for the main, if it's conventional, sail down. Pull out the battens. With a loose footed sail, wrap sail ties around it, detach from the outhaul, tack, and halyard, bundle it and bag it. If the foot is in a track on the boom, slide it out from the mast end adding sail ties as you go,

If you have a furling main, someone else may be able to help with advice. I never had one, and hope I never do.

The assumption is that once the sails are on dry land, that they will be properly flaked and folded for either winter storage off the boat, or transport to the sailmaker for inspection, cleaning and repair.

Joe · Oct 21, 2013

When the sail first comes down, try not to bunch or ball it up...rather...just loosely flake it, or roll it lengthwise until you can fold it properly.... there's plenty of Youtube demos for folding your sails properly.

Second, you have not mentioned the type of roller furling device you have....is the sail halyard built into the foil? Then the releasing cleat will be at the lower end of the foil itself.... If the halyard is separate from the foil.... there will be a swivel device up top connecting the sail and the halyard.... then you simply release the halyard from wherever it is cleated, the mast or cockpit, and pull the sail and swivel down the extrusion....

In any event, it's much easier to pull it down if you release the tack. I can almost guarantee that, since the sail hasn't been regularly dropped, it will not just fall to the deck like a hanked on sail will, but even if it does, you can control the drop with the halyard.... as it drops on deck, you can roll it up or flake it..... then take it to an area large enough to lay it out and fold it properly..... The important thing is that it's dry, folded properly and stored it in the bag without the sheets. Storing the sheets and sails in the same bag is not good for the sails.... think "tennis shoe in the dryer" effect.

Regarding the mainsail, simply pull the luff out of the mast gate then disconnect the tack and outhaul. You may have to slide the foot out of the boom if it is attached. You can determine which way to pull the sail out by inspection... some feed in from the end, then connecting the outhaul, while others have a gate cut into the extrusion.... Again, it is easier to roll the sail up and take it to a folding area... you will need to remove the battens to fold the sail properly so it will fit in the bag.

kappykaplan · Oct 21, 2013

Joe, my halyard is not built into the foil, and I've never had a problem with my genoa or jib dropping when the halyard is released. I keep the tack connected to help ensure the sails don't go someplace I don't want them to go.

Joe · Oct 21, 2013

kappykaplan said:
Joe, my halyard is not built into the foil, and I've never had a problem with my genoa or jib dropping when the halyard is released. I keep the tack connected to help ensure the sails don't go someplace I don't want them to go.

Kappy, I edited my post to appear less emphatic... don't want to give the wrong vibe....
so thanks for understanding...

Unfortunately, we don't know what type of furling unit liunatic has on his Cat 27. Nor do we know the distance between the tack fitting on the roller drum and the feeder slot in the foil...... so... assuming he is removing his sails in the security of his slip or dry stored.... I only suggest that he can fold or roll up the sail as he pulls it down without fear of it slipping over the side. I just think it's easier when the sail is laying flat on the deck as it comes down. He can lash the tack to a pulpit stanchion at deck level.... and not release the halyard shackle till the sail is secure... if the boat is bouncing around.

But, I agree with you that he may feel safer leaving it attached..... however, accidents I've had on the fore deck have been the result of the HEAD of the sail getting away... not the tack.

One thing we all should do when going forward to changes headsails is to carry a couple of sail ties with us to secure the sail to stanchions while the other is being hoisted.....

kappykaplan · Oct 22, 2013

+1 on sail ties, Joe.

Captn TJ · Oct 23, 2013

liunatic said:
So we bought the boat when she was afloat 2 monthes ago (this is our first sailboat) and as we live in New England, the boat will be hauled for the winter. So my question is REALLY basic, but I cannot find the answer in books, online searches, etc. The question is: How do I take the mainsail and jib off for winter storage? All my research finds is taking the sails down, not off! The jib is on a rolling furler. If I just follow the lines and start removing things, is there an order I should do it in??

Check with the local sailmakers for their takedown and storage service. Our local loft removes the sails, takes them to their loft to check them over (wash them if you want) and store them in their heated loft. The following spring they bring them out and install them.

John Nantz · Oct 23, 2013

Messenger Lines

As a little add-on to the thread, one thing that I do is to use a messenger line on the halyards.

Because good halyards are expensive it is helpful to keep them out of the sun and the elements. I've got a messenger line for each halyard and for the spinnaker topping lift so when the boat is not being used I just attach a messenger line to, say, the main halyard then run the halyard up the mast and tie the messenger line off to, say, the pushpit; jib halyard (winter), spinnaker halyard, and topping lift to the pulpit. Where the halyard lines are run aft to the cockpit they are covered with a small tarp.

This is just a little bit of work and doesn't take long, but in the end the lines look quite fresh even after several years.

Depending on the condition of the sails, next year you might consider taking pictures of the sail shape while under sail as the sailmaker might find them of interest. When the sails are taken in for a checkup they can tell you if they would like pictures and, if so, how they'd like them taken.

Narraganset Bay is a fun place to sail. Good luck with your new pastime and I know you will like it. Oh, and for the best experience be really nice to the Admiral. That helps a lot.

Joe · Oct 23, 2013

liunatic said:
And by the way, Liunatic is a SHE!!!

Noted.... Ms Liunatic it is.