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Get sails cleaned??

2K views 8 replies 8 participants last post by  jarcher 
#1 ·
Hi,

I have an Endeavour 33 and two North sails, a sail 1 season old and a sail 2 seasons old. They both appear okay( we did not sail hardly at all this year do to medical problems), but I was thinking of sending the older in for a washing and a checkover (I was thinking of it as preventive maintenance, and doing a sail every other year).

I looked a little online and was shocked to see that it might cost a lot of bucks.


FYI, I live in the Annapolis area if anyone has some suggestions.

Thanks in advance for your time , Saltypat
 
#4 ·
You can wash them yourself; just use mild soap like woolite and a 1/2 dose of Oxy-Clean. Lay out on a lawn and gently scrub with a soft car wash brush. Use a stiffer brush for stubborn spots but don't scrub too hard. If the stain won't come out leave it. Rinse well and allow to dry by sun and turning.

Tumbling washers may put years of wear on the fibers. Even Dacron sails should be lightly folded and not crumpled up as it causes microscopic wear to the fibers and de-lamination of the sizing (the resin that makes the fabric stiff/crisp).

Washing/restoring processes are better left to older sails that you might want to get a few more seasons out of; but I would not want to do it on something relatively new. For repairs; either take it in to North Sails or find a good loft that specializes in doing repair work.
 
#6 ·
Sail care but it isn't cheap but they come back looking and behaving like new.
 
#7 ·
Sailcare LaMauney process

The LaMauney reconditioning process begins with our inspection of each sail.
Sails are measured, inspected for needed repairs, and the cloth checked for deterioration from the sun. Then the sails are carefully cleaned followed by the re-resining process of impregnating the cloth with resins and setting these resins with controlled heat.
In addition, a fungicidal agent is added to inhibit mildew growth, another is added for water repellency, and a third agent provides ultraviolet protection. All this is part of the LaMauney Process.
The sails are once again inspected and then packaged for shipping.
Your sail will be clean, free of most wrinkles, and the cloth will have a new stiffness. The existing shape of the sail will be maintained since the LaMauney Process is designed to control the bias stretch of the cloth. The smoothness of the cloth combined with the re-resining will enable your sail to take on its best shape.
Sail Cleaning and Sail Restoration from Sail Care
 
#8 ·
I've used SailCare for sails on our last 2 boats. Excellent work and the sails come back beautiful and stay that way (5 years and counting for our most recent experience). Of course if your sail is all stretched out, it will come back that way, but looking beautiful. The restoration process will stop the degradation and stabilize the sail so that it doesn't get worse. They will also tell you if the sail is not worth reconditioning.

Along with SailRite, this company defines customer service and should be considered an essential resource for sailors. I have no affiliation with either company except as a very satisfied customer.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Are you planning to race them? If not, don't spend the money. You said they are nearly new and very lightly used. If they were salty when you last stowed them then whatever damage from that, if any, is already done.

I suggest you use them well, rince and dry them if they get wet, and send them out for cleaning at the end of the season.
 
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