SAIL MAINTENANCE: How to Care for Your Sails
3/17/2008
Proper sail care and maintenance can increase the life of your new Ullman sails. Whether you race or cruise, proper storage and cleaning affect your speed and sail longevity.
Over the last few years, sailcloth has become increasingly stiff. As a result, the resin finish on your sail is subject to faster breakdown. The easiest way to avoid this breakdown is to minimize luffing your sails. Racers or racer/cruisers should also be particularly careful to keep Dacron or laminated (mylar, Kevlar, etc.) sails as wrinkle-free as possible. Doing so will maintain and prolong the performance of your sails.
STORAGE
The best way to roll a sail is to start at the head and roll to the foot. Sometimes it is easier to fold the head down at one of the top battens, using the batten as a guide to roll the sail. When folding becomes necessary because of size and/or space, hold the clew and tack and fold accordion-style toward the head. This technique is called ‘flaking’ the sail. If your mainsail is stored on the boom, you may either roll it or flake it over the boom before putting on the sail cover.
Always store your racing sails dry. Nylon and Dacron are susceptible to mildew when stored wet. Heavily resinated sailcloth also may soften up over a period of time when wet or damp. Nylon sail fabric can bleed when stored wet, so be careful to dry whenever possible. Dry your sails by laying them on a grassy area or hanging them up, if the wind is very light. Do not hang your sails in a breeze.
Cruising sails are typically much softer than their racing counterparts and may be stuffed for weeks at a time without harm. In general, fold cruising sails whenever possible and store dry.
All sailcloth should be frequently washed with fresh water and stored as salt-free as possible. Ultraviolet radiation can, over a short period of time, destroy both nylon and Dacron. The use of cover materials for mainsails and roller-furling sails is a sure way to prolong the life of your sails.
SPREADER PATCHES
It is important to have spreader patches to protect the sail from chafe, particularly for Mylar and Mylar/Kevlar genoas. We make every effort to apply them before the sail is delivered. However, it is difficult to know the exact location on the sail. In most cases, we try to come to your boat to mark and apply the patches. If we are unable to come to your boat because of distance or time constraints, we ask you to mark the position(s) on the new sail and return the sail to us. We will apply the patches and re-send the sail.
The best way to mark the position(s) for your spreader patches is to hoist the sail at the dock on a light-wind day and either
1) Send a crew member up in a Bosun's chair with a marker
or
2) Carefully note the location(s) of the spreader tips relative to the sail’s seams.
It is also important to properly cover the spreader tips with either rigging tape or Teflon tape. Go over the lifelines, stanchions and mast fittings including the spinnaker pole track and all rings to make sure there are no sharp edges that can catch the sail.
CLEANING YOUR SAILS
Dirt or Caked Salt
Use a soft bristled brush and liquid detergent. Avoid hard powder detergents and stiff brushes as they may damage the finish and stitching.
Oil, Grease, Tar and Wax
Use warm water, soap and elbow grease. Hard stains can be removed with household bleach or common stain remover. Be careful to thoroughly remove all cleaning solvents or they will damage the finish.
Blood
Soak the stained portion for 10-20 minutes in a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part bleach. Scrub and repeat if necessary. Rinse thoroughly.
Rust and metal stains
Scrub with soap and water, then apply acetone, M.E.K. or alcohol. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
Mildew
Hot, soapy water is usually all that is needed. If necessary, use the diluted bleach approach. If a residual chlorine smell is still present after rinsing, a 1% solution of sodium thiosulfate will remove all chlorine traces.
Paint and varnish
Acetone and M.E.K. should remove most common paint stains. Varnish can easily be removed with alcohol. Use all solvents with care. Always rinse and dry thoroughly. Solvents and bleaches can damage nylon and Dacron if not removed properly. Mylar and Kevlar sails can generally be taken care of in the same manner as their Dacron counterparts. Avoid solvents whenever possible as they can break down the adhesives used to laminate the nylon to the substrate.
Please feel free to give us a call or e-mail at Ullman Sails to discuss sailing and ask questions. We are here to help you achieve your sailing goals.