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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Sail Care, Inc./"LaMauney " process

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Steve Kostanich
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/29/2002 : 13:01:16

Have any of you guys used this company and their sail cleaning and reconditioning process. It sounds really tempting, as the cost is about 15% that of a new sail, and I have a couple of pretty ripe sails that might really benefit from the treatment. Their url is www.sailcare.com if you'd like to check them out. What say you?

Steve Kostanich C-25 1119 Equinox sr/sk

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2002 : 13:21:58

One of the main concerns I have with reconditioned sails is it wont restore the shape. If over the years your sail has streched it will be the same after restoration. Cleaning a sail isnt a big problem but why would anyone spend money to get a tired sail to look new if it still has the streched shape. If the cost is only 15% less than new I would go with new. If you shop well you can find a good deal on new sails. The old reconditioned sails wont give you the 15% extra life a new one would and they wont make the boat perform better.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2002 : 13:58:11

Steve,

I'm inclined to think as Doug does. I had a 150 genny and a tall mainsail cleaned and "reconditioned". They worked well, still do but then with the social security cola of 1.4 % I figured I could afford it.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> And so I called on Gary Swenson of Ulmann sails and the price was so easy to do on my S.S. largess that I jumped right in. It's hard to believe that a genny can have such a perfect foil shape after looking at my tired,trusty old gen. What the hell it's only money.

Val on "CALISTA" # 3936

Val Bisagni

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Steve Kostanich
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2002 : 15:37:56

Let me re-phrase the cost a different way. It is 85% LESS than the cost of a new sail, which is quite a difference between a new sail and a recondition job. I will definitely concede that it isn't going to "unblow" the sails. What I'm interested in is the quality of work Sail Care does.

Steve Kostanich, Equinox, sr/sk

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2002 : 16:53:06

Our marina is the closest to SailCare that has a substanial sailboat population. I know of only one person that had this process done and he offered no feedback that caused anyone else to follow suit. Your money might be better spent on a regular cleaning and the addition of a leech line . . .

Edited by - OJ on 11/29/2002 20:26:59

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2002 : 19:23:10

I sent my 15 year old jib and main to SailCare two years ago, and was astonished with the results. Both sails came back clean, stiff, and with small stitching repairs. No, the process doesn't cure stretched sails, but it's the next best thing, and the price can't be beat.

One caveat: they tend to take about 150% longer than they promise. Send them your sails now, and you'll have them in plenty of time for Spring.

Brooke

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2002 : 11:12:41

By spring I could save enough for a new set. If Santa helps out it could be even sooner.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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luckystar
Navigator

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USA
236 Posts

Response Posted - 12/02/2002 : 22:56:00

I agree with Val, glad I spent the extra and got the new sails. I bought some cheaper ones than Val's Ullman sails. Mine are Rolly Taskers and do a decent job. They are more of an average cut, when I believe Ullman to be a real fine sail loft quality. So I got away for around $1000 for new main and 155 genny. And that foil shape (even in crappy wind it retains shape) is marvelous, especially after looking at my 20 year old sails!! Also, don't believe the price they give you at Sail Care, it's always more! You may have some stitching that needs done, etc. My new genny was $600 and they quoted me $260 to repair and clean. I know that these sails will last 20 years if I want, especially considering how much better care I take of them as opposed to the previous owners! If your short on cash, I understand, but the fall and winter, especially for a production boat like ours, I would think you could find some fabulous deals. Call Dirk at National Sail Supply in Fort Meyers at 1-800-611-3823.

Patrick Burnett, Little Rock, AR
S/V Lucky Star #2707 1982 SK/SR

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jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2002 : 14:31:21

Hi all,

I sent my mainsail to Sailcare last Dec. for cleaning/sizing and some small fixes. I was very pleased with the results. Nice people.

If you are going to have work done on the sail, they are very competent. I added strengthened batten pockets, a second set of reef points and resewn seams.

It seemed a good investment to get a few more years out of it. I don't race. On SF Bay the winds generally have me pulled down tight on the clew outhaul, boom downhaul and vang. Yeah, there is still a pocket, but the sail is old. I can live with that.

It did seem to take a long time to get it back, longer than I imagined, about six weeks. Still, I did not miss too much winter sailing. Got a lot of projects done.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk #2958
Half Moon Bay, CA

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Sailynn
Navigator

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USA
178 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2002 : 01:27:41

I had my C22 main done by them and was pleased with the results. The price can add up if you have re-stiching and repairs made. I was starting to get the impression that's how they really made their money (the add ons) and if your sails were that bad that new ones might be in order. I'll caution you that leather re-enforced areas will be eaten away by the chemical process and they will state that and reapply the leather for a price of course. I did my own re-stiching with a Sailrite sewing machine and reapplied the leather after the sail came back. The sails gave me another two years and now I'm sewing my own with a kit from Sailrite.

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