I just moved my sails from one part of my house to another and discovered that one of the bags had been eated away by what appears to be battery acid. There were large holes burned on one side. The sailcloth on the enclosed Jenny is/was stained in 2 places wiht a greenish/brown mess.
I assume somehow battery acid got on the bags when I took them home from the boat in the fall. I need advice ASAP on how to clean up the sail. Is this a lost cause. I was thinking a baking-soda/water mixture would be a good idea, but I'm kinda gunshy.
Ideas?
Eric W
ewoodman@lycos.com
Yikes! Acid on sails
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Anthony P. Jeske
Re: Yikes! Acid on sails
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Eric:
You certainly can't hurt your sails by applying a baking soda solution to them. Remember, the baking soda box suggests using baking soda as a dentifrice.
If the sails have been attacked by acid, when you apply the baking soda, the acid will foam as it's being neutralized, but the foam is not dangerous.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
P.S.
After a season of sailing, your batteries and the battery boxes may have battery acid on/in them due to excess heeling,etc. It's a good idea to neutralize any possible acids spills with baking soda solutions as part of the winterizing procedure.
ajeske@ixpres.com
Eric:
You certainly can't hurt your sails by applying a baking soda solution to them. Remember, the baking soda box suggests using baking soda as a dentifrice.
If the sails have been attacked by acid, when you apply the baking soda, the acid will foam as it's being neutralized, but the foam is not dangerous.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
P.S.
After a season of sailing, your batteries and the battery boxes may have battery acid on/in them due to excess heeling,etc. It's a good idea to neutralize any possible acids spills with baking soda solutions as part of the winterizing procedure.
ajeske@ixpres.com
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john churchill
Re: Yikes! Acid on sails
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nylon is acid sensitive as i found out with an old pair of adidas sneakers one day, but i believe polyester (dacron) is not, so at least it is probably only a cosmetic problem
i would think that baking soda would be fine. ask a sailmaker or try calling sailcare up in pennsylvania (1-800-433-7245)
john
nylon is acid sensitive as i found out with an old pair of adidas sneakers one day, but i believe polyester (dacron) is not, so at least it is probably only a cosmetic problem
i would think that baking soda would be fine. ask a sailmaker or try calling sailcare up in pennsylvania (1-800-433-7245)
john