Can I tape small tear in main sail?

[Joe L.]

I have a tear about 3 inches long and 1 inch high at the foot of the sail about a foot in front of the clew. Can I repair this with sail tape for the rest of the season? I'd like to not have the main fixed until I can take it off after the boat is out of the water for the season when I can have the whole sail gone over and refurbished.

Any suggestions?

Also, for people in Rhode Island, where do you get your sails worked on?

Thanks,

Joe L.
bob CD25 #364
Bristol, RI



jl0246@alpha.rwu.edu

[Gary L.]

Joe,

Sail tape is only a temporary measure until you can get to a place and time to repair the sail. I had a similar rip near the tack of the jib on my CD26. Sail tape worked great, but I wouldn't trust it versus sewing up the rip, and had the sail repaired ASAP. More experienced sailors out there can probably assist you in how to do this while the sail is in place.

As for sail lofts, you have Thurston right there in Bristol. When I had my jib repaired by Joe Peterson of Eastern Sails in Mattapoisett, it started a long and trusted relationship with the sailmaker.

Good luck,

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339
Somerset, MA



dory@attbi.com

[matt cawthorne]

Joe,
Getting things repaired right as soon as possible is usually the best way to go. If your sailmaker is booked up or you are going on vacation a repair should work. How you repair it depends on where the tear is and what the condition of the sail cloth is. If the cloth is old sewing with hand needles may do more damage than good. Hand needles tend to poke large holes. A row of holes in old fabric is a tear waiting to happen. Tape may be the right way to go, particularly if the tear is parallel and close to the bolt rope. If it is, wrap one layer of tape completly under the bolt rope and one along the length. Leave plenty of overlap. No matter how the repair is done, you may wish to reef before the wind kicks up too much. That way the affected area is never under a large stress.

Matt



mcawthor@bellatlantic.net

[len]

i second the recommendation re thurston in bristol - i've had repairs and new sails from them and have been totally pleased

len



md.frel@nwh.org

[Joe L.]

Thanks, I think I'll try taping (the tear is at the foot) and I'll reef early. The tear is in a section of sail that is pretty small (it's a triangle that is about 1 and a half feet long and 10 inches high), I figure if the tear does run, it will only go the seam (VERY heavy seam) of that section. It's the original sail (1976) so it's a wonder it's lasted this long - looks like a visit to Thurston this fall.

Joe L.
bob CD25 #364
Bristol, RI

[Dan Moore]

Hi,Joel.
For sail repair and purchase (both a main and jib) I've had excellent luck with Steve Thurston (Quantum/Thurston), right up the road on Tupelo - near the golf course. He gave me prompt and courteous service last season for repairs and the new sails are incredible!
Good luck with the battery problem.
I wouldn't try to repair a tear in the foot of the sail myself.
Dan