Sail Maintenance

[casampson]

My relatively new sails have mildewed a little, and I am thinking of having them professionally washed and stored at a local loft. I have never done this before and am wondering if it is worth the cost, which is about $4.50 per pound. Thanks in advance.

Chris

[ghockaday]

I'm sure you will get a lot of opinions but a sailmaker told me that you reduce the life of the sail. True or not? Dennis

[Frenchy]

I've always had my sails cleaned after the season. I think it's a good idea. If you do it yourself, don't use a washing
machine or any harsh detergents. Mildew can be taken care of with a 1% bleach solution- you'd have to read the
concentration and dilute. Considering all the other running costs, sail cleaning isn't a major item, I don't think.. -Jean

[Mbigos]

I have my sails, dodger and covers professionally cleaned every other year. sails are about $250; dodger and covers are about $125. the real value is that they check them and sometimes do $40-75 repairs on them, to keep them going.

[jen1722terry]

We live aboard in Maine all summer. Lots of fog and mildew. Nonetheless, we don't get our sails cleaned each year. We bring them home and vacuum them to remove dust and salt (we lack a good place to wash them). Then they're stored for the winter in a mouse-proof storage locker.

Every few years they go in for cleaning and restitching as needed. We've added a few small chafe patches as needed. Not all that expensive and worth it given the cost of new sails.

We don't race, so we'll tolerate some stretching and poorer fit as the sails age. We're still on our second suit of sails in 35 years and the sailmaker said this spring that the suit has many more summers left in it.

Stay healthy!

[Jim Walsh]

Orion got a new suit of sails in 2014. Since then I’ve had them washed once. I’ve never had a mildew issue but I attribute that to regular use, thus exposure to sunshine, and the fact that most of my cruising area is not noted for fog and dampness.
I carefully inspect my sails prior to use in the spring and again when removed in the fall. This year I brought my sails to a sailmaker for professional inspection and replacement of the U.V. leech cover on my staysail. Stitching degrades from U.V. exposure and chafe so it’s worthwhile to have your sails professionally evaluated after a few seasons use in my opinion.

[jen1722terry]

Hey Jim!

We'll bet those new sails get you to Bermuda a few hours earlier.

Stay healthy and happy.

Jenn and Terry