UV Protection for Genoa

[keneasley]

Opinions please -

The 135 genoa on my Intrepid 9 Meter has a UV protection strip that is developing some tears and loose threads. Looks like from normal wear. I've tried some temporary, stick-on patches from SailRite but they do not last very long probably because the jib is on a furler.

I'm planning to bring it in to a local sailmaker after next month to have the strip replaced.
I'm thinking of Neil Pride in Stratford, CT.

What have you used on your boat for UV protection - an extra layer of sail material ? sunbrella?
Rough dimensions of J = 12' and P = 31' so the length about 34'

What do you think a reasonable cost would be?

[wikakaru]

NOT sail material. The whole point is that it be UV resistant. If sail material was UV resistant you wouldn't need the protective strip. All the roller furling genoas I've had have used Sunbrella protective strips. I haven't had this done in quite a while, so it's difficult to guess what it will cost with inflation.

Smooth sailing,

Jim

[Frenchy]

Ken, you might find it makes more sense to just buy a new sail. When I asked about replacing the UV strip on
a Cal 27 I once had, the price was more than half a new genoa.
If you're handy with a sewing machine, you could consider making a Sunbrella sleeve that hoists over the
furled genoa. I think Sailrite has plans for that, if you're interested. - Jean

[tjr818]

There was an article in Good Old Boat about a guy that painted the exposed part of his jib for UV protection, it seemed to work quite well

[keneasley]

Thanks to all for your comments.

Will see what the sailmaker shop says about the jib and report back in a month or two.

I'm still sailing here in Connecticut and plan to be for the next few weeks.

[SVFayaway]

Repair is often an option if replacement is too costly. Some patching and restitching shouldn't be too expensive. I replaced the one on my own genoa (just changing the color, because it didn't match the rest of the canvas ) and it was time consuming. If the sail is old it might be worth replacing the whole sail, as Frenchy said.

[Steve Laume]

I had it done on my old Yankee, a few years back. I think it was about half the cost of a new sail. I now have a new sail. I probably would have been better off not getting the strip replaced. If you decide to go that way, you might be able to save yourself some money by removing the old strip, yourself. It seems very time consuming to take out all those old stitches.

If you replace the strip, you are still going to have an old, most likely, worn out sail.

New sails are an absolute joy, Steve.

[keneasley]

I brought my main and genoa to North Sails in Bridgeport, CT.

After they looked them over I decided to go with some repairs.

Genoa UV protection will be a material called WeatherMAX for $800 and I'll have it washed.

For the main a new leach cord, a small patch and a wash.

All in it will be about $1,200.

They gave an estimate for a new genoa $3,100.

New sails someday. Priority with this boat is to get the interior sorted out. Will be removing and replacing some rotted wood in the cabin over the winter.