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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Rip in Sail

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quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/09/2008 : 06:21:52

Well for the first time yesterday I was actually sailing along pretty good, at about 7 mph or so when I got the bright idea to lower my main sail
anyway to make a long story short,
I got it caught in on of my stays and put a 4 in tear in it right near the top ,
question is, can I sew this myself or do I have to send it out,,
thanks

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 08:49:10

I'd repair it myself, unless it was a very new, very nice sail, in which case I'd have it professionally done, purely to ensure that it looks good.

The way you repair a tear in a sail is to sew a patch over it. Don't try to sew the ends together, the way a doctor would stitch up a wound. It'll make an ugly dimple in the sail, and creases that will ruin it. You can sew it with a home sewing machine. Get dacron sailcloth from sailrite.com, cut a piece to cover the tear. Dacron sailcloth unravels when it's cut, so you have to sew the patch on with a zig-zag stitch. I also stitch the torn edge to the patch.

Edited by - on

quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 08:53:13

thanks, do you have the names of any sail people, stores, etc

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 08:54:53

Steve,
Do you have to patch both sides?

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 10:08:35

If it was an old sail I wanted to practice on and my patch wouldn't make much difference anyway, then I would do it myself. Otherwise, I'd spend the 40 bucks to have it repaired by the loft. Save yourself a lot of grief. That's a lot cheaper than a round of golf around here. Then you're good to go with confidence. Then again maybe a loft isn't handy to you. Even on an old sail, if the fabric is getting pretty worn, the self repair might make things worse.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 10:29:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 Steve,
Do you have to patch both sides?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I have only repaired a sail using a patch once, and I didn't patch both sides. I used 5 oz. sailcloth for the patch, and sewed it on as I described, and it worked well and, by my standards, looked as good as any patch. Perhaps if I was patching a sail for bluewater cruising, I might patch both sides, but not for lake sailing and coastal cruising.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 11:01:57

Adhesive patches are very good, I have never seen one let go. Sailmakers usually have them.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 12:21:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Frank Hopper
 Adhesive patches are very good, I have never seen one let go. Sailmakers usually have them.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

On my last boat, I used an adhesive patch to temporarily repair a small rip in my main until I could get it to the loft at the end of the season. That repair ended up staying on the sail for another two or three years until I sold the boat.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 12:46:12

Don are you talking about Dacron Sail Repair Tape or something else? Is adhevise on the cloth or do you add adhesive? Might be a good thing to keep on the boat for emergency or does it have to set for a period of time before use? Sorry for all the questions.
Steve A

Edited by - piseas on 06/09/2008 12:47:17

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 13:30:31

Yes. Dacron sail repair tape.

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/45924/377%20710/0/sail%20repair%20tape/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=sail%20repair%20tape&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=sail%20repair%20tape&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=175&subdeptNum=680&classNum=680"]West Marine Sail Repair Tape[/url]

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 14:04:55

4"? Definitely try the tape--both sides.

Now, about that dousing of the mainsail... Your story was indeed "short"--were you dropping it while under way with the sail filled? Just curious about whether we've helped you with all of the issues in your "long story".

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 14:41:40

I like the tape as a short-term fix. Also, google Sail Care Inc. in Ford City, PA. They repair as well as clean sails.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 16:41:57

North Sails repaired a tear in my main sail for $40
They put a round patch on both sides.
This is definitely something a person can do on their own.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 17:35:23

If you have and know how to use a sewing machine!

Edited by - on

quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 19:33:13

To answer your question Dave.. what happened was we were under way and it got a little to hairy for me, so what I did was point her into the wind until the sails fluttered, then we dropped both the main and the jib,
then we motored for a while until I got my confidence back, We proceded to re hoist the sails when I noticed that the top edge was stuck under the sprecer bar/stay assembly, Im assuming thats when I ripped it. Im guessing it was because the wind was pulling at it and my admiral was hoisting as I was inserting the slugs back into the guide rail, I had the stop at the end of the mast not set up correctly and the slugs all came out, I guess all of that added together ripped the sail,
I have to say its not a big rip at all, the sail looks to be old, but in good shape. It has the original catalina logos etc, not sure of its age, all I can tell you, is I think I put the first rip in it,,,lol, oh well, gives it character anyway
If I decide to do the repair myself,, what kind of thread?? do I load into the machine,, normal everyday clothes thread in white??? I think not

Edited by - quilombo on 06/09/2008 19:35:42

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 09:43:33

Sail tape is reliable stuff and can be easily stitched around the perimeter for absolute security. Feather, my old Clipper, got a tape repair that was still solid long after the sail should have been retired.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 09:56:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by quilombo
 
If I decide to do the repair myself,, what kind of thread?? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If you get sailcloth from Sailrite to patch the sail, you should also order a spool of their thread. It'll withstand the sun and weather better than household thread.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 10:25:57

My gut says the tape is better for the sail and will look better than a sewn patch. Round the corners to help prevent peeling.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 06/10/2008 10:26:43

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