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Catalina 250 Specific Forum

When to replace sails?

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mday
Navigator

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197 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/30/2005 : 01:49:07

I've noticed my jib is getting some holes and tears around the edges that probably sit in the sun. I'm probably going to have to replace it before it rips apart on a windy day. Some patching tape will go on in the meantime. Anybody have advice on how long a sail is expected to last? I notice many others in the marina have socks on the jib ... probably to prevent what's happened to me. How about the main? Any idea how long the factory mainsail is good for?

My boat is a vintage 1999, so the sails are 6 years old are in the intense Arizona sun all year. The main is under a sailcover, and seems to be in decent shape, although I've heard some stretching and bagging will occur over time.

Thanks, Max

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2005 : 07:20:55

I replaced my jib this year. It was 10 years old and had begun to tear and stitching became loose. Main was washed and some minor rework done along with a second reef last winter. It still appears quite useable.

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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2005 : 16:06:07

I sold my 1984 C25 last year that had the original main...as you said, keeping the sails covered and out of the sun is very important. As for when to replace them, I make do as long as possible (with the sailmaker sewing small tears) because I do not race and am not concerned with squeezing every knot out of my boat and her sails.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2005 : 18:11:54

I was reading the C250 owners manual. There's quite a bit about sail maintainence there.
[url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/manbro/man250.html"](home page >> Owners Brochures and manauls > C250 Owners manual)[/url]

Not sure how old my Laser sails are, the boat is around 1983, but it is not such an issue when you are pretty close to shore most of the time. I used the sail cleaning methods from this site and they worked very well.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2005 : 09:32:18

Usually a roller furling jib has a strip of sunbrella on the leech, so that, when the sail is furled, the sailcloth is covered and protected by the sunbrella. If your jib doesn't have that protection, then the leech of your jib is deteriorating from exposure to the sun. A jib that is protected from the sun in some way should last 25 years, or more, especially if made from good quality sailcloth.

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cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2005 : 11:12:14

We replaced our jib last year (spring 2004). The sun had just completely deteriorated the material. Our new jib has a treated panel on the part that exposed when rolled up. The jib is desinged so that the panel is easily replaced once the sun gets to it. You can do the same with a sunbrella, but the sail loft we used thought that would add too much weight to our sail.

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mday
Navigator

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197 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2005 : 19:52:56

Hi Cathy,

Yes, I would expect some intense sun in Florida too. I've seen the jibs with the treated border .... and a number in my marina with badly deteriorated borders.

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528
Navigator

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USA
181 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2005 : 20:50:12

We opted for the cover from Catalina Direct. It zips the full length from both ends and is raised with the spare halyard. $250, but I figured a good compromise since you don't give up sail shape and it is the sunbrella that matches the other covers.

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ekremer
Deckhand

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19 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2005 : 22:38:07

The original jib from Catalina had some UV resistant dacron instead of the traditional sunbrella fabric protection. Mine also wore out, but I was able to have a new sunbrella cover put on it by a sail repair loft. It was much less expensive than replacing the sail. The jib cover sold by Catalina direct is also a good solution for protection, and you could still have the sail repaired.

Ed
Ad Lib, C250 WB 146

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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 06/01/2005 : 20:50:39

I have owned both the "UV Protected" leech and the "Sunbrella" leech for use on a furler. Sunbrella is the winner hands down...that protection stuff really does not cut it, and I'll not even try to use it again.

Edited by - At Ease on 06/02/2005 14:09:45

simonhayes
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 06/02/2005 : 02:02:50

I just had the jib repaired as it had a hole or two and torn stichings when I bought the boat.

The leech was also really thin. I decided the replace the leach with a new UV protection patch/cover which also strengthed it. It cost about 2 and half boat units and the sail maker said it should last another 4-5 years depending on use.

I am broadly ok with it but I am concerned that the top of the jib shape is not right...no ammount of messing with the sheet travellers allows me to prevent the top of the jib spilling the wind. I guess the sail might have pocketed as well which is annoying...might have been better to buy a new one

- Simon

Edited by - simonhayes on 06/02/2005 02:03:49

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 06/02/2005 : 21:56:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mday
 Hi Cathy,

Yes, I would expect some intense sun in Florida too. I've seen the jibs with the treated border .... and a number in my marina with badly deteriorated borders.

Have you noticed any difference in how the jib performs? Especially when sailing with it half rolled up?

Care to pass on your sailmaker? Did they know the C250 headsail dimensions, or did you have to fill out a form with a bunch of measurements?

Thanks, Max

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Max-

Our new sail has a padded area at the luff that helps the jib keep its shape when partially furled so our new jib actually has better shape than our old jib. We went with the Quantum sailmaker in our home port of Deltaville, VA (I noticed the shop changed to UK sails over the winter). We chose them because they had done repairs for us in the past, have limited Saturday hours (which is why they got our repair jobs), & the local racers were happy with them so they obviously knew what they were doing.

The owner came to our boat, listened to our needs/concerns then suggested features to meet our needs. We stayed with the same basic dimensions as our old sail which the sailmaker had (we did consider shortening the sail so it didn't touch the lifelines, but in the end we didn't want to lose the sail area to solve a minor annoyance). Dan did all the arrangements so I don't know how much it cost (I promised not to look at the bill so I'm sure it was more than just a stock sail from Catalina Direct

).

As a side note - I found out that Quantum designs the sails in the U.S., but had them cut overseas. Our sail was made in South Africa. Who knew?

Edited by - cathluk on 06/02/2005 22:02:01

mday
Navigator

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197 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2005 : 01:21:43

Cathy,

Thanks ... good info.

Deltaville! Whoa! The big end of the Bay. I bet there's some rockin' and rollin' at times down there. Enjoy the summer and
those crabs!

Max

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