My CD25 from 1975 still has the original sails and they look like it. I know that the genny needs to be replaced because it is completely blown out but the main and the working jib are in decent shape but have 26 years of dirt and rust stains. Is there any way to clean them without sacrificing whatever integrity is left in them?
willwheatley@starpower.net
Cleaning Sails
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Brian
Re: Cleaning Sails
I brought our jib to the sailmakers at the beggining of the season to be cleaned. Unfortunately, he told me they only do cleanings in the off-season, but recommended I just use some Tide and a hose at the dock. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but as a laundry detergent is made to remove stains from fabric without harming it, I would imagine it would do the job well.
Brian
Brian
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dENNIS
Re: Cleaning Sails
If your thinking in the way of reconditioning and cleaning. Check out
WWW. sailcare.com. They will give you an estimate on line. I've heard good things about them and plan to send them both of my sails at the end of this season. They are resonable.
Dennis CD26D
WWW. sailcare.com. They will give you an estimate on line. I've heard good things about them and plan to send them both of my sails at the end of this season. They are resonable.
Dennis CD26D
Will W. wrote: My CD25 from 1975 still has the original sails and they look like it. I know that the genny needs to be replaced because it is completely blown out but the main and the working jib are in decent shape but have 26 years of dirt and rust stains. Is there any way to clean them without sacrificing whatever integrity is left in them?
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Tide with "bleach"
Captain Will,
I agree with Brian. But I would use Tide with "bleach". The Tide with bleach mixture is NOT normal bleach. It is an Oxygen bleach, and will not yellow your sails as normal bleach will. Do NOT use regular bleach. Also, if you look at the Sail Care brocure, you will see in the background a washing machine! They do throw them in the machine before refininshing them. For your small sails, probably not the main, take it to the local laundromat, throw either the stays'l or jib, into the largest machine you can get and wash 'em with the "Tide with bleach" Do NOT put in dryer, take "em home wet and hang 'em on the yardarm to dry. You could also wash them on the dock if you have a nice clean, big space. FWIW....
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
I agree with Brian. But I would use Tide with "bleach". The Tide with bleach mixture is NOT normal bleach. It is an Oxygen bleach, and will not yellow your sails as normal bleach will. Do NOT use regular bleach. Also, if you look at the Sail Care brocure, you will see in the background a washing machine! They do throw them in the machine before refininshing them. For your small sails, probably not the main, take it to the local laundromat, throw either the stays'l or jib, into the largest machine you can get and wash 'em with the "Tide with bleach" Do NOT put in dryer, take "em home wet and hang 'em on the yardarm to dry. You could also wash them on the dock if you have a nice clean, big space. FWIW....
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
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Ken Coit
Re: Tide with "bleach"
However,after SailCare runs them through the washer or whatever, they refinish the sail fabric. If that is not your plan, then I suggest you stay away from the washing machines.
Ken
parfait@nc.rr.com
Ken
D. Stump, Hanalei wrote: Captain Will,
I agree with Brian. But I would use Tide with "bleach". The Tide with bleach mixture is NOT normal bleach. It is an Oxygen bleach, and will not yellow your sails as normal bleach will. Do NOT use regular bleach. Also, if you look at the Sail Care brocure, you will see in the background a washing machine! They do throw them in the machine before refininshing them. For your small sails, probably not the main, take it to the local laundromat, throw either the stays'l or jib, into the largest machine you can get and wash 'em with the "Tide with bleach" Do NOT put in dryer, take "em home wet and hang 'em on the yardarm to dry. You could also wash them on the dock if you have a nice clean, big space. FWIW....
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
parfait@nc.rr.com
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Boyd
Re: Cleaning Sails
As the purchaser of several old and abused boats I have cleaned sails myself several times. The worst was a main sail that birds had built a nest in. Stains everywhere. The drill goes like this.
Get the biggest plastic garbage can you can find. Large enough for the sail to be stuffed in with some room to spare.
Get some of the "color safe oxygen bleach" from the grocery store. Use about a two cups and a small amount of standard laundry detergent.
Lay out the sail in sections and spot scrub the worst rust stains with "sail stain remover" purchased at the dreaded boat store. I dont rinse just put the sail in the garbage can and wash.
Put the the whole mess in the garbage can, soap and bleach first mixing well. Add sail. Stir with a non staining wood paddle or 2x4.
Soak for a couple of days, removing sail and restuffing it so all air pockets are removed and all of the sail gets good and wet.
After a couple of day soak remove wet sail and dump the soapy water.
If you have a large concrete patio. Rinse sail with hose on the concrete.
I perfer to soak the sail a couple of times in the garbage can with clean water to get out all the soap.
Spread out in the yard to dry in the sun... You should have a much cleaner and brighter sail. Not all of the stains will come out.
This is a great way to clean the front of your body as well... nothing like hugging a wet soapy sail.. have fun...
Boyd
tern30@aol.com
Get the biggest plastic garbage can you can find. Large enough for the sail to be stuffed in with some room to spare.
Get some of the "color safe oxygen bleach" from the grocery store. Use about a two cups and a small amount of standard laundry detergent.
Lay out the sail in sections and spot scrub the worst rust stains with "sail stain remover" purchased at the dreaded boat store. I dont rinse just put the sail in the garbage can and wash.
Put the the whole mess in the garbage can, soap and bleach first mixing well. Add sail. Stir with a non staining wood paddle or 2x4.
Soak for a couple of days, removing sail and restuffing it so all air pockets are removed and all of the sail gets good and wet.
After a couple of day soak remove wet sail and dump the soapy water.
If you have a large concrete patio. Rinse sail with hose on the concrete.
I perfer to soak the sail a couple of times in the garbage can with clean water to get out all the soap.
Spread out in the yard to dry in the sun... You should have a much cleaner and brighter sail. Not all of the stains will come out.
This is a great way to clean the front of your body as well... nothing like hugging a wet soapy sail.. have fun...
Boyd
Will W. wrote: My CD25 from 1975 still has the original sails and they look like it. I know that the genny needs to be replaced because it is completely blown out but the main and the working jib are in decent shape but have 26 years of dirt and rust stains. Is there any way to clean them without sacrificing whatever integrity is left in them?
tern30@aol.com
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Catherine Monaghan
Re: How our sailmaker does it -- you can too!
Guys,
Our sailmaker is located in a big warehouse. They do not use a washing machine to clean the sails. They spread them out on the floor of the loft and wash them, then hang them to dry. You can do the same thing at home.
Spread out a big clean poly tarp in your yard (assuming you live in a house and not an apartment). Spread one of your sails out on top of the tarp. Use a scrub brush (one you can fix to a pole would be easiest and make sure you use a brush with soft bristles) and bucket of soapy water (the Tide/bleach mixture mentioned earlier would be perfect) and scrub your sail. Then rig block and tackle from a couple of trees, fence posts, whatever's available to get the sail off the ground and hoist the sail. Hoist it clew side up rather than from the head (depends on your yard's tree configuration) if you have to. Get out the garden hose and spray her down -- both sides. Let the sail hang until it's dry, take it down, fold it and do the next one.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href=http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
Our sailmaker is located in a big warehouse. They do not use a washing machine to clean the sails. They spread them out on the floor of the loft and wash them, then hang them to dry. You can do the same thing at home.
Spread out a big clean poly tarp in your yard (assuming you live in a house and not an apartment). Spread one of your sails out on top of the tarp. Use a scrub brush (one you can fix to a pole would be easiest and make sure you use a brush with soft bristles) and bucket of soapy water (the Tide/bleach mixture mentioned earlier would be perfect) and scrub your sail. Then rig block and tackle from a couple of trees, fence posts, whatever's available to get the sail off the ground and hoist the sail. Hoist it clew side up rather than from the head (depends on your yard's tree configuration) if you have to. Get out the garden hose and spray her down -- both sides. Let the sail hang until it's dry, take it down, fold it and do the next one.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href=http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
Ken Coit wrote: However,after SailCare runs them through the washer or whatever, they refinish the sail fabric. If that is not your plan, then I suggest you stay away from the washing machines.
Ken
D. Stump, Hanalei wrote: Captain Will,
I agree with Brian. But I would use Tide with "bleach". The Tide with bleach mixture is NOT normal bleach. It is an Oxygen bleach, and will not yellow your sails as normal bleach will. Do NOT use regular bleach. Also, if you look at the Sail Care brocure, you will see in the background a washing machine! They do throw them in the machine before refininshing them. For your small sails, probably not the main, take it to the local laundromat, throw either the stays'l or jib, into the largest machine you can get and wash 'em with the "Tide with bleach" Do NOT put in dryer, take "em home wet and hang 'em on the yardarm to dry. You could also wash them on the dock if you have a nice clean, big space. FWIW....
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
catherine_monaghan@merck.com