Head sail cover shredded today

[n0w0rries]

Was out in 15-22 knots of wind today. Was sailing under reefed main for a while, then decided to let out some head sail because we were close hauled and not going very fast. I ended up letting out more of the genoa then I had intended, so I winched it back in (on a furler)

Noticed the cover part of the sail is now shredded in 7 or 8 spots now. Looking closer at the sail it looks like the stitching is questionable in a few spots.

Question is... obviously I need to get it to a loft... just wondering how painful this is going to be? If just the cover is sun rotted can it be replaced and the stitching repaired? Any idea how much these kind of repairs run?

I also need to figure out how to get the sail off the boat. It's a 140% genoa and it's about 10 years old. (I've never taken a head sail off a rolling furler before)

[Liquorice]

Waite 'til the wind dies down.
Unfurl the sail with the sheets.
Undo the jib halyard.
Pull Down the luff just above the furler drum and it should slide out. After 10 years it might be a bit stiff!

You can take UV covers off and replace them. It's labour intensive and not cheap. After 10 years your sail may not be worth repairing.
If someone brought me a sail to remove UV and repair and replace UV I might be reluctant to put it through my sewing machine - it's going to have a hell of a lot of dirt and grit embedded into the fabric.

A new genoa will run about $2000. That's 1300 pound sterling.
sam :-)

[MARC2012]

Think about $6.50 per foot is last price I got.Might consider insigna from sailrite.which can be a diy project.marc

[capttb]

Probably about $550 to $650 (US) to replace a Sunbrella sunband. Stitching almost always fails first, some lofts offer Technora thread which is believed to last longer. Might want to have the sail cleaned while it's off anyway, probably about 50 cents a square foot. Another option is a Dacron sacrificial sunband and a sleeve for protection when the boat is not in use.

[n0w0rries]

Thanks for the good info. So I guess the next step is to take the sail off and see what the shop says. The boat had a spare sail that may have come off a 33 Pearson. I'll see what the shop says about that too. One thing we didn't like about the genoa is it rubbed on the bow rail and was hard to see under. I was thinking it would be nicer if it wasn't so low--for shape/wear as well as visibility.

So I guess 10 years is a long time for a sail? I think this boat sat for a while, so I guess the deciding factor will be if the damage is limited to what's exposed to the elements or if the whole sail is shot. I don't want to drop $600 on the sail and then have something else fail on it a short time later. I'd rather just bite the bullet now.

Again thanks for the info... I wasn't sure how painful this was going to be but at least I have an idea now.

[speciald]

In the tropics, I'm constantly having the "sacrificial suncover" re-stitched or re-done. It is cheaper to replace than the sail it covers. Ask the loft to use a UV resistant thread like Gortex that will last longer.

[Boasun]

Or do it yourself with a sem ripper, new material and a sewing machine husky enought to sew the material.

[MARC2012]

If you decide to diy can order kit from sailrite(pricy) or pu sunbrella from fabric shop.DO NOT bother with ebay as not worth itbeen there done that,still uncomfortable sitting.Can download instructions from sailrite for $3.marc

[chef2sail]

Figure on 500 to 600. If you do not have a heavy duty sewing machine it is difficult. I would invest in one that way every year you can take your sails home in the winter and repairr the little degradations which occur. Sail loft time adds up.

Making the sacrificial attachment is not as easy as it looks either.

Dave