If your inspection has come up with an area that looks frail or weak and you wonder if it's rotten, try this. Take a sail maker's needle and try pushing it through the area in question. If it passes through with little effort and meets with little resistance, then try creasing the area sharply and try tearing through the crease. You will know if it's rotten.
An occasional fresh water rinse is good for sails.
- Make sure you let them dry thoroughly before folding them and putting them away.
- Never, never, put dacron/polyester sails into a swimming pool to clean them! It will make the sails brittle, turn them yellow, and but their usable life by two thirds.
- A very mild washing with a mild dishwashing liquid that has no chlorine bleach can remove some of the surface dirt.
- Use cold water only. Hot water can increase the intensity of the liquid cleaner and weaken or damage the resin that protects the sailcloth. Also, use only a sponge, not a brush.
Follow the same procedure for the jib or Genoa or any other sails.
A trip to your local sail maker on a regular basis can add years to the life of your sail but be careful if he starts talking about replacement. If you have looked you sail over, you know what kind of shape it's in.
If your sail has lost some of its zest, has some stains like rust, grease, blood, etc., needs some repairs or modifications, consider contacting us at Sail Care. We have been cleaning, repairing, and restoring old sails to as near as new as is possible for over 18 years. Each year 3,500 sailors send us their sails from all over the world. We'd like to see your sails next!
