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Scotd
Navigator

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USA
136 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/14/2004 : 15:03:37

Ok took out my sails today, Main, genoa, storm jib. All the sails I think came with the boat. I want to have them cleaned and repaired if they need it? Who does a good job at sail reconditioning?

I can't remove the battens they are sewn in? Is this common with the Catalina sails?

Scot Dannenbring
"Getaway"
#3376 1982 SK/SR
Rapid City, SD
http://rap.midco.net/scotd6/

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2004 : 16:00:56

"...is this common with the Catalina sails?..."

I've not seen one with fully sewn-in battens... are you sure the batten can't be 'kicked up' on the aft end and slipped out?

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2004 : 16:20:25

Some people wash their sails with a mild detergent, but I never clean my sails. If a mud dauber puts a spot of dirt on one, I knock off the dried mud, moisten just the spot, rub it gently by hand, and rinse it off. I believe washing sails deteriorates them to a slight extent. I'm careful to never handle them with dirty or especially greasy hands, so they usually don't get dirty.

As for repairs, if they just need minor repairs where the stitching has come loose, you can do it yourself with an ordinary sewing machine, so long as it doesn't have to go through several layers of cloth. You can use heavy duty dacron thread. You can use dental floss to do minor hand stitching.

I've never seen battens that were sewn in place, but the PO probably did it to keep them from coming out. The battens should be snug in the pockets. If they were coming out, the battens might be too short for the batten pockets, or the PO might have put the wrong battens in the wrong pockets, or some stitching might be coming loose around the batten pockets. Look at the battens and the batten pockets carefully to see if any of those conditions might exist.

Check your telephone directory for any possible local sailmaker who can do repairs. If you don't find one locally, someone on the forum is bound to have a suggestion.

Edited by - on

frich
Captain

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USA
418 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2004 : 21:20:52

Scot

Try Sailcare, I believe they have offices in Florida and PA. They will clean repair and more importantly recondition tired sails. I have seen the finished product and it is impressive

Frank R
84 C25 SK

Edited by - on

Scotd
Navigator

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USA
136 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2004 : 11:28:32

Bruce

I was wrong about the battens being sewn in, they are removed as you suggested. Thank you

Frank

I sent off an email to sailcare in Pa, to get an estimate on the cleaning and reconditioning.

As you might have guessed not to many sail lofts in South Dakota.

Scot

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2004 : 12:01:44

shipping sails is cheap. I think the shipping for my new 135 genny was under $20 UPS.

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2004 : 12:01:58

Scot,

You may also want to consider a friend's or neighbor's swimming pool, hot tub or large jacuzzi bath and the inexpensive, multi-purpose [url="http://secure.sailrite.com/VALUE/index.asp?CartId={7E0807EVEREST5C-5CD4-4D4B-B567-0A35ED5B2339}"]sail repair kit[/url] that is listed under the Sail Hardware and Supplies category.

Edited by - Sea Trac on 02/16/2004 16:02:22

Scotd
Navigator

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USA
136 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 15:31:17

What about the chemicals in the Jacuzzi?

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 16:09:35

From what I've read, the limited time exposure (i.e., under 24 hours) won't harm the materials, as long as they're thoroughly rinsed afterwards. My sails are in surprisingly good condition considering that they are almost twenty years old, but they've become seriously stained from mud (daubers) and blood (mine). Luckily for me, I've just moved into temporary housing that has a swimming pool, so all four of my sails will be getting a much needed bath next month. Of course, my old sails are Dacron, and new or Kevlar sails might suffer harm.

Edited by - on

Scotd
Navigator

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USA
136 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 18:29:11

I am sure that these are the sails that came with the boat, I do like the idea of them being reconditioned. Thats why I was hoping that someone has had them done and would suggest who is a good place to do them.

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 20:19:41

Yeah, Scot, I figured that you'd get a boat load (of course) of high dollar responses and, therefore, that I'd offer a "frugal sailor's" response. ;-) So, WHERE ARE all of the other responses? Someone on this forum has to have paid to recondition their sails at some point.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 20:50:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Antares
 ...So, WHERE ARE all of the other responses?....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Well, I just had a quote to repair the sun strip on my roller-furling genny, and it's a large majority of the cost of a new genny. It is less than half the age of the boat.

"Conditioning" can include repairs to stitching, stain removal, brightening, and even re-sizing the cloth (for "crispness"), but it may be a waste if the sails are stretched out of shape. They'll look good (to the untrained eye) but generate more heel and go slower in heavy air. The trained eye will say "Nice, white, blown-out sails!"

Whatever a mild non-detergent soap and non-chlorine bleach (like Snowy) won't take out is probably not worth worrying about in sails that old (20+ years). (I've been told chlorine is tough on dacron, and will even tend to make it yellow instead of white.) I'd seriously consider saving my boat units for new ones--one at a time if necessary. Then, I'd get the new ones washed and inspected every couple of years.

Just a thought...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 02/16/2004 20:51:55

Scotd
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
136 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2004 : 21:03:13

Dave
When they re-resin the sails does that put them back in shape if they are blown out? Does it just make them stiff and feel like new? I don't want to spend to much if its not going to make them like new? I can get a new mail for (Mainsail with 1 Reef using 6oz. Dacron is $519.00)

of course thats the price without the logo or the sail #'s

Edited by - Scotd on 02/16/2004 21:05:37

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2004 : 19:10:05

Scot - I was just catching up on some reading and noticed an ad for a company called [url="www.sailcare.com"]Sail Care[/url] in [url="www.cruisingworld.com"]Cruising World[/url]. Based upon their ad copy, you might want to check them out.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2004 : 19:54:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">When they re-resin the sails does that put them back in shape if they are blown out? Does it just make them stiff and feel like new? I don't want to spend to much if its not going to make them like new?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">A very knowledgeable sailor told me they can't re-resin the sailcloth like it was when new. He said the original process requires application of heat, and the reconditioners don't use that process. He also said that the only way the correct shape can be restored to old, blown out sails is by re-cutting them, and all those reconditioning services end up costing so much that you're better off buying new sails.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">of course thats the price without the logo or the sail #' <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> When I bought new sails, I got sail numbers (very cheap, and you need them for racing), but not the logo (I couldn't think of a good reason to spend $30-40 to advertise for Catalina.)

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2004 : 21:02:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Scotd
 Dave
When they re-resin the sails does that put them back in shape if they are blown out?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
No. As Steve says, the shape requires re-cutting and re-sewing, which is a total waste with 20-year-old sails. People re-cut like-new sails to change them from one boat to another or to modify their racing inventory, but an old blown-out sail is an old blown-out sail.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 02/17/2004 21:04:27

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2004 : 06:24:02

I need to put in my 2 cents on this topic:

20 year old sails are blown out. Ya, they'll move the boat, but not well. REconditioned sails may look nice, but they won't undo a blown out sail. So, my advise is to get new sails, or to start a program of upgrading sails that you can impliment over the next couple of years.

Do you have roller furling. Might be a time to do that, then you'd only need a Jenny and a main, unless you want a spinniker of some kind.

Anyways, that's my two cents!

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2004 : 10:53:08

Hang on to those old sails, however. In light air, their deep pockets might make them more powerful than the new ones. I still prefer my 23 year old 150 to my new one in light air.

Edited by - on

Scotd
Navigator

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USA
136 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2004 : 14:09:15

I got a quote from SailCare $105 for reconditioning the Main, $38 to sew on the logo and numbers so they don't come off during the washing process, $205 for the 150 roller furler Genoa.

I my self can't tell if the sails are blown out or not. I just got the boat in Dec and can't put it in the water til April or May. Just trying to get things ready for sailing this next year. Sometimes I think I should wait till the fall to decide what to do with the sails, but it would be nice going out on the first sail with some nice looking Bright White Sails.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2004 : 14:46:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Scotd
 I got a quote from SailCare $105 for reconditioning the Main, $38 to sew on the logo and numbers so they don't come off during the washing process, $205 for the 150 roller furler Genoa.

I my self can't tell if the sails are blown out or not. I just got the boat in Dec and can't put it in the water til April or May. Just trying to get things ready for sailing this next year. Sometimes I think I should wait till the fall to decide what to do with the sails, but it would be nice going out on the first sail with some nice looking Bright White Sails.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Most of us agree that the Catalinadirect.com sails are fine sails, they are kept in inventory so they ship immediately. You should go and sail, enjoy your boat and if you are totaly freaked out by your sails you can replace them with new ones. I was pleasently suprised with my old 150 and only sailed a few times with my old main. As for whether the sails are bright white or not... on my first sail I was more concerned about the to-hulls and the rig falling down!

Edited by - on

Scotd
Navigator

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USA
136 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2004 : 15:54:21

Frank
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">on my first sail I was more concerned about the to-hulls and the rig falling down!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes when the weather gets nicer I will step the mast and look at all the rigging. I will be worried the first time out. Ihope it floats. LOL

Edited by - Scotd on 02/18/2004 16:25:46

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2004 : 16:33:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Scotd
 Frank
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">on my first sail I was more concerned about the to-hulls and the rig falling down!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes when the weather gets nicer I will step the mast and look at all the rigging. I will be worried the first time out. Ihope it floats. LOL
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Being singlehanded, I was most worried about T-boning a Sea Ray or going aground, but we diverge...

Edited by - on

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